Difficulty in finding a tradesman!

fluffy123

Hi all, as part of our housing improvements over the summer, we had a list of about 4/5 jobs that we were keen to get quotes on. With what needs to be done, we believe a carpenter/joiner would be best? However, having put up requests on mybuilder and ratedpeople, we've had just one person who came very keenly, took all details down and then went quiet. Once I contacted them, they said they were too busy to do the work.

1) Completely remove existing built-in cupboard in hallway and build smaller version.
2) Remove existing box work in small bedroom and improve this
3) Possibly remove existing understairs door and fit new version that can be closed.
4) Removal/improvement of existing staircase/bannisters
5) Box in pipework in two rooms

Is there something we're missing here? I don't think they're the most taxing of jobs but would be a day's work at least, I'm guessing?

Does anybody have any ideas?

LandyAndy

No you aren't missing something. It is just hard to get decent people to do small one off jobs for private individuals.


Incidentally, it sounds like more than a day's work to me if you are going to replace a staircase.

fluffy123

Yeah, we initially started looking when it was a case of 'Oh, there's no major rush' etc but now we're at the stage where we were hoping to do other tasks but need these things done first and we don't even have a quote to go off....

LandyAndy

Decent joiners are likely to be doing regular work for local builders and getting paid a going rate for it.

The last thing they need is couple of days for a private individual who isn't quite sure what they want and is going to argue the price until it isn't profitable.


Not saying you are such a person but they don't know that.

gemstars

No advice, just to say I feel your pain.

I had a similar issue, quite a few people came to do quotes but it didn't go anywhere. Eventually a friend of my friends Dad was recommended and he's great, I go straight to him for all of my odd jobs now.

southcoastrgi

That sounds more like 3 days work to me & maybe the guy didn't think you wanted to spend £600

illusionek

I tend to use mybuilder as I was running into similar problems in the past. By no means I am no advertising or recommending the website but at least I get contacted by builders who are interested.

DCFC79

Could you not list the staircase job (or any job) first then once you get that done you ask the person who does the staircase if they are interested in the other jobs.

KW88

I had exactly the same, had around 15 people round now for quotes on different jobs, only managed to hire 3, 3 months on! I use checkatrade now, got nothing from my builder

katejo

fluffy123 wrote: »

Hi all, as part of our housing improvements over the summer, we had a list of about 4/5 jobs that we were keen to get quotes on. With what needs to be done, we believe a carpenter/joiner would be best? However, having put up requests on mybuilder and ratedpeople, we've had just one person who came very keenly, took all details down and then went quiet. Once I contacted them, they said they were too busy to do the work.

1) Completely remove existing built-in cupboard in hallway and build smaller version.
2) Remove existing box work in small bedroom and improve this
3) Possibly remove existing understairs door and fit new version that can be closed.
4) Removal/improvement of existing staircase/bannisters
5) Box in pipework in two rooms

Is there something we're missing here? I don't think they're the most taxing of jobs but would be a day's work at least, I'm guessing?

Does anybody have any ideas?

Where are you? If you are in East/north London or Essex, I can recommend one to you. He is doing jobs for me here now.