Is there too much work / not enough contractors?

Soot2006

Apologies if in the wrong section.

I have a number of small jobs that I have been contacting just about every listed local person on checkatrade for ... and I get almost no responses back. Is there too much work? Or maybe my jobs are too small.

Point of my post - I would like advice please on hiring reliable, reputable builder, carpenter, etc ... I remember hearing on the radio years ago about an app where people can post what they need doing and contractors can bid for the work? Does that exist? Any other advice to actually getting people to respond as at this rate my house will fall down before I can find anyone to repoint it.

(I pay on time, every time! No blacklists against me and no bad reputation!)

Ebe_Scrooge

The well-worn advice of asking friends & neighbours for recommendations, or posting on a local community Facebook page, is still very valid.


Also, consider what tradesmen you actually need. For instance, if you're wanting an extension built, you'll need a competent builder. A whole new central heating system will need a proper plumber. But changing the washer on a tap, or adding some shelves to an airing cupboard, or fixing a sticking door, for example - well within the remit of a competent "general handyman" type, even if you're not up to doing it yourself.


But really, it's hard to beat local word-of-mouth recommendations.

Soot2006

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

The well-worn advice of asking friends & neighbours for recommendations, or posting on a local community Facebook page, is still very valid.


Also, consider what tradesmen you actually need. For instance, if you're wanting an extension built, you'll need a competent builder. A whole new central heating system will need a proper plumber. But changing the washer on a tap, or adding some shelves to an airing cupboard, or fixing a sticking door, for example - well within the remit of a competent "general handyman" type, even if you're not up to doing it yourself.


But really, it's hard to beat local word-of-mouth recommendations.

Thanks. I'm not really a social media user so didn't think of that, but have asked to join a few local groups I found. That's a good idea.

Ganga

I think there are plenty of workmen but not plenty of good workmen,as has been sugested,ask around,word of mouth recommendations are better than fabricated testemonials.

LittleMissAspie

I've found this as well. It's infuriating and confusing!

Once we hired a carpenter who'd given us a quote. He didn't turn up. Managed to get hold of him and he was really apologetic, said he'd had a family emergency, and we set another date. He didn't turn up AGAIN! What the hell. If you don't want to do the job then just cancel it, don't pretend that you want to do it and then leave us waiting.

moneyistooshorttomention

It does depend to some extent imo on what part of the country you're in - if you're somewhere "The World and their Spouse" wants to be in - then chances are there's a lot of tradespeople there too and they know they're up against stiff competition and they do turn up/they do quote/etc/etc. Definitely an advantage in every respect if you can play an "Everyone wants to live here" card.

But if you're somewhere "a lot of the best leave" you do have more of a problem...

Another thing too might be "Nope it aint you - its your house" that they dont like. I've gathered since that some electricians will avoid bungalows if they can (more of the electrics up in the roof). Some tradespeople will try and avoid a house that the customer is living in if they can (as they dont like having to try and keep the house cleared-up after themselves each night). Suspect some of them aren't too keen on their mistakes being seen before they can be covered-up too:cool:

Some is sheer luck - I've been told by one firm that I was satisfied with - "Why didnt you ask me before you booked anyone else for anything else? I could have told you the best ones to go to...". Yeh...well....sheer luck would have it that the jobs I had done by that (major work for me) firm werent the first in line to be done - so I'd already had some bodgers in before they turned up and did their jobs okay:(.

You could try the British Gas "Local Hero Scheme" as one way to, hopefully, access suitable tradespeople in your area.

Heedtheadvice

Yes, probably, a bit of both. For too long the 'brightest' have been told university is the only way to success. They are often needed to run a business properly but feeling is beneath them.
Too often it is the less bright that arenpushed towards trades (as well as bright pupils too broad keep in perspective) and these days there is far more to learn. Not all are up to it and they become the cowboys of poor tradespeople. Not enough females encouraged to go into trades. Less of a work ethic these days.

So not enough good workers. More demand. Supply and demand pushes up prices because of trades shortages.

Do not rely on web sites such as have been mentioned! Personal recommendation and qualified tradespeople the best. Which? Trusted traders run by the consumers association ought to be a good source of info.......

EssexExile

Whatever the cause of the problem, it's been the same for all the 40+ years I've owned property.

baldelectrician

Try your local trading standards -my local one uses Refernceline


http://www.referenceline.com/


These traders are usually initially vetted and all references are checked before being listed (they are checked for veracity to ensure they are actual customers).
This makes them better (in my opinion) than some of these paid for sites- many will remove bad reviews as the company pay for the advertising.

moneyistooshorttomention

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

Yes, probably, a bit of both. For too long the 'brightest' have been told university is the only way to success. They are often needed to run a business properly but feeling is beneath them.
Too often it is the less bright that arenpushed towards trades (as well as bright pupils too broad keep in perspective) and these days there is far more to learn. Not all are up to it and they become the cowboys of poor tradespeople. Not enough females encouraged to go into trades. Less of a work ethic these days.

So not enough good workers. More demand. Supply and demand pushes up prices because of trades shortages.

I think this is very much how things are from what I can see. Female tradespersons are very rare indeed and I've never heard of a single one where I am now. I do think there's an element of "What else can he do? Well he'd better be a tradesperson". The worst I've come across was where daylight eventually dawned on me that I don't think he can even read. Another one asked me if x would fit into y - errrr....well do what the office worker customer (me) did and get out a rule to see if it will and the answer is "Yes".

Possibly it will help with the pay levels I see some of the best plumbers/electricians for instance can charge now - and that might lead some of the brightest youngsters to train in that as well as the "What else could they do?" youngsters.

As you say - I suspect there is a lot more to learn these days. From where I'm standing - I'd estimate it takes brains to learn, for instance, to be a good electrician or plumber - as all those regulations (constantly updated) look pretty technical to me. I couldnt get my mind round all those technicalities that a good electrician, for instance, will have learnt. So yes - some of the brighter ones will be "trades" minded - but the less bright are pushed in that direction too.

Even decorators have to know enough to be able to at least do basic computer use - so they can see what customers want across the country and what the latest materials on the market are like and not expect the customer to know "products are now made with x instead of y and they're not as good - so you have to use something else instead". They shouldnt expect the customer to know these things - it's not their job. I've yet to find one in this area that seems bright enough to even know about what basic preparation work needs doing - they all know "this bit picked up from customer x" and "that bit picked up from customer y" - but havent learnt the job fully themselves. Well - the customer most likely won't have - as they are/were probably office workers/professionals/etc - so it wasnt their job to learn these things.

road2manchester

MyBuilder, Checkatrade, etc there are lots of these sites. Free to post your job BUT not free for the traders.
Some sites charge £50 a month then a set price per lead depending on the perceived value of the work.
The issue is that if you post ' Come fix my door' for example, the site then decides (in some cases you have to add a budget), what that job lead is worth.

Anything from 5-10 traders then get an email to ask if they want to buy the lead. This is based on chosen areas the trader wants to work.

Prices from £5 to £60 just for your contact details , Then those who buy the lead contact you and bid for the work.

This system encourages low prices and low quality work.

Traders can get a good feedback score on some sites, but even that is open to abuse.
Get a pal to post a job , pay for the job..... (ignore the other traeders) get the order.... don't do the work as it doesn't exist.... get your pal to give a great feedback.... your company looks great.

The only winner is the site getting paid a monthly fee AND lead fee from 5-10 traders.