It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

Silvertabby

Kim1965 said:

Albermarle said:

Ibrahim5 said:

Just do it yourself. It's cheaper and you know a proper job has been done. If you aren't happy with something you just fix it. None of this trying to get people back. Just live an independent life style.

If I tried to do serious plumbing myself, then it would definitely take ages and not be a proper job !
As for working on the gas supply/appliances myself, then just wait for the Boom !

Most plumbers dislike customers who try to do it themselves. I am in favour of have a go heroes. I always get a warm reception from folk where its all gone wrong. The wife is usually scolding hubby, you can cut the tension with a knife. That customer truly understands that perhaps it might just be a skilled job. With the advent of plastic plumbing anyone can do it, cant they? What harm can a drop of water, sewage, oil, or gas do. Lol

My late dad never believed in paying someone to do a job that he could bodge himself.

Thankfully, no gas involved, but.... whole new dampcourse?  Nah, layer of kitchen foil pasted round the bottom half of the room, wallpaper on top and jobs a good-un.  Rotten window frame?  Nothing that an extra layer of paint can't fix.

After he died, the house could only be sold at auction because it was unmortgageable.

barnstar2077

Ibrahim5 said:

Look this is a MONEY SAVING forum where people share tips on SAVING money. Paying someone to do something you could do yourself is not MONEY SAVING.

You sound young and fit!  I hope you never get old, or ever feel unwell enough to need a bit of help getting stuff done!  I'm only in my forties and already I am struggling to get some jobs done (mainly because I seem to keep collecting injuries that affect my mobility.)  I would definitely pay for some help if I had the money. 

jimi_man

Ibrahim5 said:

Look this is a MONEY SAVING forum where people share tips on SAVING money. Paying someone to do something you could do yourself is not MONEY SAVING.

Yes and no. It’s like managing investments. Some people would rather pay an IFA for example whereas others would rather do it themselves. I enjoy diy stuff so I tend to do plumbing and bathrooms myself. Other jobs I’m not so keen on but I do anyway simply because the markup on paying someone to do it is so high, like changing brake pads on the car. Simple job (in my opinion) that takes a few minutes each side that garages charge the earth for. But I know loads of people who just wouldn’t touch that. 

So I totally get why people want to pay others to do it and it’s personal choice. 

Kim1965

Sort of agree with Ibrahim5, happy to have a go at most trades in my own home. Absolutely know your limits tho. 
The comment about trades making things more complicated than they are is dubious. Plastering a wall is simple, one hell of knack to make it look good though. 

Tassie_Devil

Albermarle said:

Kim1965 said:

Labour rates vary, outside london most want 250 a day. I charge £200 a day (plumber) on the basis that i am slowing down a tad and only work for people i have worked foro

  ...arriving at 08.30 and leaving at 05.30 and working pretty non stop.

Just a 21-hour day, then?

Albermarle

jimi_man said:

Ibrahim5 said:

Look this is a MONEY SAVING forum where people share tips on SAVING money. Paying someone to do something you could do yourself is not MONEY SAVING.

Yes and no. It’s like managing investments. Some people would rather pay an IFA for example whereas others would rather do it themselves. I enjoy diy stuff so I tend to do plumbing and bathrooms myself. Other jobs I’m not so keen on but I do anyway simply because the markup on paying someone to do it is so high, like changing brake pads on the car. Simple job (in my opinion) that takes a few minutes each side that garages charge the earth for. But I know loads of people who just wouldn’t touch that. 

So I totally get why people want to pay others to do it and it’s personal choice. 

Your comment in bold, will almost certainly get a reply from Ibrahim5  

Kim1965

I do bits  on my car and van. Sweep the chimney. Hung all my internal doors, lamináte floors, skirtings etc Replaced all my soffits and facias, how hard can it be. If I had ample means, I would happily pay someone to do it though. 

barnstar2077

I too enjoy doing DIY, I am also all about value for money so would normally give most non-life-threatening jobs a go myself, but as I said, I'm not as fit as I used to be!

Time4T_Accounts

I’m extremely glad I was able to make a living from my head, because I’m totally incompetent with my hands.  “DIY” for me stands for “Destroy It Yourself” …

german_keeper

Steve_PL_too said:

I’m extremely glad I was able to make a living from my head, because I’m totally incompetent with my hands.  “DIY” for me stands for “Destroy It Yourself” …

I reckon I can challenge you for the title of "World's worst DIYer". My brain just doesn't work that way. Sometimes people show me things and it seems to make sense. Back in 1999 when we bought an old house my brother in law showed me how to take radiators off and put them back on. I then did all the painting and happily removed and replaced radiators whilst doing so. Now I wouldn't have the first clue what to do.