How are you coping with the inability to get a tradesperson out?

NibblyPig

I'm going absolutely insane from this.

I wonder if it's the nature of the main job I have, which is to remove my ensuite bathroom and dividing wall to open my bedroom out that is too fiddly for someone to do, but I am at my wits end about it.

I contacted someone with great reviews on google, who after a couple of weeks came out to look (I had described exactly what needed doing). They took a good look, and then said they'd get in touch with a quote. A week later, no quote, sent them a message, no reply, gave up. So I'd lost a couple of months at that point, trying to find someone and also trying to get a quote. I had contacted others but they did not reply.

So then I thought I'd try what looked like a building company that claimed to have several tradespersons working for them to tackle any job. Straight up 5 star reviews on google. Contacted them, they had a receptionist, who said they'd be in touch. They get in touch, say that they've booked me in for a quote in just over a month. So I wait another month, and a guy comes out, very professional looking, measures everything up, takes photos, explains what would need doing etc and says he'd send a quote over in a couple of days.

A week passes, and nothing, so I phone them up, the receptionist transfers me to the guy, who says yep he's just writing the quote up and it'll be with me by the end of the week. This was on a Wednesday. Didn't hear anything before the weekend, now another whole week has passed and still nothing. Do I phone them back and pester them? Has this guy also given up on the job and isn't interested?

I just don't know what to do. I am living out of boxes because all my clothes are still in boxes as I have a huge wardrobe in pieces in my garage waiting for this job to be done so I can put it into the space and actually hang all my clothes up. It's so hard to keep clothes organised when you don't have proper storage for them.

I have a ton of other jobs that need doing as well. Trying to find a reputable bathroom fitter they are all booked up for months. It would be fine and stress free if they simply had an appointment system, booked you in, gave you a date, turned up, did the job etc even if the timescales are measured in months. But I always end up in the same place, wondering if the person is going to call me back as promised, wondering if I'm really on a waiting list and they'll get to me soon, etc.

I honestly think I might enroll in college to learn some of these skills and spend a year or two becoming a certified plumber/carpenter purely so I can fix my bathroom once.

Sorry for ranting but how are people coping with this kind of thing or am I just really unlucky?

MovingForwards

My upstairs neighbour has been trying to get his whole flat refurbished, struggling to get trades to quote and he just keeps waiting and trying. At some point people will be available.

I don't understand why you've not put your wardrobe together and unpacked your clothes, knowing it's quite a while before any work will be done. 

Jaybee_16

Unfortunately it's a common problem. Good builders are busy and booked up for months in advance.
In my previous flat I wanted a patio in the garden and had the same as you, builders came to look but didn't quote or just never bothered to turn up.
Where I am now, I found a local builder through asking on a local Facebook site. He was honest and said he was booked up for the next six months but as most of his work was outside and mine was indoors, he would come when it was too wet to do other outside jobs. Luckily it rains a lot in Wales.

It's a frustrating process.

NibblyPig

MovingForwards said:

I don't understand why you've not put your wardrobe together and unpacked your clothes, knowing it's quite a while before any work will be done. 

Unfortunately it's a huge full size double ikea pax and it won't fit without the extra space, plus putting it together will be a several hour job and it won't be possible to move it afterwards.

I do wonder if I can negotiate something like I can probably do much of it myself if they can do the bits I can't... but I dunno.

At this point I'd pay double just to get it done.

EssexExile

You just have to contact loads of people, most won't want the job, some will, you just have to find the one that will. It could take months.

Slinky

We've had the same thing trying to get a builder to quote for an extension and renovation to our existing house. Had one very high quote and nothing to compare it to. Fingers crossed a chap who has done some small jobs for us in the past is sorting a reasonable quote as he does at least seem interested.

Have you thought about getting a clothes rail as a temporary measure? We did this when we had to move house and leave our furniture in the previous one for a while.

JGB1955

We've just learned to live with it.  We have a couple of jobs that need doing - electric shower needs replacing (it's fine if you prop the hose up against the wall) and a couple of 'blown' windows - downstairs cloakroom, so...pull down the blind and nobody knows/cares.  

Imagine my surprise when we got a builder (recommended by a distant friend) to repoint and repair our brick garden wall.  Even better - he's agreed to 'do' my (now 5 year old plan) garden.  I could worship the ground he walks on!

bris

Flat pack specialists are out there and they are just good DIY'ers (handy man) with no particular trades.

Forget locking for tradesmen for this and find a handy man, there are plenty about. The PAX system is pretty easy to put together but the sheer size of it puts people off.

Having said that Ikea can arrange it for you, they have contacts that put together their stuff, have you asked their customer services for help? 

canaldumidi

Yes it's frustrating, but not uncommon. I understand when they don't want to quote (the better traedes people are the ones too booked up to have time/inclination!) - what I find harder is the ones who spend time discussing and looking, and then vanish. However

First off, you need to get 3+ quotes anyway, so why are you contacting trades people one by one? If you'd started by contacting 5 or 6 you might have got 3 quotes within a few weeks.

Next: 'google reviews'? Forgive me while I choke on my beer!

Use Consumer Association or Trading Standards or peronal recommendations. Failing that, a local company/person with a local presence (not a mobile number and no address - too easy forthem to vanish!). My village has a community newsletter which lists trades people have used successfully. Anything like that for you? Or knock on neighbours' doors!

twopenny

Glad I'm not alone.

I've contacted lots of people and they don't get back to me. I'd rather they just said 'I'm sorry, I can't do this' on the spot so I can move on.

I moved here just before the pandemic, have no bathroom, wanted lots done but no one wants to quote.

The thing is some essential jobs (heating playing up, hot water timer gone bust, immersion thermostat gone etc) I can't get anyone to call in for a 20min job a few doors away. One called and gave me the name of someone new to bathrooms who 'might charge a bit more' would do the electrics! He himself was an electrician who lives a few doors away.

I'm so depressed by the rejections that I've had to take a break because it was getting to me.

But many that turn up do small 'sympathy' jobs for free. I've had the outdoor tap mended, my electric drill bit reclaimed from a drain and the tiny ensuit shower made good.

I'm reckoning if I ask enough round to quote I may not get the bathroom done but the odd jobs will all be fixed

Ant555

NibblyPig said:

I'm going absolutely insane from this.

I just don't know what to do. I am living out of boxes because all my clothes are still in boxes
 It's so hard to keep clothes organised when you don't have proper storage for them.

Ref the clothes - if this item will fit somewhere temporary, how about something inexpensive like this for your clothes.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4741004

hope this helps