Finding trades to do the job

shrewmouse

a) Yes it does happen to me all the time and b) i've absolutely no idea what to do about it which is why i googled it and ended up here. I accept they want to pick and choose jobs but why express interest then ghost, worse still turn up, promise quote then nothing. Currently at my wits end trying to get electrics and partial kitchen refurb done. 

wigglygiggly

We needed plastering done, it was a small job. We were either ghosted or the quote was so high there was no way we could afford to pay it.

Fast forward a few months and now these same plasterers are advertising everywhere, some saying work had dried up so were looking at alternate jobs themselves! 

Sistergold

Trades people are a mixed bag but most of them just find it impossible to be reliable for some reason. They will tell you they will come you take a day off and it becomes a no show. I am also in London, when they come they are either not good and or charge ridiculous amounts. When you get the inflated quote you are still not sure of the quality of work they will do as you have probably just found them online. For an extension it’s best to wait and wait and get a recommendation or see where they are working as you drive around and get their details but even then you can not guarantee that they did a good job where you saw them. 

Of cause most of us can not do our own extension, I avoid plumbing and electrics BUT for anything else as a home owner the best way forward now is to patiently acquire varied skills do most things yourself and gain experience in your own house. Remember that no one will judge you and no one is paying you so mistakes are not the end of the world. This will eliminate the need to call someone for many jobs big or small. Where you HAVE TO find someone say for gas/plumbing/electrics you then get someone and just pay the price. There is training out there and there is also YouTube and eventually practice makes perfect. 

For me due to problems of securing tradesmen I have had to 
1 - install blinds myself in a four bed house I had never used a drill before and had to go for a course on how to use power tools to gain confidence 
2- install shelves in garage and storage rooms
3- attend a carpentry course to do some carpentry around the house, for example doors doorframes. 
4- attend a kitchen fitting course just to be confident and be able to fit cabinets. 
5- attended a basic plumbing course to be able to sort blockages and leeks around the house. Have had deal with two sink blockages so far. One of them was on Christmas Eve where it would have been next to impossible to get a plumber out. 

6- fitted floor boards and floors

7- after two years of seeing if I can have a kitchen made and fitted from scratch as wanted a metal framed kitchen - industrial style cabinets,  contacted several companies/people who do metal fabrication and welders. Got a quote of £60k from one, other quotes from others with no shows, some came but I was not convinced they understood what I wanted. I finally decided that I will need to do the kitchen myself. 

As you also bring all these so called tradesman you run the risk of opening your house people who might steal from your house. 

After above frustrations I bought welding machine and materials went on YouTube, watched many videos, finally leant to weld and have now been making my own kitchen from scratch and 6 months later, only now have one kitchen cabinet left to make. After making the cabinets I have also installed them myself(wall units that is) all floor units I made them as freestanding. 

When you start doing most jobs yourself you acquire tools, skills, and you can now make and fit things the way you like in your own time. 

Many of us(especially woman) think we can not do many things ourselves but the more you try the better you get. Many so called tradesman are just people like us who have gained experience over time by learning as they do our jobs and we pay them for it. 

Most of us should really give refitting our own kitchen ourselves especially if you can just order the cabinets to assemble and fit or order pre-assembled. 

danrv

Sistergold said:

Of cause most of us can not do our own extension, I avoid plumbing and electrics BUT for anything else as a home owner the best way forward now is to patiently acquire varied skills do most things yourself and gain experience in your own house. Remember that no one will judge you and no one is paying you so mistakes are not the end of the world. This will eliminate the need to call someone for many jobs big or small. Where you HAVE TO find someone say for gas/plumbing/electrics you then get someone and just pay the price. There is training out there and there is also YouTube and eventually practice makes perfect. 

Agreed. 
Plumbing I find is one of the easier jobs and places like Screwfix and Toolstation have most stuff that you might need. Electrics are doable too with studying and online help.
Large plastering jobs and carpet laying I’d leave to a pro though.

SecondStar

Sistergold said:

Trades people are a mixed bag but most of them just find it impossible to be reliable for some reason. They will tell you they will come you take a day off and it becomes a no show. I am also in London, when they come they are either not good and or charge ridiculous amounts. When you get the inflated quote you are still not sure of the quality of work they will do as you have probably just found them online. For an extension it’s best to wait and wait and get a recommendation or see where they are working as you drive around and get their details but even then you can not guarantee that they did a good job where you saw them. 

Of cause most of us can not do our own extension, I avoid plumbing and electrics BUT for anything else as a home owner the best way forward now is to patiently acquire varied skills do most things yourself and gain experience in your own house. Remember that no one will judge you and no one is paying you so mistakes are not the end of the world. This will eliminate the need to call someone for many jobs big or small. Where you HAVE TO find someone say for gas/plumbing/electrics you then get someone and just pay the price. There is training out there and there is also YouTube and eventually practice makes perfect. 

For me due to problems of securing tradesmen I have had to 
1 - install blinds myself in a four bed house I had never used a drill before and had to go for a course on how to use power tools to gain confidence 
2- install shelves in garage and storage rooms
3- attend a carpentry course to do some carpentry around the house, for example doors doorframes. 
4- attend a kitchen fitting course just to be confident and be able to fit cabinets. 
5- attended a basic plumbing course to be able to sort blockages and leeks around the house. Have had deal with two sink blockages so far. One of them was on Christmas Eve where it would have been next to impossible to get a plumber out. 

6- fitted floor boards and floors

7- after two years of seeing if I can have a kitchen made and fitted from scratch as wanted a metal framed kitchen - industrial style cabinets,  contacted several companies/people who do metal fabrication and welders. Got a quote of £60k from one, other quotes from others with no shows, some came but I was not convinced they understood what I wanted. I finally decided that I will need to do the kitchen myself. 

As you also bring all these so called tradesman you run the risk of opening your house people who might steal from your house. 

After above frustrations I bought welding machine and materials went on YouTube, watched many videos, finally leant to weld and have now been making my own kitchen from scratch and 6 months later, only now have one kitchen cabinet left to make. After making the cabinets I have also installed them myself(wall units that is) all floor units I made them as freestanding. 

When you start doing most jobs yourself you acquire tools, skills, and you can now make and fit things the way you like in your own time. 

Many of us(especially woman) think we can not do many things ourselves but the more you try the better you get. Many so called tradesman are just people like us who have gained experience over time by learning as they do our jobs and we pay them for it. 

Most of us should really give refitting our own kitchen ourselves especially if you can just order the cabinets to assemble and fit or order pre-assembled. 

This is very inspiring, thank you for sharing!

benson1980

Sistergold said:

Trades people are a mixed bag but most of them just find it impossible to be reliable for some reason. They will tell you they will come you take a day off and it becomes a no show. I am also in London, when they come they are either not good and or charge ridiculous amounts. When you get the inflated quote you are still not sure of the quality of work they will do as you have probably just found them online. For an extension it’s best to wait and wait and get a recommendation or see where they are working as you drive around and get their details but even then you can not guarantee that they did a good job where you saw them. 

Of cause most of us can not do our own extension, I avoid plumbing and electrics BUT for anything else as a home owner the best way forward now is to patiently acquire varied skills do most things yourself and gain experience in your own house. Remember that no one will judge you and no one is paying you so mistakes are not the end of the world. This will eliminate the need to call someone for many jobs big or small. Where you HAVE TO find someone say for gas/plumbing/electrics you then get someone and just pay the price. There is training out there and there is also YouTube and eventually practice makes perfect. 

For me due to problems of securing tradesmen I have had to 
1 - install blinds myself in a four bed house I had never used a drill before and had to go for a course on how to use power tools to gain confidence 
2- install shelves in garage and storage rooms
3- attend a carpentry course to do some carpentry around the house, for example doors doorframes. 
4- attend a kitchen fitting course just to be confident and be able to fit cabinets. 
5- attended a basic plumbing course to be able to sort blockages and leeks around the house. Have had deal with two sink blockages so far. One of them was on Christmas Eve where it would have been next to impossible to get a plumber out. 

6- fitted floor boards and floors

7- after two years of seeing if I can have a kitchen made and fitted from scratch as wanted a metal framed kitchen - industrial style cabinets,  contacted several companies/people who do metal fabrication and welders. Got a quote of £60k from one, other quotes from others with no shows, some came but I was not convinced they understood what I wanted. I finally decided that I will need to do the kitchen myself. 

As you also bring all these so called tradesman you run the risk of opening your house people who might steal from your house. 

After above frustrations I bought welding machine and materials went on YouTube, watched many videos, finally leant to weld and have now been making my own kitchen from scratch and 6 months later, only now have one kitchen cabinet left to make. After making the cabinets I have also installed them myself(wall units that is) all floor units I made them as freestanding. 

When you start doing most jobs yourself you acquire tools, skills, and you can now make and fit things the way you like in your own time. 

Many of us(especially woman) think we can not do many things ourselves but the more you try the better you get. Many so called tradesman are just people like us who have gained experience over time by learning as they do our jobs and we pay them for it. 

Most of us should really give refitting our own kitchen ourselves especially if you can just order the cabinets to assemble and fit or order pre-assembled. 

Wow...fair play to you!

I agree with your sentiments. We're busy people but it tends to be more hassle half the time trying to get someone in to do stuff, and if you do it yourself it can be slow progress but you learn new skills and the savings are significant.

If I do need someone, I normally call 5 or 6 tradespeople straight away. Usually end up with maybe 3 of those coming round. This might give me 1 or 2 quotes. 

macman

6 for one job? That's why I can never find anyone: they're all queuing up at your place to do quotes...

benson1980

macman said:

6 for one job? That's why I can never find anyone: they're all queuing up at your place to do quotes...

Just the ratio I need to get a quote. 

Most recent one is a roofer to repoint chimney, fit a couple of veluxes, and some other minor roof repairs. 

Called six roofers on day off. Three just asked me to text details- never got back to me. Three did confirm appt and popped round to survey. One of those said he’d quote within a week- nothing heard. One provided quote but over the phone, and asked if I wanted it “off the books”. He’s been triaged out. This left me with one quote which I’ve accepted.

twopenny

Waited 3hrs from time agreed for one guy and he was useless when arrived, 4½ for another, another can't come for 2 mts, another next week to look.

Waited 2½ today for the defunct car to be seen because they were due for lunch in half an hour, they forgot.

But I spent the time walking around the builders yards getting names of more plumbers, one part time pre retirement wants small jobs! Checking what I'll need for boarding the bathroom, size of tiles and trims.

Of course 2 visits to offices (builders and door peeps) weren't open because of the school strikes. Run by mothers and some fathers who had to look after the children.

I did find out though that the plumbers are working out of town and further afield where the more lucrative jobs are cropping up. I don't blame them with young families or retirement because this is a time of high demand and they can make more money more easily that before with smaller jobs.

But it's still depressing and frustrating.

FreeBear

benson1980 said: Called six roofers on day off. Three just asked me to text details- never got back to me. Three did confirm appt and popped round to survey.

Pretty much the same experience for me over the last few years when trying to get quotes for anything. Now at the point where I'm fed up with no-shows and/or substandard work - Plasterers being the latest... Did a short (free) course with local adult education last year, and I'll be doing the plastering myself on the next job.

Also in need of a new gas boiler - Will be doing the plumbing myself, but for legal & warranty reasons, I need a Gas Safe registered fitter to do the installation, commissioning & registration. Had one no-show to date, and waiting for a quote from a second.