No one wants to do my job!

elsien

Guttering replacement, replacing the tiles  over the porch and a bay window and a new glass roof on the back porch. Local recommendations because I can’t get any personal ones  but long established companies up-to-date with companies house and positive online reviews (for what that is worth)
Some companies just won’t come out to the area because parking is iffy and they can’t be bothered. Which is fair enough if they tell me that - at least I know where I stand
Some  arrange to turn up for a quote (3 times for one particular company) and then just don’t show and you never hear from them again.

The latest one I thought went well with provisionally discussed what was needed and a timescale,  how long it would take, and that I’d  quite like something by email or writing.
I had a very brief text to say front will be X amount, back will be Y so I messaged back to say,  brilliant when can you come and measure up and by the way can I have a slightly more detailed quote?

I’ve now been ghosted and when I tried to phone them, they put the phone down on me. I realised trades people can pick and choose, but I’m doing my best to find someone reputable and protect myself at the same time. Is it really so unreasonable to want a little bit more detail about what I’m getting for my money?

Stumped us to how to proceed without going towards the dodgier end of the market.

Cherryfudge

We had exactly the same problem when we needed to replace a path on a gradient and negotiate it round a tree. Various people said 'Oh, no problem' then ghosted us, including one on Check a Trade. Eventually we did find someone but it took a year! It also took them longer than expected to complete, and they said to us that they thought other companies had avoided it because it was technically tricky.

I have to say the finished job was worth the wait - the company that did it had the knowledge and skills needed. I wonder, had we gone for the 'dodgy end of the market', whether we might have had problems with the resulting work?

I think you are reasonable to want an itemised quote, but you may also need to allow that there may be variations (agreed with you) in case extras are needed. In our case they found the original land drain needed to be replaced, which cost us about £250 more but seems to have cured the drainage problem.

I suspect a lot of people are booked up till September and you may find they become available once the weather changes. Some trades people also seem to assume the rest of us know their norms and think we are hassling when we are asking about things that you just don't know if you aren't them!

I hope you are successful: it may take a while but it's worth it.

TELLIT01

Good 'trades' are booked up months in advance although they may have a cancellation and want a quick fill in job.  That job doesn't seem to be a fill in as it's a number of comparatively small but very 'bitty' job.  All you can do it keep trying or ask for personal recommendations.

FreeBear

elsien said:

Guttering replacement, replacing the tiles  over the porch and a bay window and a new glass roof on the back porch.

Might be easier to break it down in to three separate jobs and get individual trades in for each.

Replacement guttering can be done by a roofer, although you may also find a window cleaner willing to do it.

Roof tiles - A roofer, although if they are simple flat tiles that are just hooked in to place, a general purpose handyman/window cleaner/maintenance guy could do it. Tie it in with guttering if they are capable.

Glass roof - Window doctor or conservatory installer. Get it done after any tiling or guttering, and there is less risk of it being damaged. You may even find they would entertain doing the guttering.