Hiring Tradesmen .........Advice

[Micilin]

While joe takes a moment on the other thread , I thought it worthwhile to remind people that I think the key things for all people hiring tradesmen is-


- Get at least 3 quotes
- Get recommendations
- Ask to look at previous work
- Make it clear exactly what the job entails, write it down if you have to.
- Agree part payments if a big job, but do not pay up full amount until happy

- Get the job properly ready - not the ' that will take two minutes in the morning'
- pay up!

 

[roughcaster]

Good advice from Micilin as usual. It's amazing though, that so many people fail to understand and apply this simple procedure when hiring a tradesman. No wonder so many people are ripped off and left with shoddy work.


As an aside,, i had a word with Joe's surgeon today, and was informed that his "vindication" is coming along nicely. It's still a little tender at the tip, but a few days rest will do it the world of good.

 

[Micilin]

The point is if you apply basic principles when hiring someone, you won't go far wrong.

I'd prefer to judge them on their quality of work , reliability and value for money. Anything else is letting other stuff get in the way.

Does anyone else have any thing they would advise people to do eg

- don't pay money up front
- get a landline number

???

 

[jrplastering]

can i just say one of those points mic its not always easy to show a client your work a pic shows nothing just shows a wall it doesnt show how even and smooth it is to an untrained eye, plus not alot people would like a tradesman bringing joe bloggs through thier house to show them what ive done, this is not really viable, if its an outside job theres no problem with driveing them past and stopping to have a look but trapesing a stranger through a house i cnt really see as an option, if some one asked me to let a stranger in to look as my living room i know what i would be saying.

dnt take me the wrong way mic i agree with all your other points but ive never agreed with this point whan its been bought up just not said anything about it.
as i said photos are a good idea in theory but realistically the clients untrained eye is not goin to know what hes looking at other than a browny pink wall and then one painted

sorry mic

 

[stevethespreader]

well jr i can see both point of views but its not that hard to show people your work well not for me anyway,ive got quite a few places to take a client if he wants to see any work ive done,

it may not be that easy for you beacuse you work for builders and their clients but for the likes of me its easy i can take them to pubs shops libarys hospitals health centers mates houses clients houses the list goes on
ect ect, its not that hard at all for me, but as i say for some it may be hard, and also photos are better than nothing

 

[Micilin]

Your problem is then with the customers - has anyone here yet made a suggestion for people who want to hire a tradesmen that actually will help you choose the best person to do the job?

As for seeing work, I'm not on about pics . If you have a relationship with clients they will let you use them for a reference - and that is my point - to check someone's work you need to check someone's work, would you trust some one more because of their accent or skin tone????????

 

[Micilin]

Steve, I've never shown anyone a picture of work - but I have always offered them the chance to look at work I've done, and never had a problem with this. Maybe because the customers I've had have been offre this option when they first got a quote.

And to be fair who would you trust more - the guy who wants you to check previous jobs, or the one who won't?


IMHO this is basic stuff ie a checklist before agreeing a contract - I'm just disappointed that some people have another agenda instead of either agreeing or disagreeing with the points made. Is every thread here going to degenerate into finding out first where the person who did the work comes from?

We've got to the stage where it's like -

Q ' My render has blown what do I do?'

A 'Did a Pole render it?'

What difference doe sit make who did it - will this information change your advice ?

Will it make (for example) SBR slurry, or a coat of bonding, a better option if a Brit was at fault?

 

[bradleigh1977]

I have met many foreign plasterers, but mostly they are dry liners. And there work is very good.

But i have also put right lots of work form british people, but more so foreign workers, as people wanted it done cheap and quick.

They "knew" someone at work who knew this polish,turkish,english whatever, who will do it for £30.

Then you turn up and charge them £200 to fix it.

I don't claim to be the best, cheapest or fastest plasterer in the world. But i always get called back to customers ( not at the moment works slow...) and am always getting passed on to other people.

Out of all the bad/cheap work thats done for people trying to save money, most of them people are "imported".

Maybe thats different where you live, but where i live its 100% true.

And before i get branded a racialist, i have a northerner working for me!


and going back to micilins post, i would NEVER pay them till the jobs finished. Maybe a couple of bob for materials but nothing till its finished.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

- Make it clear exactly what the job entails, write it down if you have to.

This is must do, I even write it in to quotes, what is going to be done.
Works out best for both parties.
You also get customers that try it on too

 

[misterdubya]

A customer must always be referred to as Mr ..... or Mrs ..... no matter how friendly they they are towards you.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

What if they are a Ms or a Miss or have Gender identity disorder?

 

[misterdubya]

What if they are a Ms or a Miss or have Gender identity disorder?

Then they can correct me. I just don't use forenames for my customers - totally un-proffesional - a bit like my spelling.

 

[jarvis2]

What if they are a Ms or a Miss or have Gender identity disorder?

Then they can correct me. I just don't use forenames for my customers - totally un-proffesional - a bit like my spelling.

So what you are saying, is if your customer prefers to be referred to by their Christan name, you refuse? That does not sound at all professional.

 

[misterdubya]

So what you are saying, is if your customer prefers to be referred to by their Christan name, you refuse? That does not sound at all professional

I did not 'say' that atall. I did not even type it.

 

[raebhoop]

A customer must always be referred to as Mr ..... or Mrs ..... no matter how friendly they they are towards you.

Anybody noticed American cops call their 'customers' Sir...On cop shows over here it's nearly always 'Mate'
I know which is more professional.