Tradesmen not interested

Joined
18 Jan 2006
Messages
405
Reaction score
5
Location
Cumbria
Country
United Kingdom
I have had a few instances recently where it seems that tradesmen are not interested in small jobs. I tried to get someone to re-turf a smallish lawn (25sqm). Had three companies come and look but none got back to me. Even when I chased them up. Now I am trying to get a tree tidied up, not a large tree. I have contacted three tree surgeons. One came to look but I never heard back from him and the other two said they would come and have a look but never turned up. I would be quite happy for them to say they can't do the job but none of them have contacted me . What has happened to common courtesy? Makes me laugh that they regularly advertise in the free local business guide but don't want the work when it is offered to them!
 
It may be worth asking for recommendations on facebook for people who have used a reliable tradesman to do………..
In my area that usually gets a response and you can then pick who you want.
 
It may be worth asking for recommendations on facebook for people who have used a reliable tradesman to do………..
In my area that usually gets a response and you can then pick who you want.
The problem with that is that it is a matter of the opinion of the person doing the recommendation. I have seen some people recommended that I know from personal experience are hopeless and not real professionals. It really seems difficult to make decisions about who to employ, especially if it's a big job.
 
For small jobs, maybe you need the local handyman?
Usually available via Facebook etc.

Don't just go off 1 recommendation, look for someone with several people recommending and check their profiles to see if they are all in different locations or are related/friends with each other etc.
 
None of these were contacted due to a personal recommendation, they all advertised either online or in the free local business guide.
We are hoping to move to a different area in the next 12 months so we may well just give it our own annual hack and leave it for the next owner to sort out. It just puzzles me why no one even bothers to reply or turn up when they say they would.
 
None of these were contacted due to a personal recommendation, they all advertised either online or in the free local business guide.
We are hoping to move to a different area in the next 12 months so we may well just give it our own annual hack and leave it for the next owner to sort out. It just puzzles me why no one even bothers to reply or turn up when they say they would.

It's because they can find larger jobs that pay better so they can focus on those. Market economics are dictating that your business isn't the best decision for them. I agree though it would be nice if they returned calls and turned up on time, but currently they can easily stay in business without doing this.
 
I have the same problem. Jobs too small. Tradesman need to charge for their time, and with small yours they end up charging more for travelling to/from the job than doing the work. I have got some jobs done by asking a tradesman I have seen working local. Most I would find by visiting the Pub.
 
I was upfront with a customer last week and told them that their job of trying to rebuild radiator cabinets would go one of two ways. I'd price it cautiously and be to expensive or price it optimistically and probably lose money myself and politely turned it down.

She blew her top - ive now got a negative review calling me unprofessional for saying No Thank you!

I think No Job to small is an advertising gimmick. Small jobs often aren't cost effective.

Join your local residence fb page, ask the question, whoevers names come up the most contact them.
 
I was upfront with a customer last week and told them that their job of trying to rebuild radiator cabinets would go one of two ways. I'd price it cautiously and be to expensive or price it optimistically and probably lose money myself and politely turned it down.
Why would you do that? Just price it, they accept or they don't. Granted they may well leave negative reviews anyway but I don't see why you would say any of that.
 
Back
Top