Trade rates experience
Discussion
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: And that's all I want to be honest.
If they don't want the job that's fine just tell me.
If they can't do the job for six months that's fine just tell me.
But don't come out within a day or so of being asked if they can quote and be nice as pie and tell me they'll send me pricing and then disappear off the face of the earth that's just a waste of everyones time.
I don't know if they're completely incapable of organising their lives or if the mentality is that there's just so much work that basic customer service skills and manners aren't needed right now but if that's the case now it won't always be that way.
I just don't get it
They likely don't realise that they're doing it, but if you chase and then you chase again you will likely get a response. If they don't want the job that's fine just tell me.
If they can't do the job for six months that's fine just tell me.
But don't come out within a day or so of being asked if they can quote and be nice as pie and tell me they'll send me pricing and then disappear off the face of the earth that's just a waste of everyones time.
I don't know if they're completely incapable of organising their lives or if the mentality is that there's just so much work that basic customer service skills and manners aren't needed right now but if that's the case now it won't always be that way.
I just don't get it
The reason you'll get a response though is that you've signalled that you're desperate, so you'll be a good customer and you can have 50% put on the quote just because you'll pay it.
It's a filter, you're filtering for good tradespeople, they're filtering for maximum profit.
I think the flipside of a lot of tradesmen feeling people look down on them and don't value their work is that many also feel awkward about discussing money or giving authoritative answers and advice or offering a solution. There's a feeling that a plumber (for example) is there to put pipes in, when I really want a plumber to solve a problem that lies between an old leaky bathroom and a shiny new one.
The education system has not only failed to produce enough tradesmen but has failed to give the ones we have much business acumen or communication skills.
The education system has not only failed to produce enough tradesmen but has failed to give the ones we have much business acumen or communication skills.
That's not my feeling I work in IT so I get the whole thing where people don't understand stuff and I'm completely out of my depth with anything plumbing or DIY related.
The chap has come back to me today funnily enough, unprompted, just to let me know he's still trying to get a price.
It's a door
The chap has come back to me today funnily enough, unprompted, just to let me know he's still trying to get a price.
It's a door
Countdown said:
The guy who fixed my boiler leak has just given me his bill. It was probably 7 hours in total over 2 days involving
Taking up the laminate flooring and floorboards
Getting under the floor and locating leak
Taking up the laminate flooring/floorboards at the other end of the hallway
Sending me a video of the leak
Removing and replacing faulty valve
Replacing all floorboarding so you can hardly tell it's been removed
All for less than £200 including parts.
For clarification I think he massively under-prices himself - his work is exceptional, he's one of the most trustworthy blokes I've come across and he's always busy. I genuinely don't know why he doesn't put his prices up
I had a terraced house slate roof reslated by a very experienced and very cheap roofer. He was a religious maniac and wrote part of a psalm into the chimney pot flaunching, £600 labour plus materials for two and took a week. No doubt if I’d sworn when he quoted it would have doubled.Taking up the laminate flooring and floorboards
Getting under the floor and locating leak
Taking up the laminate flooring/floorboards at the other end of the hallway
Sending me a video of the leak
Removing and replacing faulty valve
Replacing all floorboarding so you can hardly tell it's been removed
All for less than £200 including parts.
For clarification I think he massively under-prices himself - his work is exceptional, he's one of the most trustworthy blokes I've come across and he's always busy. I genuinely don't know why he doesn't put his prices up
Steve H said:
okgo said:
I actually saw this in the making - I stupidly thought about becoming an electrician 20 years ago, I joined Basingstoke college of technology having left a normal 6th form and it was like going back to year 8- 9 at school, about 13/14 years old vs the 16-17 we actually were - genuinely shocking.
This is very true. The education system reaps what it sows. Most/many trade jobs out-earn most teachers jobs but the kids that have dome smarts about them rarely get directed towards the trades at school.
guitarcarfanatic said:
Ignore the figures - it's more the illustration. You need to cover salary and make profit on top - otherwise, plenty of PAYE jobs for tradesman (with benefits) for £50-60k. No travel costs. Pension contribution. Sick Pay. Overtime paid etc.
My point is, most tradesman don't do this so have no idea what they should be charging. A skilled tradesman, doing all the good things I outlined above can absolutely charge £300 a day - if not, find better customers. There is no shortage of work and good reliable skilled tradesman should absolutely be maximising this opportunity!
He forgot to mention the working window, especially wet/external trades. Lovely sitting on your arse in a nice warm office until retirement, probably with all your joints working.My point is, most tradesman don't do this so have no idea what they should be charging. A skilled tradesman, doing all the good things I outlined above can absolutely charge £300 a day - if not, find better customers. There is no shortage of work and good reliable skilled tradesman should absolutely be maximising this opportunity!
Whenever I did price work, that was the price. For that price, you got an excellent install with excellent products, your property was also left as it was found. You would be treated with respect and politeness at all times, and should any issues arrive, you would see me on the door within 4 hours.
A garage roof for instance would be circa 2k ( redecked ) I’d do that in a day with a laborer. I’d clear £1000-£1200 out of that and give the laborer a bonus. (90’s rates)
Could I do it now ? No, because every joint is fekked. But I made enough back in the day to not need to.
Aluminati said:
He forgot to mention the working window, especially wet/external trades. Lovely sitting on your arse in a nice warm office until retirement, probably with all your joints working.
Whenever I did price work, that was the price. For that price, you got an excellent install with excellent products, your property was also left as it was found. You would be treated with respect and politeness at all times, and should any issues arrive, you would see me on the door within 4 hours.
A garage roof for instance would be circa 2k ( redecked ) I’d do that in a day with a laborer. I’d clear £1000-£1200 out of that and give the laborer a bonus. (90’s rates)
Could I do it now ? No, because every joint is fekked. But I made enough back in the day to not need to.
Exactly, I did a few jobs where people phoned me back and asked if I wasn’t able to make it that day when would I be round , the job was already done and the bill was in the post , it’s not difficult to do a job properly and clean up . Whenever I did price work, that was the price. For that price, you got an excellent install with excellent products, your property was also left as it was found. You would be treated with respect and politeness at all times, and should any issues arrive, you would see me on the door within 4 hours.
A garage roof for instance would be circa 2k ( redecked ) I’d do that in a day with a laborer. I’d clear £1000-£1200 out of that and give the laborer a bonus. (90’s rates)
Could I do it now ? No, because every joint is fekked. But I made enough back in the day to not need to.
I too am basically f
ked at late fifties , everything hurts but that’s my fault as I don’t know when to give up , but I’ve a good idea , it’s when I’m finished this renovation and extension! I did the same and reaped the benefits , I’ve been semi retired since late 40s but I get bored so keep taking projects on , my own projects by the way , I couldn’t comprehend working for most of the public these days .
paulwirral said:
Exactly, I did a few jobs where people phoned me back and asked if I wasn’t able to make it that day when would I be round , the job was already done and the bill was in the post , it’s not difficult to do a job properly and clean up .
I too am basically fked at late fifties , everything hurts but that’s my fault as I don’t know when to give up , but I’ve a good idea , it’s when I’m finished this renovation and extension!
I did the same and reaped the benefits , I’ve been semi retired since late 40s but I get bored so keep taking projects on , my own projects by the way , I couldn’t comprehend working for most of the public these days .
Indeed. I tried retirement but got bored after a week. Was fortunate enough to get asked to run a roofing division doing new build. 3 brain cells required and home by 1. I too am basically f
ked at late fifties , everything hurts but that’s my fault as I don’t know when to give up , but I’ve a good idea , it’s when I’m finished this renovation and extension! I did the same and reaped the benefits , I’ve been semi retired since late 40s but I get bored so keep taking projects on , my own projects by the way , I couldn’t comprehend working for most of the public these days .
I’d come and give you a hand, but it would take ten times longer, and half of that would be spent applying Ibuleve
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