Do tradesmen have to much work?

[GSP]

We are looking to get a couple of jobs done around the house, but we are having trouble finding anybody willing to take on the jobs :-(

The first one is pretty small, looking to have a 4m diameter circular decorative patio laid surrounded by sleeper and dry stone walled flower beds. We have called 5 local companies, only 1 bothered turning up and they said they would post a quote within the next couple of days... Two weeks later and nothing :-(

I appreciate with the above that garden related trades are busy at this time of year, however the second job is to rip out our old fire place and fit a Derbyshire gritstone hearth and surround before installing a pioneer 400 stove... 6 retailers later... All said the next step would be to come out survey our home, yet 3 weeks later not a single one has been in touch :-(

I can't believe it's so difficult to get stuff done, although I'm glad they must all be so busy they don't need / want the work, I'd rather they just said so though.

So if anyone knows a landscaper or stove supplier and fitter in north Nottinghamshire please let me know.

[kambites]

Landscape gardeners are certainly over-subscribed around here (Hampshire). I'm looking to get a patio done and the lead times from people I'd actually trust to do the job are varying from "3 months if the weather is good" to "some time next year".

[greygoose]

It is hard to find decent people, try asking neighbours or people at work if they know anyone decent. I was phoning decorators the other day, the first to answer his phone said he could come in October, why does he bother having an ad in the parish magazine if he is that booked up?!

[Vaud]

Try your local Facebook village / town group as well. The most diligent people I have found are those living in the same village as they rely (and thrive) on local word of mouth.

[GSP]

Yeah we had a decorator in full time for 6 weeks this time last year, we booked him in November the year before. It also took nearly 9 month to get our (slow) leaking hot water tank replaced with our preferred plumber... I definetely don't mind waiting, it's getting them in the damn door for them to even give me a price and a lead time I'm struggling with :-(

[Evanivitch]

Use word of mouth and you'll find a semi-retired handy man that can do those sort of small jobs. It was our former landlord that pointed us to him in the end.

We'd have been stuffed without ours, he's worth his weight in gold.

[greygoose]

Vaud said:

Try your local Facebook village / town group as well. The most diligent people I have found are those living in the same village as they rely (and thrive) on local word of mouth.

Very true, I got my roofer from the parish magazine and he came to give a quote within a day and did the work within a week. We recommended him to sister in law and he gave the same good service to her, only smallish jobs but I would always ring him now and recommend him to others.

[bogie]

Im in NE Notts and had my garden landscaped in various stages over a few years by Rufford Landscapes. Highly recommended and very professional

http://www.ruffordlandscapes.com/default.html

I think they do work pretty much all over the county North of Nottingham and ind West Lincs, Sth Yorks area.

[GSP]

Thanks bogie, they look great, I will definetely call them

[Salesy]

If they are any good then yes they can be very busy.

I am a sparks and have a very busy diary for the rest of the year with a few days left out for emergency jobs etc. I also work closely with 4 other guys ( chippie, plumber and tiler) and we are all the same.

We have found most people will wait for us based on our reputation and we always endeavour to quote the job within 7 days.

Sometimes we visit clients and just don't get the right feeling from them and decline to quote, others don't accept our lead times and look elsewhere. Funnily enough we have had 2 clients this year that would not wait for us and got others in, unfortunately on both occasions they have had the job half done and the guys have disappeared.

[Andehh]

Yep, we have been waiting since Christmas for our preferred builder/plumber to come and re-do a bathroom and lay under floor heating. They are worth it, but damn hard work trying to pin down.

[condor]

greygoose said:

Vaud said:

Try your local Facebook village / town group as well. The most diligent people I have found are those living in the same village as they rely (and thrive) on local word of mouth.

Very true, I got my roofer from the parish magazine and he came to give a quote within a day and did the work within a week. We recommended him to sister in law and he gave the same good service to her, only smallish jobs but I would always ring him now and recommend him to others.

There is another site called www.streetlife.com which you can ask for recommendations from local folk and also local tradesmen use that as a way to advertise their services.

[GSP]

Salesy said:

I
Sometimes we visit clients and just don't get the right feeling from them and decline to quote

I do wonder whether is occasionally the problem, I'm 32 but look about 12, people knock the door and ask if my parents are in... I really hope it's not the case though, I'm a nice person.