Why is it so hard to get tradespeople to quote??
Discussion
TheAngryDog said:
Wall paper will be stripped, skirting boards will be off as will the radiator. Room will be empty floor covered. I know there will be wall paper paste residue left, any suggestions on what to remove it with?
So long as you get all the paper off, make sure there's no little bits of backing left on at all if you can and it will be fine at that as they will be covering it all with a bonding agent before they skim it out.Gav147 said:
If it's an average size room should be right, shouldn't take more than a day to plaster a room out. Providing it is ready that is!
Can i ask a genuine question? (I'm not having a dig)Why have you tried to get another quote? someone has come to you for a quote, did you not go with them because you didn't like them? they were too expensive? couldn't do it for a long time?
The reason i ask is I'm amazed at the sheer amount of quotes some people get. In my game some of them might get 6 or 7 people round.
Surely it should be a case of:
Do i like the bloke and think he will do a good job
am i happy to pay that price? i know someone else might be cheaper but will they be better/more reliable etc etc.
Generally i get 1 or maybe 2 prices. the only reason id get a second is because i either think the first isn't capable or its a decorator who wants £350 a day
(that was my most recent insult).Deja vu
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Is this problem just in the home counties ?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Is this problem just in the home counties ?
m3jappa said:
Gav147 said:
If it's an average size room should be right, shouldn't take more than a day to plaster a room out. Providing it is ready that is!
Can i ask a genuine question? (I'm not having a dig)Why have you tried to get another quote? someone has come to you for a quote, did you not go with them because you didn't like them? they were too expensive? couldn't do it for a long time?
The reason i ask is I'm amazed at the sheer amount of quotes some people get. In my game some of them might get 6 or 7 people round.
Surely it should be a case of:
Do i like the bloke and think he will do a good job
am i happy to pay that price? i know someone else might be cheaper but will they be better/more reliable etc etc.
Generally i get 1 or maybe 2 prices. the only reason id get a second is because i either think the first isn't capable or its a decorator who wants £350 a day
(that was my most recent insult).
m3jappa said:
i meant the other bloke and quoted it wrong (thick tradesman speaking ) someone (i think op) said he had had another quote i think.
haha no worries mate but yeah I know what you mean been to see one or two jobs to find out shortly after they've had just about every builder in the area round to quote, no point in pricing that one then! (thick tradesman speaking ) someone (i think op) said he had had another quote i think.
mike74 said:
I wasn't disagreeing with your point, it's entirely valid, they are useless pricks when it comes to obtaining quotes or even getting them to actually come and do the work they've quoted for...I was merely making an observation on your use of the word "tradespeople"
Apologies. I guess it's my northern disposition in terms of how people like that are known. m3jappa said:
Can i ask a genuine question? (I'm not having a dig)
Why have you tried to get another quote? someone has come to you for a quote, did you not go with them because you didn't like them? they were too expensive? couldn't do it for a long time?
The reason i ask is I'm amazed at the sheer amount of quotes some people get. In my game some of them might get 6 or 7 people round.
Surely it should be a case of:
Do i like the bloke and think he will do a good job
am i happy to pay that price? i know someone else might be cheaper but will they be better/more reliable etc etc.
Generally i get 1 or maybe 2 prices. the only reason id get a second is because i either think the first isn't capable or its a decorator who wants £350 a day (that was my most recent insult).
This is an interesting point, I can see it from both sides and both are valid.Why have you tried to get another quote? someone has come to you for a quote, did you not go with them because you didn't like them? they were too expensive? couldn't do it for a long time?
The reason i ask is I'm amazed at the sheer amount of quotes some people get. In my game some of them might get 6 or 7 people round.
Surely it should be a case of:
Do i like the bloke and think he will do a good job
am i happy to pay that price? i know someone else might be cheaper but will they be better/more reliable etc etc.
Generally i get 1 or maybe 2 prices. the only reason id get a second is because i either think the first isn't capable or its a decorator who wants £350 a day
(that was my most recent insult).As a tradesman If someone tells me they're "getting a few quotes in" I tend to back away from quoting. Maybe it's different as I'm employed and just cherry pick the best hobbles. But when I know I'm going to be quoting against a few other people, I find I'm inevitably going to have to either spend time explaining without offending anyone why I'm not competing with "uncle Tony who said he could do it in a day for £50". Or usually be told they would like me to do the work but I need to adjust the price as it wasn't the cheapest. Having not tried to rip them off, i'm not going to suddenly knock £200 off a kitchen install just because they want to feel like they have had a good haggle. I'm not haggling, I've evaluated the job and tried to give a fair price.
Having said that they are well within their rights to gather a few quotes, how are they supposed to know what things are going to cost and appreciate they are getting value without a few quotes.
I had 4 firms quote my drive and ended up doing it myself. 2 Of them I just didn't trust could complete what I wanted from what they told me during quoting (one didn't even measure the area). One was great and professional, quoted a very good price but then never answered his phone again. And another was very polite, knew what he was doing and had some great ideas, but his quote was just astronomical which is fair enough, I just couldn't afford it.
Speed 3 said:
Deja vu
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Is this problem just in the home counties ?
Could behttps://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Is this problem just in the home counties ?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Yes, do tell? It's either location or you already know the trades you are getting in to quote.
I've had one quote from a guy that I would like to do the work, I'd just like another 1 or two to make sure I'm getting good value for money.
Can I get another quote? Can I hell! No shows, enthusiastic folks who do show up then tell me they can't quote without a reason (the job is a reasonable size) or i just never hear from them again.
Frankly it's ridiculous and I'm probably going to accept my first and only full quote as it will never get done otherwise!
I've had one quote from a guy that I would like to do the work, I'd just like another 1 or two to make sure I'm getting good value for money.
Can I get another quote? Can I hell! No shows, enthusiastic folks who do show up then tell me they can't quote without a reason (the job is a reasonable size) or i just never hear from them again.
Frankly it's ridiculous and I'm probably going to accept my first and only full quote as it will never get done otherwise!
Having a similar problem myself with a house extension. Some builders just aren't interested in the work, which is fine but I just wish they'd be honest up front instead of me wondering, waiting, emailing, calling and then further waiting. To then eventually either get nothing back (which tells me they don't want the job) or I get a 'sorry but we aren't in a position to quote at this time' message or one telling me they are too busy.
It's fine if they are, just don't string me along or wait 2 weeks to tell me that.
It's fine if they are, just don't string me along or wait 2 weeks to tell me that.
Dealing with the public is a pain.
What I do is quite specialised. I aim to Property managers and Solicitors - but some public either get pointed to me to deal direct, or just find me.
I'm often on the road, so have developed my website so that i can respond quickly and easily. I don't do an on-site survey, but take the rough with the smooth.... I do need some basic info to quote - such as the type of property and where it is. Follow my form I get enough info. Put the price in my system and out the email goes.
Then there is the 'contact us' form. There is a strong hint - if you want a quote use the quote page. But no they still fill in the contact page. A typical response is how much will a Lease Plan cost? If I'm lucky they will leave contact details. But now I have to find time to send an email asking what type of property is it? Where is it? etc. Then another reply with a quote. If I'm busy on the road - it's not something I will get to until I get home or to a hotel in the evening.
It's all quite hard work.
What I do is quite specialised. I aim to Property managers and Solicitors - but some public either get pointed to me to deal direct, or just find me.
I'm often on the road, so have developed my website so that i can respond quickly and easily. I don't do an on-site survey, but take the rough with the smooth.... I do need some basic info to quote - such as the type of property and where it is. Follow my form I get enough info. Put the price in my system and out the email goes.
Then there is the 'contact us' form. There is a strong hint - if you want a quote use the quote page. But no they still fill in the contact page. A typical response is how much will a Lease Plan cost? If I'm lucky they will leave contact details. But now I have to find time to send an email asking what type of property is it? Where is it? etc. Then another reply with a quote. If I'm busy on the road - it's not something I will get to until I get home or to a hotel in the evening.
It's all quite hard work.
maccas99 said:
Yes, do tell? It's either location or you already know the trades you are getting in to quote.
I've had one quote from a guy that I would like to do the work, I'd just like another 1 or two to make sure I'm getting good value for money.
Can I get another quote? Can I hell! No shows, enthusiastic folks who do show up then tell me they can't quote without a reason (the job is a reasonable size) or i just never hear from them again.
Frankly it's ridiculous and I'm probably going to accept my first and only full quote as it will never get done otherwise!
If you know you're going to use the first guy why waste other people's time asking them to quote?I've had one quote from a guy that I would like to do the work, I'd just like another 1 or two to make sure I'm getting good value for money.
Can I get another quote? Can I hell! No shows, enthusiastic folks who do show up then tell me they can't quote without a reason (the job is a reasonable size) or i just never hear from them again.
Frankly it's ridiculous and I'm probably going to accept my first and only full quote as it will never get done otherwise!
m3jappa said:
People trying it on pisses me off, they want to earn too much money and if your a tradesman the bottom line is the max your going to get is £200 a day, can you earn more than that?.
Christ; don't find out what Heating Engineers are earning at the moment. I wouldn't even start the van up for £200 a day. I'd sell all my gear and go get an easy job.I have had this too, but something i find even more frustrating is a few tradesmen who came round as planned, spent nearly an hour at my house looking at the job and talking through some options and saying they will get the quote back to me in a few days/week or so and then I never hear from them again even when i chase them! What a waste of both our time!
I would much prefer people to say they are not interested so i know than just ignore me.
Maybe they are so busy and have better jobs coming up which is fine but maybe one day they will experience a down turn in business and need some of the people like me who now have them blacklisted and living in a small town im sure I will speak to various people and say to avoid the trade as they are unreliable.
I would much prefer people to say they are not interested so i know than just ignore me.
Maybe they are so busy and have better jobs coming up which is fine but maybe one day they will experience a down turn in business and need some of the people like me who now have them blacklisted and living in a small town im sure I will speak to various people and say to avoid the trade as they are unreliable.
Speed 3 said:
Deja vu
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Is this problem just in the home counties ?
It's a Southern thing that's for sure.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Is this problem just in the home counties ?
People up North are a lot more capable of working with their hands than those down South and there is more of them that can.
227bhp said:
It's a Southern thing that's for sure.
People up North are a lot more capable of working with their hands than those down South and there is more of them that can.
Don't know what's going on but over the last week or so we've had a flurry of leaflets from people (look like proper firms) touting for work, especially roofing and joinery. This is outskirts of Chester with most of the firms being in N Wales, or the Wirral.People up North are a lot more capable of working with their hands than those down South and there is more of them that can.
I'd never ring someone from that sort of leafleting though.
rival38 said:
I think: being a proficient tradesman does not often = becoming an efficient business owner / manager. Many I suspect, operate in a state of semi chaos or else they are simply quite busy enough. I agree that being busy is no excuse for not having the basic good manners to advise clients or potential clients of delayed or possibly cancelled appointments.
The ones who are business minded / keen to provide a good service, have a pretty good chance of levering their skill set into a decent sized concern, with the proviso that they also are, or become good people managers and administrators. Doing that takes an investment of effort or money, not everybody has the ambition or stomach for what they may perceive as extra stress.
Once up and running as a well organised / easy to communicate with business - who keeps appointments, provides clear quotations, works to a high standard - they can charge accordingly - and rightly so.
ALL trades do seem to be flat out currently. It will not last forever. Our regular electrician currently has a message on his phone, that says `sorry, but due to pressure of work I am no longer taking on new customers - if you are an existing customer please email me, and I will do my best to help, however please be advised that there is a one month Que for quotations and no `non emergency` work can be scheduled for at least 3 months` Fair enough & way better than leaving messages unanswered or promising appointments that can not be kept. But while busy, a lot of people can not be bothered with old fashioned courtesy, they are probably concentrating on either earning the most they can - and admin is on the back seat. Or they are trying to cherry pick the easiest most local jobs they can.
Very well said! The ones who are business minded / keen to provide a good service, have a pretty good chance of levering their skill set into a decent sized concern, with the proviso that they also are, or become good people managers and administrators. Doing that takes an investment of effort or money, not everybody has the ambition or stomach for what they may perceive as extra stress.
Once up and running as a well organised / easy to communicate with business - who keeps appointments, provides clear quotations, works to a high standard - they can charge accordingly - and rightly so.
ALL trades do seem to be flat out currently. It will not last forever. Our regular electrician currently has a message on his phone, that says `sorry, but due to pressure of work I am no longer taking on new customers - if you are an existing customer please email me, and I will do my best to help, however please be advised that there is a one month Que for quotations and no `non emergency` work can be scheduled for at least 3 months` Fair enough & way better than leaving messages unanswered or promising appointments that can not be kept. But while busy, a lot of people can not be bothered with old fashioned courtesy, they are probably concentrating on either earning the most they can - and admin is on the back seat. Or they are trying to cherry pick the easiest most local jobs they can.
I have found several very good tradesmen over the years. Good at their work, good with their pricing, good with their attention to detail on site - however all are woefully awful at timing keeping/turning up on time/turning up when agreed etc etc.
I have literally just learnt to expect it. All times are +30/60mins, all timetables are 'give or take several days' etc
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