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Picking a tradesperson
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Nearly slipped up there lol
When you need some work done around your Manor, how do you pick the trades you want to work on your pride and joy?
Do you ask too see examples of previous work maybe? Or wing it abd hope they're good because they can chat a good shoe? |
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"Some cowboys could show you good work done by others. Look for the relevant trades on trusted trader Or check a trade "
I really have had problems over the years trying to get tradespeople.
I don't think any of the 'trusted' sites can be trusted. They charge the trader and don't really give a toss whether they are any good or not despite what they say......
I had a gas man from one of the 'trusted' sites and he f'd n jeffed and moaned and tutted while another one stood with a clipboard and then they told me what they'd diagnosed and gave me a price.
Needless to say I got others in and had people who seemed more clued up to fix the fire...... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I went into a local family run hardware shop and asked if they knew any local gas engineers
They weren't going to recommend anyone crap as it would potentially reflect on their business
They even rang him for me and made the appointment
His little black book has been a godsend - he has put me in touch with an electrician, a plasterer and a decorator
So, if you find someone you trust who does a good job, ask them, they are not very likely to recommend crap or unreliable tradies |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I'm a tradesman and my advice is to get as many quotes as you can, get them to send you previous works and then sit down and think it through, and as the old saying goes, if they can start straight away and you don't have to book in a start date. They can't be that good. |
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Lots of good advice on here. Ask friends and ask on your local community forums. 99% of my business comes through word of mouth. A good tradesman doesn't really need to advertise.
Ask any other tradesman you know and trust, we all have a network of trusted colleagues across the various trades who we know we can recommend to our clients.
Check their website and Google reviews.
Get comparative quotes, and don't go for the cheapest.
Be wary if they're not booked up in advance, and watch out if if they're offering unsolicited discounts...... |
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"Generally ask friends family for advice and recommendations. Generally can't go wrong there . "
Yep, word of mouth is the best way. Very quick to find someone who has work done by a company through Facebook etc.
anyone can take some fancy pics of their work to show it off. |
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Ooops sorry.... Posted then went to work lol
This was inspired by a comment on a thread about guys posting videos of them having sex with other women on their profiles saying they don't ask to see a washing machine repair man working on another washing machine before getting them to fix theirs.
Thank you though to the people who sent me messages offering help x I forget there are some decent people on here sometimes  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When I moved last year I got an excellent painter and decorator online from Rated People.
I’m on there!
It’s a very reliable website.
"
What services do you offer Sammy?
I was really pleased with the tradesman I got from that website - I trusted him and he did a great job.
Worth every penny.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"When I moved last year I got an excellent painter and decorator online from Rated People.
I’m on there!
It’s a very reliable website.
What services do you offer Sammy?
I was really pleased with the tradesman I got from that website - I trusted him and he did a great job.
Worth every penny.
"
I do banging, nailing and erecting.
It’s a very reliable service site as tradesmen have to pay to buy the individual job leads.
I only use it to fill the occasional spare day in but when I have used it I’ve been pleasantly surprised. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"A good builder will always be stacked out with work, so you might have to wait for months, there’s a reason why they’re busy. "
try years!!!! round me I'm booked up now until may next year and still having people ringing me up most days wanting work done.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Being in the building trade I do it meself. As for picking trades word of mouth is best. That plumber or brickie doesn’t need to advertise as their work does that for them. Price wise ? Go with the above , cheap is never hardly cheeriest  |
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By *ad NannaWoman
over a year ago
East London |
"Check out the condition of the horse they rock up to quote on
A fine impressive stallion/mare - you should be ok
Looks like it’s ready for the knackers yard - swerve"
Not entirely true.
My ex never had a top of the range car or van, but he's worked on multimillion pound homes and historical buildings.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've never had any luck with this 'find a' sites. They either never get back to you or are only interested in major projects. Word of mouth or local community magazines can be a good source. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I tend to go with personal recommendations.
I had a shower fitted last year. As soon as he turned up to quote, I could tell he knew his trade, not the cheapest, but 20+ years experience (not that this is any guarantee either, actually) and a no nonsense approach. None of this constantly on his phone, or taking breaks every 5 mins, just in, done and gone. |
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By *igmaMan
over a year ago
Yorkshire |
"Check out the condition of the horse they rock up to quote on
A fine impressive stallion/mare - you should be ok
Looks like it’s ready for the knackers yard - swerve
Not entirely true.
My ex never had a top of the range car or van, but he's worked on multimillion pound homes and historical buildings.
"
Wouldn’t know, I’m a virologist |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Iv been in business for myself now for over 1 year now. I am a carpenter/joiner and I work purely on word of mouth .amount of cowboys or chancer out there is mental ."
Spiral fixings for kitchen wall cabinets on a drywall. That was just last week and the customer wondered why it was falling from the wall. A loose tap was superglued from the worktop. And that was just last week. Idiots. Pure idiot.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Nearly slipped up there lol
When you need some work done around your Manor, how do you pick the trades you want to work on your pride and joy?
Do you ask too see examples of previous work maybe? Or wing it abd hope they're good because they can chat a good shoe? "
Ask friends or family for recommendations ! Don’t always go for the cheapest as a good tradesmen are worth paying extra for |
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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago
South Wales |
I find it hard enough to get folk out to even give a quote.
Been trying to get a tree cut down for over a year and you ring up, give the details, make an appointment and they just don’t show up.
Three local firms have done this to us (one did it twice by apologising and rearranging but didn’t turn up then either!)
Same issue with Roofing companies. They make appointment and just don’t show up.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Availability is a good indicator. If they can start tomorrow, steer clear.
Think somebody on here already put, ask independent hardware stores who they would recommend (not big chains though).
Don’t use sites like check a trade etc. Bit like on here, they can pay to have membership status and get their mates to ‘verify’
Xx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's not just the tradesman. Customers can also expect things to be done that are difficult to implement. Things the experienced avoid, or have to quote a high price. But the customer goes on to find an inexperienced tradesman and they and the customer get into trouble later on in the project.
So get quotes from the well known trades folk and listen to their advice. Usually they'll gladly give it. |
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By *igmaMan
over a year ago
Yorkshire |
"It's not just the tradesman. Customers can also expect things to be done that are difficult to implement. Things the experienced avoid, or have to quote a high price. But the customer goes on to find an inexperienced tradesman and they and the customer get into trouble later on in the project."
Or have ridiculous expectations on price! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Anougher thing to add ask to see insurance and for some jobs you need to be licensed to use equipment so for my trade you need to have a digger license also can't dig with out checking for cables and you need to have done a course to use a cat scanner which finds cables, if it's things like drop Kerbs or sewer connections you need to have done a course and got the ticket to do these the amount of people out there who have none of this and do crap work is unbelievable, I would always Google which qualifications/tickets are needed for which trade you require. Exceptions will be things like a joiner or general builder where they don't have to be licensed. |
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"Nearly slipped up there lol
When you need some work done around your Manor, how do you pick the trades you want to work on your pride and joy?
Do you ask too see examples of previous work maybe? Or wing it abd hope they're good because they can chat a good shoe? "
What are you wanting to get done?
I'm not scouting for business I'm an employed tradesmen just wanted to offer advice if required. |
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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago
Hull |
I have been in the same situation since coming home last November, & recognising I needed some repairs done to the house.
I tried the Trader Check sites; a waste of time! But in my region, there's a local Facebook page and I put out an enquiry on that.
That provided over 130 replies in 24 hours with a few names coming up several times, which I then checked out. I found a builder who completed a few small jobs for a good price; he in turn recommended a great Electrician who proved his worth too.
For major building work, I asked local Estate Agents, as often they get properties on their books which need renovating and need a good builder. They came up with 2 companies. Both quoted for the work in January, but both could not do the work till at least May as being too busy.
I've made my choice; they start on May 3rd.
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