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Hard to get good tradesmen?
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
Why is it so hard to get a good gardener or builder these days? Are standards too high? Or are people just cheap and don’t want pay? I had a gardener that would charge 350 for my entire garden (it’s a big one) but he’s moved away and now anyone that quotes me charges almost double. Can’t figure out if I’m being stingy or people are over quoting. I can’t do it myself u fortunately. And I can’t even be mad at the quotes because everything is expensive these days and people gotta make a living |
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Possibly a little bit of both, im a builder so alot of things have to come into pricing however there is loads of people out there trying to con people and youll find most wont be veey good at what they do |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Possibly a little bit of both, im a builder so alot of things have to come into pricing however there is loads of people out there trying to con people and youll find most wont be veey good at what they do"
That’s what I’ve found over the years. Had a really good builder do an incredible job. Then he scammed us when he came back. Never saw him again. Hard to tell the good ones from the bad |
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"Possibly a little bit of both, im a builder so alot of things have to come into pricing however there is loads of people out there trying to con people and youll find most wont be veey good at what they do
That’s what I’ve found over the years. Had a really good builder do an incredible job. Then he scammed us when he came back. Never saw him again. Hard to tell the good ones from the bad "
Persona mate, i do alot of commercial, dont do site work, me and the bloke i work with gaurentee 110% satisfaction, the amount of work weve had to go and sort out for people whove paid loads to cowboy builders is ridiculous |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"
Persona mate, i do alot of commercial, dont do site work, me and the bloke i work with gaurentee 110% satisfaction, the amount of work weve had to go and sort out for people whove paid loads to cowboy builders is ridiculous"
That must be frustrating. It just annoys me that people want to scam people out of their hard earn money instead of doing a good job in the first place and earning that money. Makes me not trust anyone that comes to give a quote etc |
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Persona mate, i do alot of commercial, dont do site work, me and the bloke i work with gaurentee 110% satisfaction, the amount of work weve had to go and sort out for people whove paid loads to cowboy builders is ridiculous
That must be frustrating. It just annoys me that people want to scam people out of their hard earn money instead of doing a good job in the first place and earning that money. Makes me not trust anyone that comes to give a quote etc "
Thats totally understandable, i worked on site and a guy laid 3 extra courses, he just said it aint my house im building, the plot had been brought for £435,000.
Some people want money and thats all their bothered about |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"
Persona mate, i do alot of commercial, dont do site work, me and the bloke i work with gaurentee 110% satisfaction, the amount of work weve had to go and sort out for people whove paid loads to cowboy builders is ridiculous
That must be frustrating. It just annoys me that people want to scam people out of their hard earn money instead of doing a good job in the first place and earning that money. Makes me not trust anyone that comes to give a quote etc
Thats totally understandable, i worked on site and a guy laid 3 extra courses, he just said it aint my house im building, the plot had been brought for £435,000.
Some people want money and thats all their bothered about "
Aah that’s sad af! |
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If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.
I've been in the building game most of my life. Always tried to do the right job, even when i know the client wont pay for the alteration, when an architect, designer or engineer has cocked up.
To win the work you have to price competively. Extras and alterations to the price should therefore be chargable but alas they are often swerved by the client.
Its all about paying as little as possible to maximise profit. |
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The price some of them charge makes me wish I went down the same training route as them,
It no job to small line that does my head in, Had so many tradesman say they will do a job then either don't come back or just don't turn up, In my experience all they ever want is jobs that they can charge thousands for, Obviously not all tradesmen |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours "
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive |
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours "
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h! |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive "
It’s what he quoted because of the size of the garden. It’s practically 3 gardens but really one big one haha |
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See so many so called "tradesmen" absolute tosh,lazy entitled arsehats.
To be honest and not wanting to get political but this a direct consequence of Tory governments eroding and devaluing trade apprentices.
Most of the young chippies I have worked with in the past few years can just about tie their shoe laces,let's alone hang a door.
But they seem to think they are the dog's bollocks. |
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Because years ago the government decided it was pointless proving apprenticeships in trades.
We have been left with cowboys or decent older ones that charge a fortune
Another thong the government's have done to screw over the little people |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h! "
Feel free to come sort my garden out ??. I can’t do it alone otherwise I would. Trimming hedges hurts my arms too much and I’m no good at anything else |
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"The price some of them charge makes me wish I went down the same training route as them,
It no job to small line that does my head in, Had so many tradesman say they will do a job then either don't come back or just don't turn up, In my experience all they ever want is jobs that they can charge thousands for, Obviously not all tradesmen "
Charlatans quite a few of them. And I disagree with post further back about what you pay. You always pay for a good job abd what you asked for but still they are just a law to themselves, cutting corners or not turning up and such like. Most take several jobs and play one against the other.
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive
It’s what he quoted because of the size of the garden. It’s practically 3 gardens but really one big one haha "
As long as you were happy with it. Fair enough.
But I would’ve told him to sling his hook for that price..
Four hours, 350?
I bet he asked for cash too.
I’ll come to yours every Saturday for that price and I’ll put in eight hours work to.  |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive
It’s what he quoted because of the size of the garden. It’s practically 3 gardens but really one big one haha
As long as you were happy with it. Fair enough.
But I would’ve told him to sling his hook for that price..
Four hours, 350?
I bet he asked for cash too.
I’ll come to yours every Saturday for that price and I’ll put in eight hours work to. "
Haha he only really came one every 3 months. Sometimes it’d take longer
Feel free to  |
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive
It’s what he quoted because of the size of the garden. It’s practically 3 gardens but really one big one haha
As long as you were happy with it. Fair enough.
But I would’ve told him to sling his hook for that price..
Four hours, 350?
I bet he asked for cash too.
I’ll come to yours every Saturday for that price and I’ll put in eight hours work to.
Haha he only really came one every 3 months. Sometimes it’d take longer
Feel free to "
Sounds like my sex life these days  |
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive
It’s what he quoted because of the size of the garden. It’s practically 3 gardens but really one big one haha "
I doesn't matter how big the garden is £350 for 4 hours is bloody expensive. |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"I kind of want to see his garden now, Just to see how good of a job his gardener does "
Well I need a gardener atm so it’s not in a good state haha! It’s not been done for a few months. But feel free to come for some tea |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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Unless hes turning up with some swanky sit on mower to blitz a cpl acres strim and trim the hedges in a few hours hes had your pants down, did gardens for a good few years before moving more into landscaping / groundworks and the most i could get on price were aroynd 60 p/hr for me and a lad but we had to work at a decent pace to earn that regular and as little beds and borders as possible |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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Plus hes charged you for the privilege of you/him only doing it every month or 2 so your paying twat tax lol get a regular to do it every fornight so he can enjoy cutting the grass and your probably gunna pay 100 a week and it look tidy |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Unless hes turning up with some swanky sit on mower to blitz a cpl acres strim and trim the hedges in a few hours hes had your pants down, did gardens for a good few years before moving more into landscaping / groundworks and the most i could get on price were aroynd 60 p/hr for me and a lad but we had to work at a decent pace to earn that regular and as little beds and borders as possible "
It’s probably the size of half a football pitch of grass that needs mowing, plus 3 really long and tall hedges that borders the house (circles around the house over 2.5 streets, plus the house next doors hedges too because we own that. And then the soil needing to be sorted out, plants cleaned up/planted etc. Cleans the drive too, ing out the cobbles and then even takes the rubbish away instead of filling the green bins |
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I was going to make a really useful and meaningful suggestion, like "I was saw an informational video recording about how to get a good price on home improvements," but I thought better of it, having read all of these eminently sensible suggestions |
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h! "
Do you ever do work in the south? I desperately need a Gardner! |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Unless hes turning up with some swanky sit on mower to blitz a cpl acres strim and trim the hedges in a few hours hes had your pants down, did gardens for a good few years before moving more into landscaping / groundworks and the most i could get on price were aroynd 60 p/hr for me and a lad but we had to work at a decent pace to earn that regular and as little beds and borders as possible
It’s probably the size of half a football pitch of grass that needs mowing, plus 3 really long and tall hedges that borders the house (circles around the house over 2.5 streets, plus the house next doors hedges too because we own that. And then the soil needing to be sorted out, plants cleaned up/planted etc. Cleans the drive too, ing out the cobbles and then even takes the rubbish away instead of filling the green bins "
You cut your lawns once every 3 months?  |
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h!
Do you ever do work in the south? I desperately need a Gardner! "
Sure, but I'd need £350 per visit to cover the cost of fuel and a hotel |
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I got ripped off by a gardener last year. Paid a lot of money out for a total overhaul, only for bits to be left undone or things not dug out properly consequently, I'm now doing it all over again this year. Complete waste of money. |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Unless hes turning up with some swanky sit on mower to blitz a cpl acres strim and trim the hedges in a few hours hes had your pants down, did gardens for a good few years before moving more into landscaping / groundworks and the most i could get on price were aroynd 60 p/hr for me and a lad but we had to work at a decent pace to earn that regular and as little beds and borders as possible
It’s probably the size of half a football pitch of grass that needs mowing, plus 3 really long and tall hedges that borders the house (circles around the house over 2.5 streets, plus the house next doors hedges too because we own that. And then the soil needing to be sorted out, plants cleaned up/planted etc. Cleans the drive too, ing out the cobbles and then even takes the rubbish away instead of filling the green bins
You cut your lawns once every 3 months? "
We used to do the lawn ourselves in between during the summer and let him do everything else because it barely grew in the winter but since treating it, it needs doing more often. Our lawnmowers broke and no one can be bothered to do it because of how long it takes us hs |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Unless hes turning up with some swanky sit on mower to blitz a cpl acres strim and trim the hedges in a few hours hes had your pants down, did gardens for a good few years before moving more into landscaping / groundworks and the most i could get on price were aroynd 60 p/hr for me and a lad but we had to work at a decent pace to earn that regular and as little beds and borders as possible
It’s probably the size of half a football pitch of grass that needs mowing, plus 3 really long and tall hedges that borders the house (circles around the house over 2.5 streets, plus the house next doors hedges too because we own that. And then the soil needing to be sorted out, plants cleaned up/planted etc. Cleans the drive too, ing out the cobbles and then even takes the rubbish away instead of filling the green bins "
then no wonder you cant get anybody to do it for the price he used to charge you, they can go do multiple small gardens with less waste smaller cheeper machinery to achive the same wage/profit id sooner take 10 small 30min gardens over 1 big one any day of the week |
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h!
Do you ever do work in the south? I desperately need a Gardner!
Sure, but I'd need £350 per visit to cover the cost of fuel and a hotel "
I'd pay it and feed you if it meant it finally got done, I'm fed up of trying to do it myself. I'm not gardener |
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"Why is it so hard to get a good gardener or builder these days? Are standards too high? Or are people just cheap and don’t want pay? I had a gardener that would charge 350 for my entire garden (it’s a big one) but he’s moved away and now anyone that quotes me charges almost double. Can’t figure out if I’m being stingy or people are over quoting. I can’t do it myself u fortunately. And I can’t even be mad at the quotes because everything is expensive these days and people gotta make a living "
Phone Bob....
Mr |
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By *igset OP Man 25 weeks ago
london |
"Unless hes turning up with some swanky sit on mower to blitz a cpl acres strim and trim the hedges in a few hours hes had your pants down, did gardens for a good few years before moving more into landscaping / groundworks and the most i could get on price were aroynd 60 p/hr for me and a lad but we had to work at a decent pace to earn that regular and as little beds and borders as possible
It’s probably the size of half a football pitch of grass that needs mowing, plus 3 really long and tall hedges that borders the house (circles around the house over 2.5 streets, plus the house next doors hedges too because we own that. And then the soil needing to be sorted out, plants cleaned up/planted etc. Cleans the drive too, ing out the cobbles and then even takes the rubbish away instead of filling the green bins then no wonder you cant get anybody to do it for the price he used to charge you, they can go do multiple small gardens with less waste smaller cheeper machinery to achive the same wage/profit id sooner take 10 small 30min gardens over 1 big one any day of the week "
Honestly it’s a struggle. Should get a salaried groundsman at this point haha |
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Am a decorator and always booked up for months.. I get phone calls all the time with folk wanting jobs done next week who are bewildered I can't do it .. if u are a good tradesman u are always busy folks .. |
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"You get what you pay for really "
That does not make sense to me tbh as when you specify a job and get a quote you should get excellent work and exactly what you agreed. But tgevpoint everyone is making is that you don't and that is my exoerience too. I don't ask for a cheap job, just the job I want doing. |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"You get what you pay for really
That does not make sense to me tbh as when you specify a job and get a quote you should get excellent work and exactly what you agreed. But tgevpoint everyone is making is that you don't and that is my i exoerience too. I don't ask for a cheap job, just the job I want doing. "
i were replying about the robotic mowers, obviously one for 1k is brill in a small garden but half acre to cut might be a costly machine |
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By *TinRedCouple 25 weeks ago
Reading |
"Am a decorator and always booked up for months.. I get phone calls all the time with folk wanting jobs done next week who are bewildered I can't do it .. if u are a good tradesman u are always busy folks .. "
Or too cheap. |
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"You get what you pay for really
That does not make sense to me tbh as when you specify a job and get a quote you should get excellent work and exactly what you agreed. But tgevpoint everyone is making is that you don't and that is my i exoerience too. I don't ask for a cheap job, just the job I want doing. i were replying about the robotic mowers, obviously one for 1k is brill in a small garden but half acre to cut might be a costly machine "
Sorry, in that case yes sure |
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout."
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ? |
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"Are there any vocational colleges near you? Could be an idea to get students in for work experience? Or some kind of apprentices?
That’s a good idea tbh!"
Skilled people are cheaper as they are so much faster , estimate accurately and make better decisions on solving problems.
My gardener charges £15 an hour and she is still at college. She is very slow and not very strong, she cannot use my chainsaw or a chipper I was only really comfortable with electric tools |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?"
prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price |
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By *929Man 25 weeks ago
newcastle |
"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?"
I generally work on a quid a brick Labour only for building walls if that helps you cost it up mate |
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price "
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbers |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?
I generally work on a quid a brick Labour only for building walls if that helps you cost it up mate "
thats when customers supply you with 900x215 bricks haha |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbers"
so you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect? |
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbersso you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect? "
I agree with you on that a good tradesman worth his salt will never quote work without seeing it in person |
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By *929Man 25 weeks ago
newcastle |
"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?
I generally work on a quid a brick Labour only for building walls if that helps you cost it up mate thats when customers supply you with 900x215 bricks haha "
Haha aye I should specify standard 65mm bricks |
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By *929Man 25 weeks ago
newcastle |
"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbersso you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect? "
I’d always look first always assume no footing when pricing a wall, reckon 90% at least if the walls I’ve replaced have no or inadequate footings |
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By *agondaMan 25 weeks ago
Witterings |
"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
No wonder he left, he’s just bought a holiday home in the Algarve.
That sounds expensive
It’s what he quoted because of the size of the garden. It’s practically 3 gardens but really one big one haha
I doesn't matter how big the garden is £350 for 4 hours is bloody expensive."
Agreed, and wasn’t the grass a bit long after three months? I fear someone is having a laugh |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbersso you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect?
I agree with you on that a good tradesman worth his salt will never quote work without seeing it in person "
maybe plot work or new walls ect of a drawing but residential work has far too many variables to add time and labour the list is endless, where can you mix, store materials clean mixer out, even outside taps and water pressure can be a game changer to a job |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbersso you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect?
I’d always look first always assume no footing when pricing a wall, reckon 90% at least if the walls I’ve replaced have no or inadequate footings "
working on day rates dosent get you anywhere other than watched all day while you have 10mins for a sarnie, work a price out based on day rate to you add your costs on then give a quote |
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"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbersso you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect?
I agree with you on that a good tradesman worth his salt will never quote work without seeing it in person maybe plot work or new walls ect of a drawing but residential work has far too many variables to add time and labour the list is endless, where can you mix, store materials clean mixer out, even outside taps and water pressure can be a game changer to a job "
Plot work is a different story it’s generally on a new build site and it’s done to a on a repetitive system any other type of work in our game generally needs to be seen in person because of several different variables that have to be taken into account, I.e manholes, trees, boundaries and so on |
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By *929Man 25 weeks ago
newcastle |
"Anyone looking for a trustworthy builder in west/ north Yorks give me a shout.
Will You travel to Notts ?
How do I prove up a small garden wall ? I can estimate and price the bricks and cappings but the labour to prep and lay the wall ? What’s a reasonable day rate ?prove??? Or prop? And without seeing it it more than likely needs rebuilding if its already failed, small walls most builders would price for the job or large would give a per m2 price
Price
It’s no different consultancy every job is different, but I have day rates and can estimate how long the project will take without having to go and look at it. Often with trades it seems like I need to stand there scratching my head making up numbersso you would price a garden wall job up without looking at it? Checking access footings ect?
I’d always look first always assume no footing when pricing a wall, reckon 90% at least if the walls I’ve replaced have no or inadequate footings working on day rates dosent get you anywhere other than watched all day while you have 10mins for a sarnie, work a price out based on day rate to you add your costs on then give a quote "
I always do an all in price mate my post earlier meant that price was for only the Labour the lay the brick after working out the material cost, travel ect not working on Labour only basis, if a customer even asks me to break down the quote I walk away |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"£350 for 4 hours work lol i think you were scammed
How much would you do it for, Fred?
Fred would do it for 349.99 
Plus VAT! "
Yes. I reckon Fred is an honest man. |
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By *insBadMan 25 weeks ago
& around |
"Why is it so hard to get a good gardener or builder these days? Are standards too high? Or are people just cheap and don’t want pay? I had a gardener that would charge 350 for my entire garden (it’s a big one) but he’s moved away and now anyone that quotes me charges almost double. Can’t figure out if I’m being stingy or people are over quoting. I can’t do it myself u fortunately. And I can’t even be mad at the quotes because everything is expensive these days and people gotta make a living "
Signs of the times |
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"Agree! I’ve been trying to find a decorator for ages but can’t! Fairly big job too.
Just can’t seem to find someone. Maybe I’m too fussy. "
Every Tom, Dick and Harry think they can be a decorator these days.  |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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Covid saw demand and prices rocket and they've never dropped since. On the quality front I reckon loads do shite apprenticeships while working on new builds never learning skills fully. Then they go independent and don't have care like old times. |
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I've been having issues with it. Managed to get one gardner in one area, took forever.
The previous one was charging to come out and 'maintain' the garden every two weeks. Then sending me emails about how things were overgrown there and quotes to rectify it  . He'd been maintaining the garden there for 10+ years.
I had it out with him and said look just give me a price to actually maintain the garden. He didn't want to do that so he's gone. New guy is sound, one price every month cleans the gutters too. Took an age to find anyone decent though.
Nothing to do with being tight that guy keeps to his word and gets paid what he asked for, every month. |
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By *AYENCouple 25 weeks ago
Lincolnshire |
"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h! "
Whilst the OP's charges do seem high, £25 per hour self-employed is the equivalent to employed minimum wage. Running your own company requires at least £40 per hour when you take into account holiday pay, vehicle and equipment investment, running an accounts department and all the other jobs you have to do plus the overheads you incur. K. |
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"Agree! I’ve been trying to find a decorator for ages but can’t! Fairly big job too.
Just can’t seem to find someone. Maybe I’m too fussy.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry think they can be a decorator these days. "
As they say, if you can piss you can decorate...
Mr |
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By (user no longer on site) 25 weeks ago
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"Not per month - per visit tbh. He used to come every few months
1 visit? As in 1 day?
Yeah he’d come and sort the whole garden out within a few hours. Usually took him 4 hours
£350 for 4 hours work? Seriously??
I'm an RHS qualified gardener and the most I'd charge is £25 p/h!
Whilst the OP's charges do seem high, £25 per hour self-employed is the equivalent to employed minimum wage. Running your own company requires at least £40 per hour when you take into account holiday pay, vehicle and equipment investment, running an accounts department and all the other jobs you have to do plus the overheads you incur. K."
add in the weather for a gardener and your workable days over the year soon halves so do we get to £80 per hr??? |
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By *htcMan 25 weeks ago
MK |
Agreed with that builders aren't interested in jobs. Have had that problem for years, even hired builders from Poland to come over do my kitchen and bathroom few years ago, paid hotel, flights, car and all expenses on top of the work. Worked out cheaper and they do the work. Contacted around 15 builders for the job only one replied and came for a quote for 20k, ones from Poland did it for for half plus additional for flights, hotel , car and all that plus extra food.
My work had the same issue with finding a company to install air conditioning so instead we paid Bulgarian workers to come over, Same again paid all hotels , flights, food and car plus the job.
English builders just aren't interested in work for some reason, never reply to emails and have no interest in giving a quote . Having the same issue now with a small tile job the kitchen easy job for a half a day of work just no interest even handy men who claim no work to small no reply |
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"instead we paid Bulgarian workers to come over, Same again paid all hotels , flights, food and car plus the job.
"
Bulgaria is significantly cheaper to live in that the UK. So yes, it makes sense for tradesfolk. That "10K" was worth a lot to them.
20K domestically sounds about right to me for a kitchen and bathroom. |
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I work as a handyman with my son in law and even though I do say it myself we work hard.
We give 110% to every job big or small and complete them as if it were our own house.
If the customer isn't satisfied we will do what we can to rectify it until they are.
This week we fitted a wardrobe and dressing table from a large manufacturer. As we were finishing up on the second day we had said to each other that desk is too tall. The following day the customer stated they were not happy with the height so we adjusted it all within the quoted price.
Happy customer means good reviews which is how this particular customer chose.us to do they job. |
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