Tradesmen, do you use them?
Sept 20, 2006 19:20:37 GMT
Post by PinkFloyd on Sept 20, 2006 19:20:37 GMT
Until now I haven't had much call to use tradesmen (ie: plumbers, electricians, joiners, painters etc.) and have been more than happy to "DIY" around the house to great effect.
I'm now in this old building and not sure where the wiring routes, the water routes.... well, it's in need of a bit of work here and there (mainly cosmetic / rerouting water, electrics etc.) so I've called in a few tradesmen to give me a quote.
My god, the quotes to get a "trench" dug and a length of drainage pipe fitted (a 30 metre run with 11 inch drop) ranged from £250 up to an, unbelievable, £1,700! I told the £1,700 guy to saddle up and get the hell out of my garden "pronto!"
Same happened with a partition wall, 3 of them arrived with one guy quoting £900, another £700 and another £240. I told the £240 he could do the job last night and he was here first thing in the morning with his wood and plasterboard and "what" a superb job he's made of it, you honestly wouldn't know the wall hadn't ever been there, it's seamless and that's without any filler or paint yet.... I was so happy with this guy that I told him he could come back and do the rest of the work whenever he's ready.
Seems to me there are out and out "cowboys" who are quite happy to quote ridiculous prices and there are genuine, good tradesmen who do a fair days work for a fair days wage. So annoyed am I with that £1700 for the trench bloke I feel like smashing him in the face, these bandits should be horse whipped with a ripe cactus IMO.
Funny thing is, all the ludicrous quotes came from "English" guys who have obviously come up here (after being driven out of England probably) to start business. The local tradesmen (and I mean "time served craftsmen") are just so honest and down to earth.
It seems it's pretty much the "wild west" up this way at the moment with all and sundry buying up houses and, along with the demand, come the cowboys on their horses ready to rip you off left, right and centre. It's sad to see such a nice place, and lovely people, being prey to these big city crooks which is why I'll kick that £1700 trench digging merchant in the face if I ever see him again (and I will) these kind of rogues need a good seeing to.
Anyways, where was I, oh yes...... tradesmen..... do any of you guys use them or are you DIYers? It's pretty much a case of me "having" to get them in at the moment as I've got too much other stuff on my plate but it's been enlightening to see the good, the bad and the ugly in such detail (and in broad daylight, and with a smile)
I'm now in this old building and not sure where the wiring routes, the water routes.... well, it's in need of a bit of work here and there (mainly cosmetic / rerouting water, electrics etc.) so I've called in a few tradesmen to give me a quote.
My god, the quotes to get a "trench" dug and a length of drainage pipe fitted (a 30 metre run with 11 inch drop) ranged from £250 up to an, unbelievable, £1,700! I told the £1,700 guy to saddle up and get the hell out of my garden "pronto!"
Same happened with a partition wall, 3 of them arrived with one guy quoting £900, another £700 and another £240. I told the £240 he could do the job last night and he was here first thing in the morning with his wood and plasterboard and "what" a superb job he's made of it, you honestly wouldn't know the wall hadn't ever been there, it's seamless and that's without any filler or paint yet.... I was so happy with this guy that I told him he could come back and do the rest of the work whenever he's ready.
Seems to me there are out and out "cowboys" who are quite happy to quote ridiculous prices and there are genuine, good tradesmen who do a fair days work for a fair days wage. So annoyed am I with that £1700 for the trench bloke I feel like smashing him in the face, these bandits should be horse whipped with a ripe cactus IMO.
Funny thing is, all the ludicrous quotes came from "English" guys who have obviously come up here (after being driven out of England probably) to start business. The local tradesmen (and I mean "time served craftsmen") are just so honest and down to earth.
It seems it's pretty much the "wild west" up this way at the moment with all and sundry buying up houses and, along with the demand, come the cowboys on their horses ready to rip you off left, right and centre. It's sad to see such a nice place, and lovely people, being prey to these big city crooks which is why I'll kick that £1700 trench digging merchant in the face if I ever see him again (and I will) these kind of rogues need a good seeing to.
Anyways, where was I, oh yes...... tradesmen..... do any of you guys use them or are you DIYers? It's pretty much a case of me "having" to get them in at the moment as I've got too much other stuff on my plate but it's been enlightening to see the good, the bad and the ugly in such detail (and in broad daylight, and with a smile)