[sandy]

We save for jobs to be done and get the same let downs!!! We are getting wee weed off too by trades people either not turning up or leaving you in limbo, we want quotes for painting the house, people have been but now avoid telling us "how much" , our TV is being repaired and the chap said we could Waite a long wile for parts,knows how long (next Christmas probably) My cooker burners have gone and I cannot get 2 parts I need despite trying to contact the manufacture, my VW was away in one garage for a year with the mechanic feeding me Bull poo poo and now it's on it's second year with another person telling sucking their teeth and being a bit indignant when we ring for updates!!! Hes nice really and I'm sure we will get it back, not to mention my GP, I feel I am disturbing him if I go to see him, not sure what he's there for!!!:o I agree, why don't people do what they say?

[Rosemary]

I want a bit of fencing done. A friend gave me a contact and I called them on Monday; they offered to stop by on Monday evening and arrived promptly at 6pm as agreed. He called me on Tuesday evening with a price, which was fine, and they are fitting the work in this morning, since it's small and local.

Assuming they DO arrive about 9 this morning as promised - it's maybe not all bad.

But I'm waiting for the builder to give me a price for some concrete windowsills - he's been for a look but needs to come back to measure up and price it. I've heard heehaw despite reminding him twice.

[Lizmar]

Well I've been reading this thread and trying to hold myself back from commenting, but I can't.  I have saved all my life to get somewhere I can really make into a nice home with land etc.  I think I am here, but how do I get work done.

You have to know people. There are no adverts in the papers and don't even think of the internet.  I have to ask neighbours who tells a friend who may know someone, who may pop over 'sometime'.  I've had problems with my water since I've been here. Rang the Council who said they would send the man up to assess - I've been here 3 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haven't seen the man yet. So had to ask farmer Paddy to ask his brother who had a friend who had some work done by an electrician who had a brother who was a plumber - he came round in April.

Builders don't bother, unless you want a house built.  I know I probably only want small work done, but when you here them in the pub talking about no work and they may have to sell up - surely lots of small jobs gets your name about and more business.
End of moan.

[sandy]

I used to be married to a plumber and heating engineer and he was always busy, his brothers were in the building trade as was my dad but, although we knew people, we still had to waite ages to get anything done, worse still, my handyman husband had no time to do it himself.
The thing is, most if not all would pay a fair price for work and not expect someone to do jobs for peanuts so why? Maybe we should post "Wanted, Handy person!!!! willing to travel" P.S  we did have a guest that helps us loads and still does when he has time, I am trying to encourage him to move nearer as he was after a house further away and he did not get it!!!!!!!!!! Now how can I tempt him, my OH sells all the eggs so no cake.....ummmmmmmmmmmm

[Rosemary]

The fencers turned up, on time, did a great job for less than they originally said.

Anyone looking for fencing in Central Scotland, I can certainly recommend ABM Fencing.

[sandy]

Great, some people are reliable then!!!

[Tullywood Farm]

Hi,

I have just read these postings and have to agree with you about Builders (Even though I used to be one).
Most of the work I used to do was Jobs just like the one you are describing, That the so called BIG builders just did not want.
The big contractors around here are only interested in jobs that will give them thousands!.
I only gave it up when Julie got Cancer so that I could spend more time with her and Tara also I was needed to look after her for 6 months.
I think myself lucky now as I am able to do all my own Building from Pig sheds to our own House.
I need to get a Digger in at the moment and a man locally has one which has been sat at the back of his house for weeks.(Not Working due to lack of work!).
I asked him about doing the job and he told me he charged €45 per hour,I offered him €30 and pointed out that his machine had been sat there for over a month and I have a good few days work for him.
He told me it was not worth getting out of bed for €30 per hour.
So I basically told him to F F F F FORGET about it.
I then approached another Digger man in our area and offered him the same and Guess what he is coming next week.
I only wish someone would pay me €30 per hour to get out of BED!
Any offers gratefully received
Kindest Regards
Joe

[Bobby]

I would like to apologise for the aggressive tone of my earlier post.  I was a builder for many years and spent a great deal of my time preparing estimates for people, getting haggled down to doing work for ridiculous prices and eventually losing everything.  Now I work for minimum wage , long hours, but with none of the stress.  I am sorry if I caused offence to anyone

Bobby

[lara]

The trouble with a lot of tradesmen is that they overvalue themselves, I used to work on the trade counter for a local plumbers merchants and spent many hours listening and talking to the plumbers who came in to collect their gear, one plumber used to swan around bragging that he had plenty of work and charged £35 per hour - which personally I think is extortionate ( considering that whilst he was at the merchants for  an hour drinking coffee & chatting he was charging his customer as he was 'collecting materials'. I'm not saying that all tradesman are the same but this is from the horses mouth. whereas my plumber charges me £18 per hour and does a good job. lots of the plumbers wouldn't even look at the small jobs as they said they couldn't charge enough to cover travelling etc and their time collecting materials etc....

[Bobby]

You are very right.  I have a brother in law who will not accept less than £30 per hour. I just want enough to get by, took me til I was almost 50 to realise it.

[sandy]

What we need is someone maybe retired or out of work but not on benefits as I know is they do small jobs and inform the benefits office, depending on how much you get, the benefits are stopped and it takes a while to sort them out again so they end up without money so they either have to do the work and not declare it or just not do it, this is probably causing problems for people made redundant who are trying to keep their head above water with regards to their mortgage or rent and of course food and fuel bills. There should be some way of declaring a wage but you have a few weeks still on possibly a lower benefit and if the work becomes regular then the benefit drops. I knew loads of people who would not work as they end up worse off financially. Anyway, back to the point, there must be loads of skilled people who could set up small handy man business, maybe someone should set up an agency! I bet here is one out there somewhere?? We need :-
The Sash windows repairing and some new sills
 Chimneys pointed
Chimneys swept
House painted (BIG JOB)
Locks put on the internal doors
New Garage roof
En Suite
Facelift
Tummy Stapled
Teeth done...sorry...endless list!!!

[lara]

Oh, I need my teeth done too Sandy.  I somehow have managed to break one in half - back tooth at bottom, but luckily because i had it root treated  21 years ago ( when I was pregnant and pregnancy takes all your calcium and ruins your teeth --(Dont you go worrying Linz), I dont have any pain ---That is 21 years ago on weds this week when my daughter Lou will be 21 (expensive birthday present I in order I think  ), but luckily I have a dentist appointment in a months time -- It will cost though.. me thinks 

[Lizmar]

Hi Lara. My daughter is 21 in August, what you doing for yours? I haven't a clue.  Not allowed a surprise party! I love to shock and surprise her, but can't think how this year

[sandy]

We found these 2 sites to find trade people in our local area if anyone wants to try, we are going to get some quotes for the list of jobs (not the lastic surgery!!! )

http://www.myhammer.co.uk

http://www.ratedpeople.com

[lara]

Hey Liz looks like we were preggers at the same time - it was a really hot summer wasn't it?...... strangely I cant really remember what hot summers are like now.
 Well the birthday present is fairly easy my daughter has just bought a house with her OH so we are buying them a dishwasher -they have most of everything else having lived together for a few years....
The other thing that she wants is Caramel shortcake (millionaires shortcake to others) as a birthday cake.!.  I love baking and evertime she comes round the first thing she asks is if I got any caramel shortcake which i try not to make too often as unfortunately its very fattening  , but quite yummy. so thats what I'm busy making now - well it has just come out of the oven .. will post a pic when its ready.   
She doesn't want a party either    so that's it really....
hope your daughter has a great birthday Liz.