Have you struggled to get a tradesman lately ?

[Dave7]

My Bro tried to get a bathroom fitter (last year).........they were all booked up for months (which, I suppose, is good).

We need our bathroom converting to a walk in shower etc (due to our health issues).
I phoned the guy who re-fitted it the last time. He cannot fit us in before October.
He used to be a one man operation plus plumbers/tilers he would call in. He tells me he now has 5 'gangs' who are booked solid.
What is happening out there ???

 

[biggs682]

We are having some internal painting being done our normal guy is booked for 3 months in advance so we will just wait .

The guy that services our air con is on about 6 week waiting time so we will wait .

 

[Drago]

No problems here. I do the bulk myself, and in the rare event I need a tradesman my nephew owns his own building company, and my SiL is a builder snd sparky. That said, neither of them are short of work right now.

 

[TissoT]

Probably surplus money in the pocket where normally it would be spent on a holiday aboard.

 

[Deleted User]

Most lads I know are in the Building trade and they're all stacked out, people not going on holiday and being around the home a lot more seems to be their feeling why there's more work about.

One lad purely does New Build and just landed a 3 Yr deal so that seems on the up as well.

 

[Deleted User]

Probably surplus money in the pocket where normal it would be spent on a holiday aboard.

Beat me to it!

 

[PaulSB]

We have always found it a problem and not just in the last 12 months.

The good ones get very busy as their reputation grows. Then they take on extra staff, their business grows and they become less interested in the smaller jobs which were once the mainstay of their work.

I wish them all luck as I know them to be decent people worthy of success. I can't help feeling it's a mistake to walk away from once very happy customers.

The ones who do seriously irritate me are those who come to price a job, decide it's not worthwhile and then price it at a ridiculously high level. Why not have the balls to simply say "Sorry this work isn't of interest to me."

 

[Kingfisher101]

Go on My Builder and put the job on, all the tradespeople are vetted etc and there's feedback from their jobs. I've had some great people from there, I've not been ripped off and they have done small jobs as well which often its really hard to get someone for.

 

[Ian H]

The ones who do seriously irritate me are those who come to price a job, decide it's not worthwhile and then price it at a ridiculously high level. Why not have the balls to simply say "Sorry this work isn't of interest to me."

Because if you agreed to the price it would be of interest.

 

[Bazzer]

I can provide a recommendation if you want. Whether he is booked up will require a call to him.

 

[vickster]

What is happening out there ???

Brexit exodus plus the above

 

[Drago]

Brexit exodus plus the above

At risk of swerving this one off topic, my Nephew reckons workers buggering off back home due to covid has had by far the greater impact. His staff that were legal to be here prior to the B word were still legal to remain after the B word, so the shortages there arent down to that.

In the case of my SiL, he was a fitness trainer specialising in visiting old peoples homes. His business dried up within 3 days, so he went back into building and renewed his sparky's ticket. The industry is currently buoyant with staff like him that lost their job elsewhere or couldn't work due to covid so took what work was out there, the still active building industry being the main chance and a reasonable payer. Staff are not the main problem - sheer demand is the big driver on availability at the moment.

Lack of skilled tradesmen is a bit of a concern in the industry, but that one has been about and growing for a decade and easily pre dates a certain referendum who's name shall not be mentioned. The good news is that may improve somewhat as skilled workers return, and new workers forced into the industry by circumstance get qualified.

So there are pressures on the industry, but the B word is waayyy down the list. That problem never really materialised in the manner or to the degree the doomsayers predicted.

 

[welsh dragon]

I never get a tradesman in. I have a man what does. We could never aford any when we first got married so Mr WD learned how to do everything himself even 're wiring an entire house, plumbing etc.

And my son also does everything himself. He has never employed anyone.

It saves a fortune and all I have to do is feed Mr WD tea and cake.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Yes. Long story short; I tried to order up a new fence for my neighbour, and they said the materials would come "hopefully in august". I then decided I couldn't commit to putting up her fence so advised her to go on Check-a-trade or similar. She put her details in and has had no responses. Everywhere you look, people are having windows, driveways, fences, extensions and gardens done. As someone else said, I think many people have more money in their pocket and/or more time to arrange work to be done.

 

[Dave7]

I can provide a recommendation if you want. Whether he is booked up will require a call to him.

I did get someone, thank@.
Its a guy I actually know well but has been unwell and is now back with us (to use a phrase)