Etiquette for 'entertaining' Trades people....

[easynow]

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video_thumb/CTUj7BLWcAEjyNp.png

 

[JC Footy Genius]

One good way to get trades people onside is to ask them to do a couple of minor additional jobs for no extra cost like adding a conservatory or re tiling the roof

 

[Wrong-Direction]

One good way to get trades people onside is to ask them to do a couple of minor additional jobs for no extra cost like adding a conservatory or re tiling the roof [emoji106]

You'd be surprised how many people actually try to get away with this[emoji35]

 

[JC Footy Genius]

You'd be surprised how many people actually try to get away with this[emoji35]

Indeed, then they wonder why your late starting a job ... cause and effect!

 

[Baldseagull]

Best way to keep tradesmen happy is to watch over them constantly, and ask them if they know what they are doing whenever they pause for thought. Nice if you can get the heating up to about 25 degrees as well.

All tradesmen seem to have difficulty in closing a door without really banging it, and will be in and out to the van, so they will either leave the door wide open and freeze the house, or rattle your windows every time they bang the door shut. This is to ensure you know we are there, and may be in need of a cup of tea. Other indications that tea may be required are mentions of this being a "dry job", "thirsty work", "is that a kettle boiling?" or variations of dry throat symptoms.

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

One good way to get trades people onside is to ask them to do a couple of minor additional jobs for no extra cost like adding a conservatory or re tiling the roof

We had a 'Take two radiators down & remove boiler' for the plasterer - price accepted.

Ended up five radiators + remove cylinder + disconnect tanks in roof-space ffsake!

Took twice as long

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

Arf.. Never seen it happen, but certainly urban legend..

How can you tell if [MENTION=11499]simmo[/MENTION]_SAYS has been in your rifle-ling through you Mrs undies drawer..?

http://tinyurl.com/j4ynozs

I would look for any signs of Guinness stains on her clean knickers........dont check the washing basket cos it might not be Guinness

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

I would look for any signs of Guinness stains on her clean knickers........dont check the washing basket cos it might not be Guinness

Have I worked for you before

 

[JC Footy Genius]

We had a 'Take two radiators down & remove boiler' for the plasterer - price accepted.

Ended up five radiators + remove cylinder + disconnect tanks in roof-space ffsake!

Took twice as long

Was it the usual cash in hand payment for the extra work though?

 

[ferring seagull]

Perhaps my Scottish background but tended always to provide teas /coffees every two / three hours - perhaps counter productive ?

By the Bye, does anyone know who might install a new radiator and o/s tap in Worthing area

 

[Rowdey]

Best way to keep tradesmen happy is to watch over them constantly, and ask them if they know what they are doing whenever they pause for thought. Nice if you can get the heating up to about 25 degrees as well.

All tradesmen seem to have difficulty in closing a door without really banging it, and will be in and out to the van, so they will either leave the door wide open and freeze the house, or rattle your windows every time they bang the door shut. This is to ensure you know we are there, and may be in need of a cup of tea. Other indications that tea may be required are mentions of this being a "dry job", "thirsty work", "is that a kettle boiling?" or variations of dry throat symptoms.

That's like Tea bingo.. full house..!

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

Was it the usual cash in hand payment for the extra work though?

Ibrahim didn't understand so no.
He wanted to pay me in four veeks as well.
I said vuck off

 

[mxs_harrow]

Don't give, or offer tradesmen anything. It is, essentially, a sign of weakness.

They are being paid for the job ( no doubt, very well) and should provide all they need themselves.

On building jobs that have stage payments, there is probably sufficient financial latitude for the builders to pay for for their own tea, sugar and even short-term assets, such as milk.

People who are not resourceful enough to feed and water themselves, probably aren't resourceful enough to fulfil the work requirement adequately.

I don't think emergency services, A&E staff, paramedics etc. get given cups of tea and biscuits once they turn up. If you see people fixing gas/water leaks and power outages in the street, you will see that they have the foresight to bring their own sustenance with them.

If plumbing/sanitaryware is being fitted, then make sure they use other (external) facilities and/or use a Portaloo (especially if the work is longer term). You don't want to be buying premium kit and letting them christen/soil it first. If they have to use a toilet, they will probably have a old spare pan on the van, which they can fit and use as a temporary measure.

Most builders/plumbers are incapable of fitting a toilet (especially wall-mounted and concealed cistern) without it subsequently falling off the spigots/threaded studs which are supposed to attach it to the wall and appear to be even more challenged by adapting continental-style sinks and waste systems (Franke etc.) to standard pipework.

For a one-off job, boiler fix, servicing etc., then, yes, offer the guy (female plumbers are also available), a cup of tea afterwards, once the job is finished, you have a proper invoice ( and warranty) for the job and they have cleared all their tools and tidied up the workplace.

All this sounds a little harsh, but we have had to kick two sets of so-called builders off-site and use a combination of recommended local tradesmen ( aka the Ruislip Massive) and self-taught skills honed by practice/You Tube videos and familiarisation with a veritable mountain of tools abandoned by the aforementioned "builders".

This rant is now officially over....

 

[Wrong-Direction]

Don't give, or offer tradesmen anything. It is, essentially, a sign of weakness.

They are being paid for the job ( no doubt, very well) and should provide all they need themselves.

On building jobs that have stage payments, there is probably sufficient financial latitude for the builders to pay for for their own tea, sugar and even short-term assets, such as milk.

People who are not resourceful enough to feed and water themselves, probably aren't resourceful enough to fulfil the work requirement adequately.

I don't think emergency services, A&E staff, paramedics etc. get given cups of tea and biscuits once they turn up. If you see people fixing gas/water leaks and power outages in the street, you will see that they have the foresight to bring their own sustenance with them.

If plumbing/sanitaryware is being fitted, then make sure they use other (external) facilities and/or use a Portaloo (especially if the work is longer term). You don't want to be buying premium kit and letting them christen/soil it first. If they have to use a toilet, they will probably have a old spare pan on the van, which they can fit and use as a temporary measure.

Most builders/plumbers are incapable of fitting a toilet (especially wall-mounted and concealed cistern) without it subsequently falling off the spigots/threaded studs which are supposed to attach it to the wall and appear to be even more challenged by adapting continental-style sinks and waste systems (Franke etc.) to standard pipework.

For a one-off job, boiler fix, servicing etc., then, yes, offer the guy (female plumbers are also available), a cup of tea afterwards, once the job is finished, you have a proper invoice ( and warranty) for the job and they have cleared all their tools and tidied up the workplace.

All this sounds a little harsh, but we have had to kick two sets of so-called builders off-site and use a combination of recommended local tradesmen ( aka the Ruislip Massive) and self-taught skills honed by practice/You Tube videos and familiarisation with a veritable mountain of tools abandoned by the aforementioned "builders".

This rant is now officially over....

Remind me never to work for you, jeeez

 

[mxs_harrow]

Remind me never to work for you, jeeez

We only spent over 150K and the first builder ran off with 30K of our money after the architect did not properly oversee some of the work and cleared off abroad at a time when two stage payments to a schedule were made.

When I work, I get paid a professional working day rate and get sign off when the deliverables are demonstrably completed. That day could be 7.5, 8 or 12 hours long sometimes, for example, Monday included driving London to Leeds and back as well.

Hospitality is a good thing to embrace and it's good to make a visitor a cup of tea and a sandwich as and when appropriate.

There have been times when people have been on site really late, or the workers have had no funds to buy food or drink due to the contractor/owner/boss/gang leader/career criminal not paying them ( out of the funds they have been paid up front) and then they have been fed/watered and been given a lift back late to Hounslow/Slough/wherever.

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

Don't give, or offer tradesmen anything. It is, essentially, a sign of weakness.

They are being paid for the job ( no doubt, very well) and should provide all they need themselves.

On building jobs that have stage payments, there is probably sufficient financial latitude for the builders to pay for for their own tea, sugar and even short-term assets, such as milk.

People who are not resourceful enough to feed and water themselves, probably aren't resourceful enough to fulfil the work requirement adequately.

I don't think emergency services, A&E staff, paramedics etc. get given cups of tea and biscuits once they turn up. If you see people fixing gas/water leaks and power outages in the street, you will see that they have the foresight to bring their own sustenance with them.

If plumbing/sanitaryware is being fitted, then make sure they use other (external) facilities and/or use a Portaloo (especially if the work is longer term). You don't want to be buying premium kit and letting them christen/soil it first. If they have to use a toilet, they will probably have a old spare pan on the van, which they can fit and use as a temporary measure.

Most builders/plumbers are incapable of fitting a toilet (especially wall-mounted and concealed cistern) without it subsequently falling off the spigots/threaded studs which are supposed to attach it to the wall and appear to be even more challenged by adapting continental-style sinks and waste systems (Franke etc.) to standard pipework.

For a one-off job, boiler fix, servicing etc., then, yes, offer the guy (female plumbers are also available), a cup of tea afterwards, once the job is finished, you have a proper invoice ( and warranty) for the job and they have cleared all their tools and tidied up the workplace.

All this sounds a little harsh, but we have had to kick two sets of so-called builders off-site and use a combination of recommended local tradesmen ( aka the Ruislip Massive) and self-taught skills honed by practice/You Tube videos and familiarisation with a veritable mountain of tools abandoned by the aforementioned "builders".

This rant is now officially over....

This made me laugh you are so right.
POST MORE STUFF 54 posts since 2009 where the feck have you been.

 

[Wrong-Direction]

We only spent over 150K and the first builder ran off with 30K of our money after the architect did not properly oversee some of the work and cleared off abroad at a time when two stage payments to a schedule were made.

When I work, I get paid a professional working day rate and get sign off when the deliverables are demonstrably completed. That day could be 7.5, 8 or 12 hours long sometimes, for example, Monday included driving London to Leeds and back as well.

Hospitality is a good thing to embrace and it's good to make a visitor a cup of tea and a sandwich as and when appropriate.

There have been times when people have been on site really late, or the workers have had no funds to buy food or drink due to the contractor/owner/boss/gang leader/career criminal not paying them ( out of the funds they have been paid up front) and then they have been fed/watered and been given a lift back late to Hounslow/Slough/wherever.

Fair enough[emoji106]

 

[LamieRobertson]

Don't give, or offer tradesmen anything. It is, essentially, a sign of weakness.

They are being paid for the job ( no doubt, very well) and should provide all they need themselves.

On building jobs that have stage payments, there is probably sufficient financial latitude for the builders to pay for for their own tea, sugar and even short-term assets, such as milk.

People who are not resourceful enough to feed and water themselves, probably aren't resourceful enough to fulfil the work requirement adequately.

I don't think emergency services, A&E staff, paramedics etc. get given cups of tea and biscuits once they turn up. If you see people fixing gas/water leaks and power outages in the street, you will see that they have the foresight to bring their own sustenance with them.

If plumbing/sanitaryware is being fitted, then make sure they use other (external) facilities and/or use a Portaloo (especially if the work is longer term). You don't want to be buying premium kit and letting them christen/soil it first. If they have to use a toilet, they will probably have a old spare pan on the van, which they can fit and use as a temporary measure.

Most builders/plumbers are incapable of fitting a toilet (especially wall-mounted and concealed cistern) without it subsequently falling off the spigots/threaded studs which are supposed to attach it to the wall and appear to be even more challenged by adapting continental-style sinks and waste systems (Franke etc.) to standard pipework.

For a one-off job, boiler fix, servicing etc., then, yes, offer the guy (female plumbers are also available), a cup of tea afterwards, once the job is finished, you have a proper invoice ( and warranty) for the job and they have cleared all their tools and tidied up the workplace.

All this sounds a little harsh, but we have had to kick two sets of so-called builders off-site and use a combination of recommended local tradesmen ( aka the Ruislip Massive) and self-taught skills honed by practice/You Tube videos and familiarisation with a veritable mountain of tools abandoned by the aforementioned "builders".

This rant is now officially over....

This is the sort of advice that people need.....thank you

 

[mxs_harrow]

This made me laugh you are so right.
POST MORE STUFF 54 posts since 2009 where the feck have you been.

2009 -Switzerland, working after the 2008 crash so we pay the mortgage and save up for the house extension

2010-2012 - working back in the UK, saving up for the house extension and teaching the architect how to measure and draw

2012-2013 - going to work to pay for building work and get warm as back of (north-facing) house missing and exposed to (winter) elements

2013-2014 - finishing off building/plumbing/electrical work ourselves ( electrical work in conjunction with son who is qualified electrician)

2015-16 - checking Calleri/Bolanos NSC threads every 30 milliseconds to no avail.......

 

[Hampster Gull]

2015-16 - checking Calleri/Bolanos NSC threads every 30 milliseconds to no avail.......

That reminds me...