ᐅ Unreliable contractors – is this becoming common in the industry?
Created on: 22 Aug 2017 13:31
M
Mizit
Sorry, I just need to vent a little, but if anyone has good advice or can tell me that this is not our fault and everything is still within normal limits, I would appreciate it.
We bought a house, and as part of the renovations, we had to hire several craftsmen. Three-quarters of those jobs are still not assigned. Not because we want to drag it out, nor because we don’t want to pay, and we’re not desperately looking for the cheapest option – we just have the impression that it’s currently very difficult to find skilled and especially reliable craftsmen!??!
The first job actually went pretty well. It was about roof windows. Someone came who had been recommended to us beforehand, they were on time, showed up on time for the second appointment as well, provided competent advice, and we had an offer within 4 working days. It wasn’t the cheapest, but it doesn’t have to be, and just like that, it was settled.
Then it started. It involved a wooden railing. Not a huge deal, really. We contacted two specialist companies – one didn’t respond at all, and the other took 4 weeks before anyone came out. If we had other options, that company would have been out of the running for us. The appointment itself was… let’s say, it didn’t seem very interesting to the person on site. As a reference, the order was for about 2,000 euros. The offer then took another 4 weeks, only arriving after three follow-ups, and was substantially more expensive than the rough estimate we had initially. We are total laypersons, but several people with a bit more knowledge of wood independently told us that it was way too expensive. When we asked about details like straight versus twisted spindles, which we never requested, we didn’t get any reply.
For the same job, another craftsman came through a platform called MyHammer. At least he showed up on time, was reasonably friendly and professional, gave a first figure – and then sent an offer three days later that was almost double. When we asked, he said he hadn’t accounted for certain things on site, that some additional steps were necessary, etc. Then he offered nonsense like waiving the warranty to lower the price. Of course, we didn’t take that – what nonsense.
We sent a written inquiry to another company and got no response; we called them but still no callback.
Window replacement on the ground floor and security upgrade – a never-ending topic. We probably had the wrong price expectations at first. One craftsman just didn’t show up for the appointment and never contacted us again. Another came, seemed interested; we were initially talking about around 5,000 euros. He said he’d send an offer. Nothing since then. We asked several times, he kept postponing, saying tomorrow, next week, a component was missing, and eventually nothing came at all. That’s so unprofessional that we don’t want to deal with that company anymore.
Three weeks ago, a craftsman from a specialist company that does a lot of these security upgrades came by. Great advice. It concerns several jobs that they could handle all in one package. We’re looking at around 12,000 euros. That’s a lot of money, some of which goes through KfW funding, but above all, it’s important to us that it’s done properly and on time. The guy made a really good impression. But to this day, I still don’t have an offer. I have already asked three times, especially because we need to submit something to KfW for the roof windows as well, and it needs to be approved before starting the work. The roof windows are scheduled in four weeks, and we wanted to submit everything together. I told the security company this and that we need an offer now. “Yes, apologies,” last week; then Monday/yesterday, still nothing; now something is missing, so it’s not finished yet.
I’m really fed up now. Hello, we want to spend money!!! Are the companies so overloaded that orders of 12,000 euros don’t matter, that they don’t need the work? I don’t expect us to shout and have the work start the next day, no. But not even getting a concrete offer, not sticking to agreed timelines??? I don’t understand this. Is it normal? Is the construction trade just booming so much right now that this has to be accepted???
We bought a house, and as part of the renovations, we had to hire several craftsmen. Three-quarters of those jobs are still not assigned. Not because we want to drag it out, nor because we don’t want to pay, and we’re not desperately looking for the cheapest option – we just have the impression that it’s currently very difficult to find skilled and especially reliable craftsmen!??!
The first job actually went pretty well. It was about roof windows. Someone came who had been recommended to us beforehand, they were on time, showed up on time for the second appointment as well, provided competent advice, and we had an offer within 4 working days. It wasn’t the cheapest, but it doesn’t have to be, and just like that, it was settled.
Then it started. It involved a wooden railing. Not a huge deal, really. We contacted two specialist companies – one didn’t respond at all, and the other took 4 weeks before anyone came out. If we had other options, that company would have been out of the running for us. The appointment itself was… let’s say, it didn’t seem very interesting to the person on site. As a reference, the order was for about 2,000 euros. The offer then took another 4 weeks, only arriving after three follow-ups, and was substantially more expensive than the rough estimate we had initially. We are total laypersons, but several people with a bit more knowledge of wood independently told us that it was way too expensive. When we asked about details like straight versus twisted spindles, which we never requested, we didn’t get any reply.
For the same job, another craftsman came through a platform called MyHammer. At least he showed up on time, was reasonably friendly and professional, gave a first figure – and then sent an offer three days later that was almost double. When we asked, he said he hadn’t accounted for certain things on site, that some additional steps were necessary, etc. Then he offered nonsense like waiving the warranty to lower the price. Of course, we didn’t take that – what nonsense.
We sent a written inquiry to another company and got no response; we called them but still no callback.
Window replacement on the ground floor and security upgrade – a never-ending topic. We probably had the wrong price expectations at first. One craftsman just didn’t show up for the appointment and never contacted us again. Another came, seemed interested; we were initially talking about around 5,000 euros. He said he’d send an offer. Nothing since then. We asked several times, he kept postponing, saying tomorrow, next week, a component was missing, and eventually nothing came at all. That’s so unprofessional that we don’t want to deal with that company anymore.
Three weeks ago, a craftsman from a specialist company that does a lot of these security upgrades came by. Great advice. It concerns several jobs that they could handle all in one package. We’re looking at around 12,000 euros. That’s a lot of money, some of which goes through KfW funding, but above all, it’s important to us that it’s done properly and on time. The guy made a really good impression. But to this day, I still don’t have an offer. I have already asked three times, especially because we need to submit something to KfW for the roof windows as well, and it needs to be approved before starting the work. The roof windows are scheduled in four weeks, and we wanted to submit everything together. I told the security company this and that we need an offer now. “Yes, apologies,” last week; then Monday/yesterday, still nothing; now something is missing, so it’s not finished yet.
I’m really fed up now. Hello, we want to spend money!!! Are the companies so overloaded that orders of 12,000 euros don’t matter, that they don’t need the work? I don’t expect us to shout and have the work start the next day, no. But not even getting a concrete offer, not sticking to agreed timelines??? I don’t understand this. Is it normal? Is the construction trade just booming so much right now that this has to be accepted???
N
NOUSEFORANAME25 Oct 2017 14:15Unfortunately, we also experienced some delays with a few tradespeople during our house construction. The heating engineer needed a full 6 months, with what felt like 10 follow-up questions, just to prepare a quotation.
To be honest: I hope that in the future, the demand for these tradespeople’s services decreases and that the customer becomes king again! After the construction boom, there will certainly be different times when demand is lower than supply. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help us at the moment.
To be honest: I hope that in the future, the demand for these tradespeople’s services decreases and that the customer becomes king again! After the construction boom, there will certainly be different times when demand is lower than supply. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help us at the moment.
Tradespeople are just tradespeople. They are usually not the most business-savvy. They don’t have to be. But they will have to pay the price as well.
Some tradespeople are really damaging their reputation right now. This will have lasting effects. (Unless they offer rock-bottom prices.)
I wish them all the best! But I believe that in 1-2 years, some will be out of the game. And this despite the skilled labor shortage!
Some tradespeople are really damaging their reputation right now. This will have lasting effects. (Unless they offer rock-bottom prices.)
I wish them all the best! But I believe that in 1-2 years, some will be out of the game. And this despite the skilled labor shortage!
S
stefanc8425 Oct 2017 15:50I’m torn. On one hand, the tradespeople have aged me by about 10 years over the past year. On the other hand, I understand that even though they work around the clock, they still can’t keep up.
The problem, as I see it, is that tradespeople can’t say "no." The ones I know are too kind-hearted for that. They’d rather keep you waiting for months, probably damaging their reputation more than if they had just said outright, "No, sorry, we’re fully booked for the next 12 months."
The problem, as I see it, is that tradespeople can’t say "no." The ones I know are too kind-hearted for that. They’d rather keep you waiting for months, probably damaging their reputation more than if they had just said outright, "No, sorry, we’re fully booked for the next 12 months."
Unfortunately, I haven't experienced craftsmen being too lenient or generous yet. Too bad. I don't think that will change anymore either.
From my experience, many craftsmen are too greedy. For certain tasks that take two workers two days (each 8 hours), they charge a hefty $4,000 labor fee.
I believe this is the wrong industry for that kind of pricing.
But it's the same as always... there is always someone willing to pay.
Man, I’m so glad I’m not under any time pressure!
From my experience, many craftsmen are too greedy. For certain tasks that take two workers two days (each 8 hours), they charge a hefty $4,000 labor fee.
I believe this is the wrong industry for that kind of pricing.
But it's the same as always... there is always someone willing to pay.
Man, I’m so glad I’m not under any time pressure!
S
stefanc8425 Oct 2017 18:14I agree with you there, many take advantage of the fact that apparently there are enough customers willing to pay any unrealistic price. So just call kindness "not being able to say no," and then we are on the same page.
If you don’t have any contacts, you’re really out of luck...
We needed a plumber, not urgently but it would have been nice within about a week. He arrived within 24 hours! I chatted with him a bit, and he said that if our landlord wasn’t well-known to them, they probably wouldn’t have come at all this year – they currently have no capacity for new customers.
That’s why we’re very glad that our construction supervisor is well-known in this small town, and when he requests something, they usually have time so they don’t risk losing future jobs.
We needed a plumber, not urgently but it would have been nice within about a week. He arrived within 24 hours! I chatted with him a bit, and he said that if our landlord wasn’t well-known to them, they probably wouldn’t have come at all this year – they currently have no capacity for new customers.
That’s why we’re very glad that our construction supervisor is well-known in this small town, and when he requests something, they usually have time so they don’t risk losing future jobs.