Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jul 09, 2011 12:41 pm Not wanting to get uppity... but I just have to say that at times we all have issues, some of which are out of our control... and that is sad, because it makes everyone a little tense, when a client wants something done and the tradie is doing the best he/they can to respond ASAP and then there is a chain of command that can break at anytime for whatever reason ( we treat our people as part of 'the' family) deaths, funerals, sickness, kids, its all the same. In my opinion family comes first ALWAYS! Whilst every client has an urgency about their job, whatever it is, it needs to be understood tradies are not waiting on a peg in the locker room to 'go' when requested. Especially if your chosen trade is kind of a 'specialty', and because the client 'needs' work carried out 'NOW' without imperfection... things take time. A bit like when you wait in the line at a shop, if you were first would you be happy if the guy/gal some where in the line behind you got special treatment? I don't think so... and in the same way if you were waiting in a queue and filled out the form wrongly and had to redo it, would you expect to queue jump? Would the person in front of you be happy? Given that most people work on a 'timeline' set some months ago (in some cases many months) and a slot is made for a 'scope of work' uninterrupted, when things go wrong, a flow on will occur. Mother nature can be a Biatch... but there is no stopping her, even yelling at the top of your voice will not make the wind calm... actually will/may add to it. All I can add to my rant is that there is a 'Flow' of nature that will help if we allow it to, but force anything and it could end in tears of disappointment. Nuf said Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 2Jul 09, 2011 12:45 pm Fair point There are at least many unreasonable clients are there are bad tradies. I have had many good tradies come and work for wages because they are sick of chasing clients for money owed. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 3Jul 09, 2011 12:54 pm I am glad that 'money' has never been the issue... Though you are correct, thinking about it there are a few peope out there that have had a visit from debt collection... but that is not something I deal with. Fortunately, a good number of clients are very happy with our work and are prepared to wait for us and even pay in full before we arrive... such is word of mouth. Business is risky, but anything worth putting effort into and 'one' is passionate about is worthy of taking the risk! Besides what is life about anyway.. I've never been one to shy away from a challenge There are many more good clients in my opinion than bad ones... Bad tradies can be seen a mile away if you look for the signs and they don't make very good employees either.. trust me I know trying to teach an old dog new trick.. as the saying goes... IMHO only Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 4Jul 10, 2011 2:13 am Couldn't agree more ONC. It's sad when you are trying your hardest for a client and due to some situation often beyond your control their expected timing is set back. Most people are reasonable and if you can keep them informed are prepared (maybe begrudgingly) to be a little patient. You always get the odd person though that seems to think that you have nothing else going on in your life except their job. It's been interesting while I've been OB'ing my own house, because I've actually been on the other side of the fence. Maybe it's because most of the trades I've used are people I know, but I've had very few problems with them and when I have had to hurry people up a little I always try to be very diplomatic about it. Some times it seems like the prevailing point of view on this site is that all tradies are dishonest characters that are not to be trusted. I'm sure that may be the case with with some tradies but most of us are ordinary people that are trying to make an honest living to support our families and are very customer focused. I'm a very honest person and will only leave a job if I know that I'd be happy to have that job in my own house. That doesn't mean that mistakes wont happen and it doesn't mean that things wont happen that throw out peoples schedules but I'm always upfront and respectful with people and I'd hope that my clients will accord me the same respect. From our meetings I've been impressed with the way you do business. Whatever has burned you up I hope you get it sorted ok. Just remember it's not you. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 5Jul 10, 2011 2:39 am As an OB and also a tradie, i too take offence at the continual tradie bashing on here. Agree, a ******* tradie needs to be ground up and spat out. But a when a "trade quality" job is turned out then the old tradie should get some accolades. I have major had issue with only one trade in my job - the brickie. And he didnt bother to turn up. All else has been awesome. That said there is always going to be minor issues, but that is the nature of the business. I went into my job with a few rules: 1. Do all that i can to enjoy the job - have fun with the tradies, dont get stressed. 2. Dont allow the build to negatively impact on my home relationships - wife, kids. 3. Do all i can to be accomadating to the trades that work on my job - treat their tasks as equally important and with respect. 4. Arrange as far ahead as possible, leaving reasonable "fat" in the program. 5. Be onsite as much as possible to liase, work, resolve issues. 6. If you see something that could be wrong, raise it calmly, reasonably, and ASAP. Dont waste the tradies time continuing is there is something that needs to be fixed. 7. take advise from the experts - they do these jobs every day. 8. Be a good payer - everyone deserves a paycheck. 9. Be appreciative of a job well done, making sure your thanks is obvious. 10. Go with your gut feeling 11. You get who and what you pay for, and you are likely to have to wait longer for quality workmanship. Be flexible. One of the most rewarding parts of my build has been the frienships made. I know that of the tradies that have worked on my job, most of them will be long term friendships, and will be welcome in my house as mates long after the bills have been paid. Pretty sure I'm not a target Onc, but whoever has ignited you is good. Coz a more accomadating bloke you will not find. Onc takes the required time to do the job properly. No more, no less. Thumbs up from me. Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 6Jul 10, 2011 3:46 am amen brothers... Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 7Jul 10, 2011 9:48 am I have been lucky so far, never really had any major troubles with any clients, a few slow payers thats about it. Can usually tell if they are going to be difficult before I take a job. alarm bells ring for me when they ask if I will do it cheaper for cash after a written quote.. it costs what it costs. I dont do "cashies" Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 8Jul 10, 2011 12:04 pm No one is in my sights... just thought it was time for a brief from me about some of the difficulties 'tradies' have that go unseen but not unheard... or unfelt. All is good! Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 9Jul 10, 2011 12:15 pm Same in industry onc. At work we are regarded as 'resources;' our time is planned to 100%, and when the 'excrement hits the oscillating cooling device' and we can't always respond instantly, it's our fault. When we do respond and the planned work doesn't get done, that's our fault too. And when we can't get a few more 'resources' out of the cupboard when they're needed, guess who's fault that is too. Geoff - Decophile. Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 10Jul 10, 2011 12:48 pm Good thread ... I think the problem is that people are always quick to complain/criticise but very slow to pay a compliment/thank the people who have done a good job. When we've popped into our house and seen a tradie we have always thanked them for the good job they are doing - they explain that things aren't perfect but you can't expect perfection when dealing with tiles and corners that aren't quite square etc. but they are doing the best they can and that's all you can expect. For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 11Jul 10, 2011 3:21 pm Mclaren Good thread ... I think the problem is that people are always quick to complain/criticise but very slow to pay a compliment/thank the people who have done a good job. Some other ways to annoy the tradesmen are: -Being tardy in paying. You want something done on time, you pay on time. -Going through their toolboxes. Someone in Alice Springs has had their fingers broken doing this. -Stand there and tell them what they're doing could be done with bits from Bunnings and not need a licence. If this is the case, why ring me in the first place? On a personal note: I am not God. If the train is late and I don't have parts or theres a cyclone off the coast, I can't change that. I'll work around it but if I can't make the deadline for things beyond my control so be it. Some parts take time to manufacture (good example is some metal plate covers for power outlets is a 6-8 week lead time) Except for dire emergencies (life threatning, not a blown globe) I don't do Sundays. I have a lovely wife and two dogs which I like to spend time with. I also like beer and BBQs so I do need some "me" time. Off to drink beer I go, enjoy the rest of the weekend. Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 12Jul 10, 2011 3:26 pm I had 2 weeks off work recently and did work for my uncles renovation company for 2 weeks to fill the time (we were quiet at my job so took annual leave). I must say now I have been on the other side of the fence I will be looking at things totally differently when they start building my place in november. I must also say how annoying it is having customers hanging around questioning everything you do while your trying to work! http://lindeman28.blogspot.com - Our building blog Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 13Jul 10, 2011 4:22 pm Trewman I must also say how annoying it is having customers hanging around questioning everything you do while your trying to work! Now this is a bit of a tough one...what I'm mindful of (especially the ones of apprenticeship/trainee age) is not to put potential tradesmen off this line of work by seeing to be "closed off" and grumpy. The ones I don't like are the ones that stand there and p1ss in your ear for the whole time you're trying to work. A bit of leeway is needed here, people getting the work done are curious on the progress of the job and in the end they're paying me to do it so I allow for (and expect) the occasional query or stickybeak when I plan the time for the job. Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 14Jul 10, 2011 9:57 pm I remember the sign that hung in the Car shop Hourly rate 42 watching 46 advice 65 helping 100 .... E1109 Mclaren Good thread ... I think the problem is that people are always quick to complain/criticise but very slow to pay a compliment/thank the people who have done a good job. Some other ways to annoy the tradesmen are: -Being tardy in paying. You want something done on time, you pay on time. -Going through their toolboxes. Someone in Alice Springs has had their fingers broken doing this. -Stand there and tell them what they're doing could be done with bits from Bunnings and not need a licence. If this is the case, why ring me in the first place? On a personal note: I am not God. If the train is late and I don't have parts or theres a cyclone off the coast, I can't change that. I'll work around it but if I can't make the deadline for things beyond my control so be it. Some parts take time to manufacture (good example is some metal plate covers for power outlets is a 6-8 week lead time) Except for dire emergencies (life threatning, not a blown globe) I don't do Sundays. I have a lovely wife and two dogs which I like to spend time with. I also like beer and BBQs so I do need some "me" time. Off to drink beer I go, enjoy the rest of the weekend. Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 15Jul 15, 2011 4:07 pm Great thread onc. I'm not a tradie, but I've also had the odd cringe at some of the posts on here at different times. I sometimes think people forget that their house/job is not the only one, that their builders and trades actually have other clients. If something gets held up and then the trade gets held up, they will often move on to another job and come back to the one that was held up. That causes delays, but a tradie with work lined up isn't going to sit around for days waiting for a job to be ready, they want to keep working. There was another discussion a while ago (onc will remember ). I also come from an industry where people who have no idea tell you how to do your job. The clients that were interested and simply had questions were a lot different to the ones that told you what to do. While we were building, I was always really conscious of being respectful of the trades and the fact that it was their workplace. The slab guys were really patient and explained stuff to my DS and helped him put his hand prints and name in the slab.... it was freezing in June so we went and got hot drinks for them. The chippies did us a favour for a slab... they got their slab. The brickies did a great job, we took them up pies for lunch and a slab on their last day. It's not hard to show a bit of respect and appreciation. The most disappointing things I ever read on here are the posts with a hint of condescension. As though tradies are some type of lesser beings. It happens a bit. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: The other side of the coin - Tradies 16Jul 18, 2011 8:05 pm Just finished our build except for the landscaping which will finish in the next week or so and I have to the tradies have been great all the way through. Quality of work has been great and if I've had any issues they have been fixed ASAP. We had some frustrations early in the build but once the communication got flowing so everyone was on the same page I could not fault our builder or his tradies. I know there's a lot of negative comments posted but I wouldn't hesitate to use the same builder and I gotta say I wasn't the easiest of customers, we had full access at any time and I pulled them up whenever it was needed and not a thing was to much trouble Elvis has left the building... The site supervisor quit after 2 month on the project. I guess he was just instructed to bark at people, but didn't like when he was… 26 20815 I recently went through a similar renovation and move scenario when updating our family home. We also swapped some rooms around and tackled a major… 2 9706 Hi HomeOne, I'm in the midst of landscaping a cat run down the side of my house, and the recent rains have me wondering if I need to install some sort of drainage. I've… 0 12183 |