Should we be more like carpet fitters?

[Dcf]

As in ....the carpet fitters are booked in for the 24th and it will be 4 weeks til they can get back if they miss this date. Wether the job is 6 weeks behind schedule and there is no floor for them to actually lay a carpet on!
i am sick to the back teeth of others lack of planning totally messing up my plans for the working week.
in the last week I've had a 60 mile round trip to second fix a job that didn't have a stitch of boarding done
kitchen units the wrong colour so I can't fix lights to them so can't get finished and another visit next week
tilers rolling up 4 days late and customer didn't want her steel accessories fitted until the tiling was finished.....another visit not priced for.i feel like I'm gonna hit a stage 10 with the next fool that is gonna move the goalposts. Wheres my Stanley knife and kicker?.....

 

[Spazz]

charge them extra - breach of the contract - your quote should state that price is for the dates set (changes allowed within reason)
If you turn up on site and they not ready then they breach and extra charges should be charged

 

[oldtimer]

I am glad that I dont interface with other trades in my elecrical repair business and O boy not having to worry if the builder or joiner turns up I miss NOT plus I limit myself to the city limits so any round trip will be about 14 miles. I was called out by a guy who was getting a conservatory built in a mid terrace house with no access except through the front door so the owner called me to say the builder is starting on Monday so I need you to disconnect the intruder alarm on the back door so I advised him to put all his stuff away cover his furniture and the floor from front to back door . No its ok he is sorting it all I have took a week off work well 6 months later he called to say coonect the alarm back up and when I turned up the lounge kitchen was wrecked and the poor guy was about in tears with all the bother he had with the builder

 

[sedgy34]

just send a nice invoice for your day driving around this always prompts them to be more efficient on the next one

 

[Dave 85]

charge them extra - breach of the contract - your quote should state that price is for the dates set (changes allowed within reason)
If you turn up on site and they not ready then they breach and extra charges should be charged

The trades I work with, if I tried this on any one of them, they would, quite rightly, think me a total c*** and never use me again. I would literally have no work after a while.

 

[Dave 85]

As in ....the carpet fitters are booked in for the 24th and it will be 4 weeks til they can get back if they miss this date. Wether the job is 6 weeks behind schedule and there is no floor for them to actually lay a carpet on!
i am sick to the back teeth of others lack of planning totally messing up my plans for the working week.
in the last week I've had a 60 mile round trip to second fix a job that didn't have a stitch of boarding done
kitchen units the wrong colour so I can't fix lights to them so can't get finished and another visit next week
tilers rolling up 4 days late and customer didn't want her steel accessories fitted until the tiling was finished.....another visit not priced for.i feel like I'm gonna hit a stage 10 with the next fool that is gonna move the goalposts. Wheres my Stanley knife and kicker?.....

It can be tricky, coordinating with other trades, I do it a lot. The key is communication, always speak to someone at the job the day before you go. Plans change, thats life, it's how you cope with these changes that determine how usefull you are as a tradesman. I always keep my diary very fluid, I tell people 'I'll aim for late next week but will confirm nearer the time' if someone delays a job on me, I always have others to go to.

Its all about not making promises you can't keep.

 

[imago]

Here's a phrase to use as required, "a lack of planning on your part, does not constitute an emergency on mine".

If I turn up at the agreed date and time to find I cannot complete the work because of someone else's 'issue' then the customer gets billed for the day. I make that clear from the outset, and if they want to take the hit, or pass the cost on to the person/s responsible then that's up to them. I don't treat it, or describe it as breach of contract. Due to forum rules I can't post what I do call it, lets just say that it clarifies the situation.

Return visists are fitted in around other work at MY convenience.

As for loosing work because of it, well I can get loads of work if I do it for free. If another trade messed me about or didn't keep me informed the choice of me working for them again would be made for them.

 

[oldtimer]

The thing is if you are well organised then fine but as we all know having to depend on other trades well you either go with the flow and waste time and money or you end up chasing them too get a move on. Thats why I stay clear of other trades and thankfully they have little or no impact on me. I always turn up on time and get the job done plus the feedback i get is good a guy phoned me 2 weeks ago to say his circuit breaker would no reset I asked him a few questions and he told me I work in Germany I am home for the weekends I am divorced and thats when i see my kids no probs i said when you land send me a text to say what time you will be home I arrived 5 minutes after him and 15 minutes later job done happy customer. Although there is another thing to concider and that is that we live in the last minute world and some customers just live that way ie I am moving house can you take down some lights ? Yes when are you moving ? O in 2 days time

 

[needasparks]

The trades I work with, if I tried this on any one of them, they would, quite rightly, think me a total c*** and never use me again. I would literally have no work after a while.

That has always been the story in our trade. The first and last on-site. Can't stop it completely but you can help yourself a bit.
Builders are the worst culprits for this thinking we sit in layby's waiting for them to call, The difference being they sit on a job for six months and we do six jobs a day. A simple call the day before to see of any delays gives me time to change the diary and makes it look to them they are the only builder I'm working for, bit of a win/win and saves time and diesel to boot.

 

[sedgy34]

The trades I work with, if I tried this on any one of them, they would, quite rightly, think me a total c*** and never use me again. I would literally have no work after a while.

Carry on being a busy fool then matey

 

[Dave 85]

Carry on being a busy fool then matey

What are you implying by that?
That im very busy but dont make any money?
Bit of an assumption there I'd say

The UK building trade is fairly crippled at the moment and anyone who can work successfully as a soletrader and make a steady £1000+ a week after materials, everyweek, sometimes £1500+ and be home by six o clock every day must be doing something right.
I think calling me a fool is a little uncalled for.

 

[StuSpiers]

What are you implying by that?
That im very busy but dont make any money?
Bit of an assumption there I'd say

The UK building trade is fairly crippled at the moment and anyone who can work successfully as a soletrader and make a steady £1000+ a week after materials, everyweek, sometimes £1500+ and be home by six o clock every day must be doing something right.
I think calling me a fool is a little uncalled for.

TBH I wish I could boast those stats.

Dam this no work thing is getting me down.