I've got various trades in the house over the next 3-4 weeks. The house won't be empty and we (Mrs Vlad and I plus mutt) still need to live in house, I'm retired so am in the house all day apart from short dog walking escapes.
I'm having to help one trades person move furniture around as he's working solo.
So what do you do when you can't live "normally"? I'm sure some trades hate clients watching over their shoulders all the time but the house is an organized mess at the moment and I can't do my usual pottering around.
I'm tempted just to ignore them and waste time on STW or read a book but I'm not gonna be providing an endless stream of builders tea and chocolate digestives!
Do you ignore them or treat them as guests?? 😉
Ensure tea and biscuits supplies are plentiful. Keeps harmony and reduces trips out to the local cafe / shop by them meaning your job gets done more efficiently. Happy people usually do a better job.
Can go a bit far. About 6 weeks into the building work on our house the electrician used to pop in at coffee or lunch time even when working on other projects nearby. I think he just liked the craic. They did all used to sit round the dining table (dining room was kind of in the middle of the build) and gossip every dinner time. Work got done eventually.
Let them get on with whatever they are doing, stay out of the way and offer regular drinks.
They did all used to sit round the dining table (dining room was kind of in the middle of the build) and gossip every dinner time. Work got done eventually.
Hope it was fixed price and not "Time and Materials" 🙂
Trade myself and regularly use other trades
I don't want tea and biscuits. I have my own food, drink and routine ie breakfast and lunch breaks. I don't really want to talk to the client during those periods as it is an opportunity to catch up business and personal admin and get some grub down uninterrupted
Always happy to have chats with clients otherwise but there is obviously a balance and most clients will want to let you get on.
Ime other trades are similar. Establish the client/tradesman is not a psycho, show toilets and kitchen if required. Let them get on
Ensure tea and biscuits supplies are plentiful
Er, surely you should ask if they want any?
I always offer tea and coffee. Maybe it's just the area but they always seem surprised and delighted if you give them a proper coffee, this seems to be a rare occurrence!
Same as Kormoran. I’m trade and I’m self sufficient. Don’t need anything other than access to property, electricity and water. I’d take a brew if one was offered, but hate to think someone needed to wait on me.
Dont get under their feet too much, and don’t be upset if water or electric needs to go off without notice. People working from home are a bit of a problem for me as I have to try and time my work around their meetings etc, they forget I’m working as well, most often on a fixed price.
A good coffee and the odd bacon butty go a long way to help the job along. Over the years I have learned who to work for and those to politely decline, I’m a firm believer in only working for “nice” folks.
As above.. Tea /coffee and biscuits on tap, and allow them to charge their tool batteries, as and when required.
Other than that just try not to interfere and let them get on with it. No one likes a back seat driver, so if you are breathing over their shoulders all the time, it will just annoy them and slow them down.
Offer tea and coffee but if they insist on some pirate techno station at full blast while you work in the other room then this gets revoked.
I once had a plasterer say that radio4 was ‘doin me ead in’ but then I wasn’t exactly partial to some gobby football thing on 5live.
my house my rules.
To be fair, when I had my house re-wired, I'd offer them tea/coffee when they turned up frst thng in the morning, it took 5 days in total, and by mid way I was like - you know where the kettle is, help yourselves.
I ve got builders in but tbh the dust and noise was pretty bad, my nose was blocked and I ran a dehumidifier with hepa filter 24/7, so I ve moved out.
Shame, I loved learning how everything was being done but really, they seem better just getting on with it on their own.
and allow them to charge their tool batteries, as and when required.
I’d assume it goes without saying that you’d let them plug anything in when they need to? But the fact you’ve written it suggests there must be people that wouldn’t let them?! Which seems crazy.
I’d assume it goes without saying that you’d let them plug anything in when they need to?
You'd be surprised. Before batteries we had a client who said we would be paying for the electricity to use power tools in his house. This was a slight surprise and the first and only time it has happened in 30 plus years.
You’d be surprised. Before batteries we had a client who said we would be paying for the electricity to use power tools in his house. This was a slight surprise and the first and only time it has happened in 30 plus years.
Off topic, but when my sparkies came on day one, they left a big power charging station overnight with about 6 power tool batteries charging up in it.
I don't care about that..as I'm well aware with battery powered tools you don't really want to run out of charge mid job, as it will then take hours to recharge them, which means the work will stop for several hours!
Make sure to look over their shoulders at all times, ask stupid questions and try to ‘help’.
I once had a client on a new job practically put his chin on my shoulder while I started a task. It was utterly bizarre. I laugh about it now but at the time it was like wtf!
The funny part was that we were using a new technique that I was really unsure about so it was like, well here goes nothing. Everything was fine, so naturally I was all nonchalant when he nodded his approval
I don't spend time in houses too much now. But when I did a few weeks at a time it went like this.
First day make mid morning tea/coffee.
Offer if your around.
Second day set up a tea station with (and this is the important bit )
1 lt of milk 80 new unopened tea bags 1 cheapish small jar of coffee not Tesco own brand 1 pack of plain digestives.
They help themselves and will mostly top up the canteen. Sparkys will make a mess and not wash up the cups.
Everyone will be happy.
I will say if people are at mine I tend to spoil them and always make sure they know where the loo is. I work in the field and I've got IBS it can be a very bad day if it kicks off
And on the subject of people watching me.
"Sorry it's company policy that you have to wear a hat gloves and eye protection if you want to watch me I've got spares in the van I just need to wipe them down for you with my wet wipes"
Never had anyone hang around after that
OP = "Vlad the Invader"
Q: Did you invite them in?
If "yes" = accept consequences.
I once had a client on a new job practically put his chin on my shoulder while I started a task. It was utterly bizarre. I laugh about it now but at the time it was like wtf
I had this at a commercial job recently, I actually had to ask the FM to move out of the way so I could read my laptop. It reminded me of the domestic days.
I think all any trades want is to get on and a toilet with bog roll.
I used to just accept a cup of tea out of manners, working inside , cold drinks/water were very much appreciated.
Reminds me a great client years ago bought us ice creams one afternoon. Then the next week a tin of beer each. Eventually they were asking which beer was our favorite, and then we got that plus the ice cream.
Weirdly they got an absolute blinder of a job plus a few little favours thrown in
Make sure you dont leave any of your tools about
Barstard kitchen fitters 'acquired' my good pozi2 screwdriver 🙁
It’s normally the other way around! I take all my kit from customers houses since one decided to borrow a broken in stainless plastering trowel to remove wallpaper over night and dented the crap out of it. Got grumpy when presented with a bill for £80 to replace it.
I meet them at the door with my Estwing hammer swinging from my toolbelt and a can do attitude.
They love it.
We had an extension and some internal remodelling done. The builders were very professional and initially refused more than a couple of hot drinks a day. They needed access to the entire house. They used the garage to store all their kit and were simply given keys and a garage door remote. Mrs Scape made sure they had biscuits and brought them various baked goods as the project continued. One of them joked that the job wasn’t great for his waistline
I simply retreated to my man cave to play or practise and let them get on with it.
Estwing would get you brownie points
but I’m not gonna be providing an endless stream of builders tea and chocolate digestives!
Oh dear,Friday afternoon job on the way !!:-)
I treat it like a hostage situation, so try not to make them angry while supplying quality baking products and listening to all their problems.
And on the subject of people watching me.
Game on, just make sure you don't make a mess of your H&S I will critique it!
Since so many trades folk are gathered round maybe this is a good chance to ask - why the heck do you just ghost me after agreeing to do a job? Would a little courtesy and consideration hurt so much?
We go with as many tea / coffee and biscuits as they like until they say no (we're big tea drinkers, i always have a cup on the go and it rarely cools), after that I just let them know they're welcome to use the kettle whenever they want it.
Fridge full of cans in the summer goes down well with everyone, although the roofers took the piss somewhat, two of them getting through more in a day and a half than the landscapers did in a fortnight. In the scheme of things a slab each of coke zero, sprite, Fanta etc from Costco is nothing on a big-ish job and gives them an excuse to be in the house and say hi rather than us going into their work area or feeling like we're awkwardly ignoring each other from opposite ends of the house. Ditto a regular supply of ice cream or pastries.
Apparently (especially for the landscapers and actual builders) access to the toilet isn't always given!
Brew in the morning and afternoon is nice but my gang is pretty self contained. We like to be left alone to get on with the work, we all know what we are doing. Nice to have a space to leave tools overnight if you appear trustworthy. Lunch time we prefer to sit in our vans so we can have a gossip and talk about how life's going or what's on telly. If you have a garden it's nice to be invited to use it for lunch in summer. And we like to sing along to our radio.
Brew in the morning and afternoon is nice but my gang is pretty self contained. We like to be left alone to get on with the work, we all know what we are doing. Nice to have a space to leave tools overnight if you appear trustworthy. Lunch time we prefer to sit in our vans so we can have a gossip and talk about how life's going or what's on telly. If you have a garden it's nice to be invited to use it for lunch in summer. And we like to sing along to our radio.
Tinas, have you tried working on a roof in summer? Roofers are the pinnacle of the trades when you consider the conditions they work in!
We had around six weeks of various bathroom-orientated tradespeople last autumn. I'm just about over it now. It's quite stressful having strangers, even nice, professional ones, in your space, particularly if you work from home and are trapped. With hindsight, I wish we'd been able to give them the keys and take a long holiday. It would have been easier, but it wasn't really a practical proposition.
My experience was that different people are unsurprisingly different, some - our plasterers for example - were very self sufficient, didn't want to chat, would accept the odd brew if offered. Others much friendlier and happy to chat occasionally etc, mostly about bikes tbf.
I'd just take your cue from individuals. But generally let them get on with their work, be helpful if they ask for something etc, offer tea, coffee, biscuits etc. You can always ask, I had a chat with our fitters/plumbers about 'etiquette' if you like, they actively liked to be treated well and found it weird when people pretty much ignored them completely, but again, it's going to be down to individuals.
The one thing that did my head in, was them constantly leaving the front door unlocked - they'd go out to get something from a van, then come back in and not lock it behind them, and go back upstairs, so anyone could theoretically have walked in, picked stuff up, and walked out again with the kicker that because the door wasn't locked, anything taken wouldn't have been covered by insurance.
I'm sure they thought I was being a bit precious, but it was properly annoying.
Locking doors is a tricky one. I appreciate security is important, but until you’ve been a bathroom fitter and made a couple of hundred trips up and down the stairs to the van a day, locking and unlocking doors on the way often with hands both full of kit or product, I wouldn’t be so quick to scorn. I’ll always keep the door shut where possible though.
I just leave a table with a kettle, tea, coffee, biscuits and some soft drinks for them to help themselves. I prefer not to interupt somebody who is working to keep asking and I suspect they dont want the interpution either.
Locking doors is a tricky one. I appreciate security is important, but until you’ve been a bathroom fitter and made a couple of hundred trips up and down the stairs to the van a day, locking and unlocking doors on the way often with hands both full of kit or product, I wouldn’t be so quick to scorn. I’ll always keep the door shut where possible though.
Tbf I'm not 'scorning', I get that it's a pain in that scenario and that's fine, we didn't make mad, draconian demands, it was more the cases when it was an isolated 'nip outside to make a phone call' or whatever, when it's easy enough to just take ten seconds to lock the door behind you. Or they go off for dinner leaving the front door unlocked.
I also get that as the householder, it makes sense to make sure that stuff like lap-tops and phones, not to mention bikes, aren't left lying about when the door's often unlocked, but it's still stressful having folk in your house eight hours a day all week.
Equally I'm sure it's much easier for tradespeople if householders aren't there, but as above, not possible for us.
But whatever, there was absolutely no 'scorn' involved. People deserve to be treated with respect from both sides.
Teething problems... 🤨
The one thing that did my head in, was them constantly leaving the front door unlocked
At least they shut your door.
I presume my plumber and his apprentice leave their own front doors open half the day, with their car keys in the door as well.
At least they shut your door.
I presume my plumber and his apprentice leave their own front doors open half the d
That's the nub of it really. There's a dissonance between it being your home and their workplace, where slightly different standards apply.
We just had a polite conversation where I pointed out that if stuff did get nicked, we wouldn't be insured, so I'd appreciate it if they could, when possible, lock the door and, if they were heading out for lunch or whatever, to simply take a spare key and lock the door behind them.
Mostly they were great, but I was always a little on edge.
The one thing we didn't do was to get a puppy just before the whole project started, I think that could have been a little nightmarish in a 'pup meets piles of debris, tools, bathroom fixtures, tiles, more tiles, a successions of fitters, plumbers, tilers, joiners, plasterers, sparks etc sort of way'. I think that would probably have pushed me over an edge 😯
Tinas, have you tried working on a roof in summer?
Two of them were installing guttering and soffits for a day and a half and got through more than 2-3 landscapers did in a fortnight. One of them never left the ground. They must have had the shakes / diabetes / been pissing like a racehorse or all three!
Roofers are the pinnacle of the trades
I see what you did there
BWD - Absolutely.
I'm a decorator, when the clients are in a property I'm working on its best they just go about their business as usual while staying out of the way. I tend to bring my own food/drinks, but appreciate a bru/biscuit's if they're offered!
I'm a decorator, when the clients are in a property I'm working on its best they just go about their business as usual while staying out of the way. I tend to bring my own food/drinks, but appreciate a bru/biscuit's if they're offered!
Since so many trades folk are gathered round maybe this is a good chance to ask - why the heck do you just ghost me after agreeing to do a job? Would a little courtesy and consideration hurt so much?
Loving the fact nobody has responded to this
Absolutely 100% offer a brew a couple of times a day. Don't even think of serving up instant coffee! Bean to cup ideally or filter is perfectly acceptable - I bring my own coffee, milk and filter just in case. If you're going to make a bacon butty for yourself in front of your tradesperson, at least offer them one! (yes, I spent months refurbing someone's house around them, we had a great relationship, but not once did I get offered any breakfast while they were frying it up in my face - starving salivating sad emoji).
As long as they're not a psycho, chat with them occasionally like they might actually be a normal person. You might find they go the extra mile if you get on well, or they might help you with other trusted trade contacts etc. Conversely, if you're not pleasant/easy to be with they'll want to be off the job asap.
Absolutely 100% offer a brew a couple of times a day. Don't even think of serving up instant coffee! Bean to cup ideally or filter is perfectly acceptable - I bring my own coffee, milk and filter just in case. If you're going to make a bacon butty for yourself in front of your tradesperson, at least offer them one! (yes, I spent months refurbing someone's house around them, we had a great relationship, but not once did I get offered any breakfast while they were frying it up in my face - starving salivating sad emoji).
Not sure if you're actually serious. Did you expect his missus to give you a handjob as well?
Loving the fact nobody has responded to this
:-). Yeah - sometimes silence speaks louder than words. I guess they are all too busy guzzling the client's biscuits and moaning about the quality of the coffee !!
