(Un)Reliability of Contractors

[LA3222]

Moan time.

 

I have gone through three contractors now who I thought I had lined up to do the concrete pour/powerfloat of my slab.  Everytime they seem keen and talk a good talk, then eventually they stop answering their phone, dont even have the courtesy to let me know they dont want the job anymore.  One even sent me a text saying yeah he's still on to do the job, then didn't answer my call or respond to a text when I rang to sort out a few details - why the hell take the time to type that text out if you dont want the job.

 

So now I'm two weeks out from needing to get the job done and no contractor, again.

 

If I thought I could do the job myself I would, unfortunately this is one of those areas where they need to have done it before I reckon.

 

Back to the drawing board?

[ToughButterCup]

I sympathise greatly.  

Simple non communication is common.  Very few if any contractors have the skills needed to give customers difficult messages. Not surprising either because at school or training  college nobody ever teaches communication. The focus is on the core skill of the trade. 

Just because you do it every day doesn't mean you are good at it. Communicate that is. Effective efficient communication is hard work,  especially when things go wrong. Because then emotion clicks in.  And that's super hard to strip out of the core task.

 

So contractors over-promise, and  take the line of least resistance. And shut up.

 

To succeed in their terms all they have to do is nothing. And because that's so tempting,  it's what happens most.

 

Systems and people show themselves for what they really are - deep down - when things go wrong. When the soft and smelly hits the fan. You're better off not working with a contractor who hasn't got the guts or basic politeness to maintain contact.  

 

 

 

[Oz07]

Have you considered diy with a self compacting concrete such as agilia. Used on @PeterStarck raft if i remember right. Bit more expensive to buy but q lot easier to place and finish

[Gone West]

9 minutes ago, Oz07 said:

Have you considered diy with a self compacting concrete such as agilia. Used on @PeterStarck raft if i remember right. Bit more expensive to buy but q lot easier to place and finish

No, we didn't use self compacting concrete, but I wish we had. It would have been much easier with Isoquick system.

[nod]

1 hour ago, AnonymousBosch said:

I sympathise greatly.  

Simple non communication is common.  Very few if any contractors have the skills needed to give customers difficult messages. Not surprising either because at school or training  college nobody ever teaches communication. The focus is on the core skill of the trade. 

Just because you do it every day doesn't mean you are good at it. Communicate that is. Effective efficient communication is hard work,  especially when things go wrong. Because then emotion clicks in.  And that's super hard to strip out of the core task.

 

So contractors over-promise, and  take the line of least resistance. And shut up.

 

To succeed in their terms all they have to do is nothing. And because that's so tempting,  it's what happens most.

 

Systems and people show themselves for what they really are - deep down - when things go wrong. When the soft and smelly hits the fan. You're better off not working with a contractor who hasn't got the guts or basic politeness to maintain contact.  

 

 

 

OR

It could be that most contractors are very busy and fitting in your one off job around regular customers 

It’s going to get worse 

[scottishjohn]

having the sdame soort of problem --but not a real problem yet 

with the guys clearing the trees and road --they keep going to other jobs and coming back 

maybe its the price theyt quoted 

they do alot of work for DNO.s and railways in clearing up after storms etc

still my archictect thinks i got a very good deal --so maybe this is what comes with it

they keep telling me MONDAY -but not which one LOL

 

[stephen margerison]

Take a walk down to your concrete supplier, in your scruffs, and speak to them, ask if they know any good reliable concrete lads. same with plumbers, brickies joiners ect  works most times as they only recommend good lads !

keep going and think outside the box.

[ToughButterCup]

1 hour ago, nod said:

OR

It could be that most contractors are very busy and fitting in your one off job around regular customers 

It’s going to get worse 

 

It could be Gary.

Key word : '... could....' What would have been wrong in @LA3222's case with picking up the phone and turning could   into   is .  

Its not the busy - ness that's the problem.  Its the lack of confidence  in the ability to communicate well. Nobody trains contractors to do that. So the problem just keeps getting swept under th carpet. 'Cos all a contractor has to do to succeed is to stay schtum.

 

You couldn't be more right - it's going to get worse.

I looked round the site yesterday - I have about six months work ahead of me : DIY means self isolation dunnit?

[nod]

5 minutes ago, AnonymousBosch said:

 

It could be Gary.

Key word : '... could....' What would have been wrong in @LA3222's case with picking up the phone and turning could   into   is .  

Its not the busy - ness that's the problem.  Its the lack of confidence  in the ability to communicate well. Nobody trains contractors to do that. So the problem just keeps getting swept under th carpet. 'Cos all a contractor has to do to succeed is to stay schtum.

 

You couldn't be more right - it's going to get worse.

I looked round the site yesterday - I have about six months work ahead of me : DIY means self isolation dunnit?

Young guy who is tiling on a job for me One days work left Rang in on Friday to tell me he’s going to self isolate for two weeks 

walk up with a dry throat 

Self builders will get a lot of that in these coming months 

[ToughButterCup]

2 minutes ago, nod said:

Young guy who is tiling on a job for me One days work left Rang in on Friday to tell me he’s going to self isolate for two weeks 

walk up with a dry throat 

Self builders will get a lot of that in these coming months 

 

Waking up with a dry throat. Hmmm.

Well, at least he rang you. Small consolation, I know but in relation to  @LA3222's case, your lad's behaviour is one step better. And presumably, he wont get paid?

[Brickie]

Can’t argue with any of @AnonymousBosch’s points re poor communication skills. 
One point on the flip side,which may justify such behaviour in the minds of contractors mentioned,is the amount of times the same happens back to us from customers. A ‘definite’ diary booking is nothing of the sort,in a lot of cases. 

[Taff]

I have been pulling my hair out for the last 2 months trying to get contractor on site to at least put a spade in the ground. I whinged on another post and everyone said to chill for a bit they’ll come. Popped up today and they have grafted proper and if they keep this up for the next 2 weeks they will be back on schedule. Just need to pray they don’t start coughing!! I’ve opted for them to do everything apart from a few bits of specialist jobs as it was going to be a struggle to manage to organise different trades. Hopefully this 3rd contractor you have lined up will arrive soon, once they are there things will develop. Keep positive and hope they are there soon, it’s the most exciting time but most stressful and we all just want it done.

[nod]

2 hours ago, AnonymousBosch said:

 

Waking up with a dry throat. Hmmm.

Well, at least he rang you. Small consolation, I know but in relation to  @LA3222's case, your lad's behaviour is one step better. And presumably, he wont get paid?

He normally makes around £250 

So the £85 per week he will receive won’t make much difference 

I think he’s just doing what he thinks is right 

I’ve had someone there today finishing his job and collecting his zero cutter 

 

I said before that most of what you will get on self builds are at the best second tear builders 

With the better more reliable being looked after by companies 

 

I always chuckle when I see drainage drawings posted 

Ground-workers rarely look at them let alone follow them 

But everything seams to work when finished 

[ToughButterCup]

6 hours ago, Brickie said:

... 
One point on the flip side,which may justify such behaviour in the minds of contractors mentioned,is the amount of times the same happens back to us from customers. A ‘definite’ diary booking is nothing of the sort,in a lot of cases. 

You make an important point @Brickie.

Avoidance is not unique to contractors. Trust is always hard-won.

Is it any wonder we all spend more time than we are prepared to admit watching for tiny signs of commitment or disengagement from those around us?

All the sharper then, when large sums of money wrap huge hopes for the future in a building project. 

@Brickie, a person who behaves as you describe isn't a customer. I'd see that sort of behaviour from a prospective customer as a lucky escape. 

[LA3222]

I dont have an issue with anyone who tells me straight up that they dont want the job, it's the being strung along whilst they tell me they do want the job which really winds me up.  I would rather they free me up to invest my time in finding someone who does want my cash rather than waste my time in pointless dialogue about a job they then go radio silent on.

 

@Oz07 I was in discussion about self compacting, but I was put off by another self builders on here saying that their EPS and steel started floating when the concrete got under it. 

@stephen margerison I'll always keep going, stopping ain't an option whilst the missus and little ens endure static Caravan life!

 

After a lot of googling and phone calls this morning, I have another contractor lined up - booked in for last friday of march, let's see how this one goes?‍♂️ 

[LA3222]

Saw this yesterday whilst I was festering in my anger, made me smile - like everyone going through this, quitting ain't an option.

 

 

Edited March 15, 2020 by LA3222