Managing tradespeople has got to be the single biggest concern that is raised by anyone doing work to their property. We have all seen the tv programs and heard the stories of rogue tradespeople
I believe my stance on this subject is fairly unique, having worked as a tradesman and having been a client on reasonable sized projects, I can see things from both perspectives
So, what’s the secret formula I hear you ask? Well like most of what I have to say, there is no magic pill, no instant quick fix, no simple solution that requires zero effort (sorry about that)
In my 20 years of experience, having worked both sides of the fence, it comes down to building a mutual respect, having an understanding of what’s expected from each party and keeping your side of the street clean. The foundation of this, is ensuring you set out clear communication right from the start. How often do you get really frustrated by a company or individual, not because of what they have said, but because of what they have not said? Failing to communicate is a sure fire way to alienate people
Having spent many years working for customers in various forms including tree surgeon, carpenter right up to project managing reasonable sized period renovations. I am aware of the importance of building good rapport and respect
When starting out as a tree surgeon in my early 20s, I would often be asked to quote for jobs at huge houses owned by extremely affluent people. It quickly became apparent to me, that just because someone has a big house and lots of money, doesn’t necessarily put them all in the same category
Some would take time out of their day when you are on a lunch break, to come and chat to the guys working there, asking them about their lives. They would often bring out tea, sometimes cakes and biscuits. The fact that someone, who was obviously extremely successful, would be interested in someone who was doing a basic labouring job, fascinated me. Often these clients would be the likely ones to give everyone a few quid at the end of the day to buy themselves a beer after work
On other occasions, you would be lucky if the owner gave you the time of day, let alone said hello. You could feel a sense of entitlement in the air. The fact that you were allowed on their property was something you were made to feel you should be grateful for. A cup of tea was out of the question, the very thought of cake was downright absurd!
As the years went on, I became more mindful of the difference in the way people (who from the outside looked the same) conducted themselves. With tree work its often hard to give an exact figure for the cost of job, because the time it takes can vary on many factors. Therefore I would often give a quote within a price range, say £150-200. My aim would always be to get it done for the lower end of the quoted price (the client is then super happy and more likely to recommend to others). If however the client was a bit arrogant, abrupt, unhelpful or . . . . didn’t bother to offer me a cup of tea, then yes you guessed it, they were getting charged the top end of the budget. Had they known that a cup of tea (or lack of) was costing them £50, then no doubt they would have been running to the kettle
I know from speaking to many other tradespeople over the years that I’m certainly not isolated with this thought process. The point I’m making here though, is not really about cups of tea, I’ve just used that as an example as it will have got your attention
When running a renovation job, I will always go out of my way to make everyone a cup of tea, I won’t however, just be stood by the kettle waiting for them to ring a bell, so I can come running. Instead, I will ask before they have even given me a price, what time they start work, what time there breaks are (and for how long), what time they finish (this is especially important when people are on a day rate)
What this does, is right from the off, both parties know what is expected. If they turn up at 10am everyday having said they start at 8 or leave at 2 having said they finish at 5 – we have already had a conversation about what is expected. When I challenge them on starting late or finishing early, there’s a lot less room for the BS that some (not all) tradespeople can come out with
If you are interested in all things property development, then I have launched a FREE (yes you heard correct) mini course.
By the end of the course, you will be able to;
- Understand how to minimise risk with your first property investment
- Point out what REALLY adds value to any property renovation
- Maximise the end sale price of your first investment property so you don’t leave any money on the table
- Get yourself in the perfect position to invest in your first property.
>>> Click here to sign up and get started on the journey <<<
Thanks for taking the time to read, have a great day
Regards George B
