Reno project
Garden Clippings for June 25, 2022
Are you wanting to replace your eavestroughs? Build a garden shed? Add a new window? Upgrade the wiring? Install a pool? Design a backyard patio? Replace the garage doors?
These days it is nearly impossible to find tradespeople to get work done on your house. Challenge number one is to find someone to stop by. Challenge number two is having him or her follow up with recommendations and a quote. Challenge number three is to have them finally show up to do the work.
Yet, there are a few things you can do to get a positive response from tradespeople.
Work on relationships: If you have had a contractor out to do work at your home before, call them back and remind them how happy you were with previous work. Construction folks are always happier to help existing clients rather than try new clients.
Referrals are vital: If a co-worker, sibling, neighbour, daughter or friend has had a positive experience with a tradesperson, use that to your advantage. Call the contractor up and say “My sister was so pleased with the work you did on her new bathroom, that she told me I just had to contact you.”
Be realistic: Don’t expect a follow up call from a contractor if you need a visit this week. And don’t expect the job to be done within a month. Furthermore, if you can find someone to do your job instantly, you probably don’t want them to do your work. The best workers are the busiest workers.
Do your homework: Talk to others about how much it costed them to replace their concrete driveway or build the wine cellar. Don’t expect to find someone to do a similar job for half the price.
Be flexible: When making the initial call to have work done, tell them that they can come visit your home anytime. Once the appointment is made, be sure to have everything ready.
Be serious: Contractors and designers are busy. If you tell them that you have always been curious about adding a second floor above the garage, and you are beginning to get design ideas and prices, you likely won’t be taken seriously. But if you call and tell the builder that you have been saving your dollars for the past three years and are ready to take the plunge, he or she will respond accordingly.
Don’t get 5 presentations or quotes: Again, contractors are busy, and if there is only a 20% chance that they will get the job, they likely won’t bite. You only need one builder, and if you are happy with their proposal, be prepared to commit.
Be honest: A few weeks ago I called Ahmed from Sarnia Appliance Repair to help fix our Maytag washer. I told him that mine was not an emergency because we could wash clothes by hand or use son Jarod’s washer. Dishwashers and dryers are not an emergency. Freezers and fridges are.
Don’t knock the competition: Flags are raised if you complain about the experience you have had with a previous contractor. Good contractors respect good contractors. Remember that we live in a small town.
Offer cookies: Tradespeople like working for nice people. When the siding person comes by to give recommendations on new trim and vinyl siding, offer a bottle of water. And promise that when your job gets done, you will have yummy cookies, hot coffee and cold drinks available while workers are getting the job done.
