We need a bit of work done on our house that we expect will cost about $8k. We've asked a few contractors to come out and quote on the work, and they either don't show up, or do show up but never give us a quote.
This work needs to get done, but I'm reluctant to chase the contractors because, in my mind, if they want the work they will at the very least provide a quote.
Thoughts?
No I wouldn't bother. They are either too busy to get back to you or don't want the job.
very busy time of year for building trades - ring back and ask?
My view is if they don't provide a quote or get back to you, they get crossed off.
Having said that, I assume that you are being reasonable in when you want the work done. I wouldn't expect anyone to be quoting for works to be started before the end of the year.
I should clarify that we have had a few shots at this and we've been trying to find someone for over a year. We've put no expectations on when the work would be done, and no one who's looked at it has said it would be too hard.
I have the opposite problem, i own a home improvement business, they arrange a quote and are easy to contact to set up before, but after you do it you can never get them again, Women under the age of 40 are 100% the worst. Even had one today want a quote but doesn't want to tell her hubby till after lol.
I am talking $10-20K jobs, makes me wonder if i should be charging for quotes.
I expect inspections to get an estimate (some people call this a "quote") to be free.
I do not expect a detailed quote to be free*.
*If the quote is significantly off the estimate, I expect the fee for the quote to be waived.
Yeah this. Inspection and verbal estimate free. You want a detailed quote? Pay a deposit.
who in their right mind would pay a deposit before they know how much it was going to cost
@redfox1200: I've never met a tradie happy to spend an hour in a roof or under a house, on the phone or the net checking prices, for a detailed itemised quote for something like an 8k restumping job.
They'll spend half of every day giving detailed quotes for punters to say "Yeah I'll think about it, "I'll tell hubby" or "I'll call ya when I've put some money aside".
Plus a lot of these jobs are inherently impossible to quote. Time and costs change as unforeseen problems are uncovered when the job commences.
If OP is telling them the expectation is $8K, that could be the problem here, not worth doing, whats the job?
No, we're not asking setting any expectations on anything. It has to do with some of the stumps under our house. Our house is an old cottage and we want it done right.
Have you tried the guys that actually specialise in re stumping and not just run of the mill builders/carpenters?
Yes, we tried a couple. One came out, seemed pretty good, knew his stuff, gave us a rough quote and said he'd get back to us. We were ready to lock him in!
@Dalton: Well why didn’t you ring him back and say you have got the job, and he probably would of refined his price for you. A lot of theses tradies that do quotes and the work themselves don’t have the time or just not that good at chasing people up to get a answer, if they get a hint you are not serious they won’t bother, I know I have a few that work for me, great tradies but the business and follow up side of things are not their forte.
@[Deactivated]: He gave me a ballpark figure on the day (which I was happy with) and told me he would give me a formal quote in a couple of weeks.
My point here is: what does him not preparing a quote, or at least giving me a call back, say about his work ethic. I don't want to be this guys mother if he gets the job.
If they want the job you wouldnt have to chase them.. you would just be wasting your time.
Might be best to try another contractor.
Bad time of year. They don't want the work. They probably have plenty to try and get finished before the holiday break.
Try again at the end of January. They'll have bills and expenses from the holiday period they need to pay off :)
Don't agree with that, good tradies would be booked out a month in advance most of the time, so would just book you in for January anyway, nothing to do with $$. A job like re stumping a house ain't going to happen before xmas anyway.
I would never chase a tradie for a quote if they don't turn up, as they have already proved that they are unreliable. I also wouldn't chase them up if I didn't hear from them after a site visit, as you will have shown that you are keen or desperate and they jack up the price, and again they have shown that they are unreliable/unprofessional.
I usually give them a little while then chase them up. Proves you are serious as well.
I'd bet the OP is telling them he's getting quotes and so they don't bother getting back to him, from my experience unless a customer doesn't like the tradie/business you rarely get them as they just go for the cheapest these days, and will often play one off against another.
Tradies are a dying breed and good ones don't want to work for peanuts or spend time and money on dealing with multiple quote getters.
In my 27 years experience in the home improvement business the customer that does this you can guarantee they will be a pain to deal with if you do get the job. Personally i run a mile too or i make them wait, much prefer a customer that is up front to give you a answer quickly and don't stuff you around for weeks and weeks.
Like it or lump it.
Tradies are a dying breed
So what happens when they are all dead?
Good ones are, and with all the rules and regulations now they are not putting on apprentices, so guess you will be getting jobs done by immigrants that can't speak english.
Price is only one factor for us. As the great philosopher once said "If I wanted it done half-arsed, I could do it myself."
But we'd be negligent if we accepted the first person that walked through the door. We have enough problems without having to deal with a tradie that never shows up, especially if we've paid for materials up front.
Maybe you should of and would be done by now.
Ask on your local facebook community group and check the recommendations. You will get reviews.
I would also be concerned about them not replying.