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struggling for work

Discuss struggling for work in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

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mak

Anyone struggling at the mo like me .Posted flyers (1500) advertised in local rag .Phoned to see if any sub work going but none available.Thinking of trying agencies next.
Tbh its really getting me down,may aswell jack it all in if theres no work :(
 
no need to network with new businesses focus on mid age people who has there own homes and can afford work to be done !
 
Just wondering if any of you guys on here do any sub-contract work. I work for a largish building company that do these council/decent homes contracts. Fitting 5 full systems a week, hard graft but good money! Sometimes slack this time of year, but id definately recommend trying to find out who the main contractors are for your local authorities because if you are willing to put the effort it, its nearly as good as being on someones books!
 
Sorry to black cat but i was in a team of 3 who managewd 10 in one week , was done in at the end of it tho but crazy dosh !
 
Seem to be having a problem with that trade uk uploading my quals ,,,,annoying as can see guys local to me that are charlatans already there ,,,,,harumph !!!
 
Prices are definitely tumbling. Public are taking the mickey but why not as everything is cheap or free. Fit one tap get one free. That's the mentality out there. The trade websites don't help either as they sell on getting the lowest price.
 
Customers will take the micky if you let them,always will
We notice it more when things are quite maybe and are more likely to let them as do not want to loose the work
Know it is easier said than done but try not to drop your prices to drastically to get the work,odds are you may get it anyway,if you are not willing to take that risk,you will end up working for pea nuts

imho
 
tbh im fed up of the whole waiting around game "waiting for someone to ring with a job".cant do anything else,ive advertised ,leaflet drops ,enquired about subbing etc ,dont want to pack it in but having no work has made the decision for me .im gonna apply for a postman vacancy me thinks :)
 
got to agree with most of you guys i've been on my own since 70's, never known it this bad.
even the crapola jobs no one wants have dried up
priced a w/b28 swap all the trimmings i was nearly a grand dearer than bg!
anyway tough it out and remember how long it takes to make a good tradesman.
bri.
 
puddle said:
Customers will take the micky if you let them,always will
We notice it more when things are quite maybe and are more likely to let them as do not want to loose the work
Know it is easier said than done but try not to drop your prices to drastically to get the work,odds are you may get it anyway,if you are not willing to take that risk,you will end up working for pea nuts

imho
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having priced 5 jobs and not getting one, as made me contemplate my pricing, i know i'm not a million miles away and i'm definitely not dear,went to price one today full bathroom old out, new in and a bit of tiling around the bath,i know if the price is right the jobs mine,but got a feeling she's going to get a shock,do i have the courage to stick to my guns, or do i do it for a weeks wage,( without running costs),just to get the job.
 
desrob said:
having priced 5 jobs and not getting one, as made me contemplate my pricing, i know i'm not a million miles away and i'm definitely not dear,went to price one today full bathroom old out, new in and a bit of tiling around the bath,i know if the price is right the jobs mine,but got a feeling she's going to get a shock,do i have the courage to stick to my guns, or do i do it for a weeks wage,( without running costs),just to get the job.
Click to expand...

Whichever way you go it'll probably be wrong. It'll either be "how much!" if you stick to your guns or the good old "I thought it would be a lot more expensive" if you short change yourself.

Was going to ask you what you where thinking but its open forum.
 
SimonG said:
Whichever way you go it'll probably be wrong. It'll either be "how much!" if you stick to your guns or the good old "I thought it would be a lot more expensive" if you short change yourself.

Was going to ask you what you where thinking but its open forum.
Click to expand...

out of interest how much would you charge to plumb a washing machine in, you've got the cold mains,so you need,w/mc tap, the waste kit and to core1"1/4 to drain,by the way it's on a out side wall and drain is directly opposite w/mc
 
desrob said:
out of interest how much would you charge to plumb a washing machine in, you've got the cold mains,so you need,w/mc tap, the waste kit and to core1"1/4 to drain,by the way it's on a out side wall and drain is directly opposite w/mc
Click to expand...

Upwards from £80, depends on wall construction.
 
SimonG said:
Whichever way you go it'll probably be wrong. It'll either be "how much!" if you stick to your guns or the good old "I thought it would be a lot more expensive" if you short change yourself.

Was going to ask you what you where thinking but its open forum.
Click to expand...

if i said to you i'll do it for £500, over five days, labour only,what would you say.!!!
 
desrob said:
if i said to you i'll do it for £500, over five days, labour only,what would you say.!!!
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For a straight out and in, I'd be looking at a day to strip and fit, with maybe an hours pre visit the evening before to put taps on, fit wastes and put the cistern together. Might run into day 2 finishing off, then complete tiling and return for an hour day 3 to grout. I'd throw in new basin waste, bath waste, pan connector and isolation valves to taps and wc, adhesive and grout (only use my own adhesives and grouts). That would be about the £500 mark, give or take, for square metreage of tiling and size of tile. Would be more expensive if new suite from B&Q, Homebase etc.
 
desrob said:
i quoted £100,punter said he got a quote for £40.!!!
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I would have laughed and walked away! Was probably looking to haggle. I never believe what a customer tells me, not calling them liars, just economical with the truth.
 
Bloke looking for quotes on Sheffield forum for a new boiler. He just posted that "the best quote for boiler supply and fit is £850, can anyone beat that" Hope he like what he gets for that price..... Thinkin Ravenheat!
 
i was working today for 2 1/2 hours removing a kitchen sink, and altering a bit of gas pipework(all i done was cut off 200mm and put on a straight coupling) because gas cooker is moving and I have to return tomorrow to connect up kitchen sink because joiners haven't finished doing the units.. much would you all charge ? if its the joiner thats paying me then I'm thinking of doing it a bit cheaper to try and get more work out of him also trying to get a service out of customer boiler hasnt been serviced in 3 year lol
 
GQuigley67 said:
i was working today for 2 1/2 hours removing a kitchen sink, and altering a bit of gas pipework(all i done was cut off 200mm and put on a straight coupling) because gas cooker is moving and I have to return tomorrow to connect up kitchen sink because joiners haven't finished doing the units.. much would you all charge ? if its the joiner thats paying me then I'm thinking of doing it a bit cheaper to try and get more work out of him also trying to get a service out of customer boiler hasnt been serviced in 3 year lol
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Can't help on that one, I don't touch gas. If its just based on connecting a copper pipe and two visits I'd be looking for around the £100. I don't get any work off of joiners (except when they've done it themselves and made a horlicks of it and had to go and fix) but if its the customer maybe do some sort of deal, but, will you get next years service if its not been done in 3 years? All to be chucked into the equation.
 
bod said:
simon you dont do gas are you intending to ?
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Thats a definite no. Quite rural round here, quite a few gas guys, couple of really good ones and then the ones who should have their tools taken off em. Do oil, all the wet stuff, tiling, unvented and wanting to move into renewables (MCS willing :) )
 
GQuigley67 said:
i was working today for 2 1/2 hours removing a kitchen sink, and altering a bit of gas pipework(all i done was cut off 200mm and put on a straight coupling) because gas cooker is moving and I have to return tomorrow to connect up kitchen sink because joiners haven't finished doing the units.. much would you all charge ? if its the joiner thats paying me then I'm thinking of doing it a bit cheaper to try and get more work out of him also trying to get a service out of customer boiler hasnt been serviced in 3 year lol
Click to expand...


I had a similar job to do for a local builer, kichen guy fluffed up the worktop so he just wanted me to disconnected sink and hob the go back and reconnect, quoted him 1hr to disconnect and 1hr to reconnect (£90 all up) haven't heard back from him :confused:
 
well I finished the job today, had to use some materials so materials probably came to about £15 max and I charged £90, 2 visits at around 4 hours all in(alot of rsing about trying to turn off water) If I charged my normal rate it would of been dearer
 
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