New Kid on the block saying hello

[Rob.P]

Hi Everyone

I'm Rob, I have just started out on my own after qualifying in Plumbing & Domestic Heating NVQ Level 2. It's going OK at the moment but it's quite nerve-racking being self-employed and trying to make a living out of bathroom installations.

Hope to be able to ask questions of you very experienced guys on the plumbing forum in the future. Wondered if I could ask one quick one now? What do think of working for people like B&Q and Homebase as well as yourself? I saw an advert but don't know whether it would be a good move or not! Does anyone have experience of fitting for these guys and being self-employed too?

Thanks all

 

[Leo21]

Welcome along Rob, self employment is nerve racking to start off with. It's a steep learning curve, but it gets easier the longer your at it.
Ive never worked for any or the sheds, enquire and watch out for the small print.

 

[Macca2009]

Welcome Rob, hope all goes well for you. I started out 3 year ago and have just startd to see some real benefit from it. it wont be easy but keep at it and build up a good client base. I started out ny doing cheap jobs for people just to get my name out there.

 

[Ermintrude]

Hi. It's hard but nothing's easy . If it was easy everyone would do domestic and not spin it out on commercial jobs!

 

[tamz]

Personally i would never sub to BandQ even if they paid top dollar but subbing can be a steady source of income if you get in with a good company.

 

[solutions]

I have not worked directly for the sheds but have subbed for contractors who do. A lot of the work I was sent on was to rectify badly fitted bathrooms by other plumbers who were working for e&u in this instance after customer complaints. I had heard the company I was subing for had had to wait for money on a number of jobs as it takes time for them to process paperwork etc. The problem is the sheds dont do a great job of vetting who they send to fit there stuff. They are only really interested in selling the sanitary ware and having a fitting service just facilitates this. Go to there bathroom showrooms and have a look at the carp you will be fitting some of it is so bad its almost uninstalable. The same goes for dam ikea basins and their stupid cheap European traps.

 

[Ermintrude]

A good company you say........

 

[tamz]

A good company you say........

Well they are few and far between these days but there are still some who pass on the work for an ever diminishing fee and leave you alone if you do the job as it should be done (but you usually have to put up with their pentecostal version of h&s)

 

[Alpha man]

Hello,

 

[turnpin]

Hi Rob and welcome regards Turnpin unk: