Psychopath Tradesmen

[flashgordonv]

My wife and I are really going to have to get a lot better at spotting psychopath tradesmen. We hired a guy to replace the windows in our house about a year ago. The guy was genial, friendly, helpful etc before he got the job, nothing was too much trouble and he appeared to be very knowledgeable. Once he started work though it was a different story. The standard of the work was appalling, he tried to substitute MDF instead of wood for window architraves and we ended up having to watch everything he did like a hawk. When challenged on something he would talk and talk and he was so convincing, but we woudl find out later it was a bunch of lies. And being confronted about lying did not bother him a bit - he'd just start talking again and take the discussion off to another topic. Unfortunately a job that should have taken a week to complete took 4 months before we finally managed to get everything finished to a standard that we could put up with - and that only because we had held back a fairly large payment because we could see what he was like.

Having gone through that experience, we were (we thought) a lot more cautious in hiring another tradesman to remodel our bathrooms. But, same problem again - nice as could be to get the job, lots of promises as to what he would do and provide, promised to consult my wife on any issue that required a choice. Nothing could be further from the truth. This guys actively does not listen, or he listens, agrees and the does exactly what he wants to do and totally ignores what we have asked for. Same old tactic when you challenge what he has done - he talks and trys to drag the conversation off topic. And blames us for any issues and mistakes that have been made. We have just terminated him (from the job, not literally, though I have been tempted..... ) and are looking for somebody else to renovate the second bathroom.

I must admit to considerable concern about this and the possibility of hiring a third one unbeknownst to us...... Seeing as it seems to take some time to suss out these guys, does anybody have any suggestions as to how we might be able to diagnose one BEFORE we hire him?

 

[paulnotbilly]

A good idea is to ask people you trust to recommend somebody.

 

[Ruth]

With tradesmen it's difficult. The best ones can be found by word or mouth or reputation. Some of the good ones are happy to tell you where they've worked, so that (if its on the outside) you can see the quality of their work. Get one that's registered by what-ever association they register with and if you're not sure call the association where you may be able to get help and recommendations with finding one, or resolving your difficulties.

Get a quote in writing with specifics of exactly what you want done.

Report the bad ones to their association.

Tradesmen are supposed to make a living both on the quality of their work and their professionalism. The ones with the cheapest quotes are often pretty suspect. If in doubt, get a second opinion or third opinion (from another trademan). Ten to one, they'll know what the other guy is up to and they won't be shy in telling you.

 

[flashgordonv]

A good idea is to ask people you trust to recommend somebody.

Interesting as it may be, the guy we got to do the windows was recommended by the window manufacturer - although they now have a policy of not recommending anybody.

 

[flashgordonv]

Get one that's registered by what-ever association they register with and if you're not sure call the association where you may be able to get help and recommendations with finding one, or resolving your difficulties.

Yup, did that.

Get a quote in writing with specifics of exactly what you want done.

We did this too with the bathroom guy. It was one of the isues with the window man, everything had been verbal.

Tradesmen are supposed to make a living both on the quality of their work and their professionalism. The ones with the cheapest quotes are often pretty suspect.

And we did not accept the cheapest quote either. We even did a reference check, albeit to a reference he supplied so I guess he is not going to give us somebody to talk to who is unhappy......

 

[paulnotbilly]

A good idea is to ask people you trust to recommend somebody.

Interesting as it may be, the guy we got to do the windows was recommended by the window manufacturer - although they now have a policy of not recommending anybody.

I meant by asking people you know as in neighbours, friends, relatives etc. Usually when one tradesman recommends another, they tend to recommend each other. I know in the UK there is an increasing number of firms which won't recommend anybody due to the number of 'cowboy' firms which then reflect badly on them for recommending in the first place.