Had a job booked in this morning, renew all rads in the property.
Downstairs rads are in solid floor so customer said just change rads and alter pipe to suit. Would be using extensions where possible but obviously made customer aware whatever happens won't look as good as bringing the pipes straight up. He was OK with this as he doesnt want to rip up the laminate and screed.
Bedroom rads upstairs being moved from behind doors to under windows. All t and g sheet flooring.
Customer said to me that he will lift the flooring, remove any boxing etc. I said no problem. (I'm aware I'd still be required to cut flooring as I go depending on what's going on underneath)
There has been 2 visits before today, first one was initial look at, discussions and measure up.
After giving a price I received a text saying, yes all OK, go ahead....but can I change 2 rads from singles to doubles, will that affect the price? I went back to double check and go through it all with him again and I said let me get an updated quote and get back to you. I altered the price slightly to reflect the change and customer still happy. Once again customer making clear he will do the flooring, lift and refix. Fine by me, I said to customer any issues let me know. I can pop in on the Friday evening (last night) to see what's under flooring and suggest other areas to cut up.
Spoke to customer yesterday, hadn't started lifting flooring. Anyway I'm now starting to think this is going to be pig of a job. I'm going to be downstairs hanging rads but will have to keep going upstairs to help with the flooring or check what's happening. I decided to ask my mate who is a plumber also if he wants to do the job with me, he said yes. We'd both be making the same money and by no means good money. I'd priced the job for me only it now means splitting the money.
I warned my mate it might be a bit of a nuicance job. The plumbing and rads easy but flooring might become an issue.
We turned up this morning, only 10-15minutes from home. Went in armed with tools, dust sheet and hose. He was quite eager for us to start. I said can I give my mate a walk round to show him what's what. No problem.
Go upstairs and flooring hasn't been touched. Floor above boiler position carpet has been pulled back, hammer and bars on floor. Flooring has all been nailed down customer has no tools to cut flooring up.
After a short discussion how we were expecting flooring to up and how the job has been priced for plumbing only customer asked about rescheduling. I said I'm busy so would have to be in 3 weeks time. He didn't look overly happy.
Anyway that was agreed. Job booked for 3 weeks time. Outside me and my mate were talking about it, the customer comes out and said what about if you just do downstairs today, I said no as that's 2 lots of draining, filling and flushing.
Left site, 10 minutes later phone call from customer do you want to come back I'm going to buy a circular saw you can do downstairs while I'm cutting the flooring. I said no I've already moved a job forward so it's too late. Bit of a porky Im sending invoices and sorting the van out. By time I get back and drain down we've lost 1.5 - 2hours. And it means calling my mate back out.
He said he is worried about cutting the floor up with kids about, I said that's perfectly understandable but the job was priced on the understanding the floor would be up (or some of it). I've now asked my mate to help out which cuts my money in half. Didn't say that but its a fact. He said he is going to make a start on the floor, I asked if he knows any carpenters that could help out. He said he does so will speak to them. I said another option is I give a new price which includes us sorting the flooring out.
The guy is a plasterer, so he knows his way around a house and looks at joists etc all the time. He said the flooring wouldn't be an issue. In hindsight I should have said no, I 'll do the flooring or find someone else.
I know I could have stayed today and worked with him and got the work done but it would have been a lot of hassle and a lot of extra work which wouldn't have been paid for, he has had about 3-4 weeks where I have said any issues let me know and I'll come round (at no extra cost like a mug) to advise on the flooring.
I have a feeling he will get the job done elsewhere as I think they had their hearts set on it being done today, he did apologise for wasting our time.
Its not a massive property, downstairs 3 rads 1 towel warmer, upstairs 4 rads, 2 towel warmers. The hardest part of the job would be the flooring and running the pipes.
I think I'm in the right, I usually bend over backwards to help people out but it's becoming a regular occurrence and I'm letting people get away with too much.
Downstairs rads are in solid floor so customer said just change rads and alter pipe to suit. Would be using extensions where possible but obviously made customer aware whatever happens won't look as good as bringing the pipes straight up. He was OK with this as he doesnt want to rip up the laminate and screed.
Bedroom rads upstairs being moved from behind doors to under windows. All t and g sheet flooring.
Customer said to me that he will lift the flooring, remove any boxing etc. I said no problem. (I'm aware I'd still be required to cut flooring as I go depending on what's going on underneath)
There has been 2 visits before today, first one was initial look at, discussions and measure up.
After giving a price I received a text saying, yes all OK, go ahead....but can I change 2 rads from singles to doubles, will that affect the price? I went back to double check and go through it all with him again and I said let me get an updated quote and get back to you. I altered the price slightly to reflect the change and customer still happy. Once again customer making clear he will do the flooring, lift and refix. Fine by me, I said to customer any issues let me know. I can pop in on the Friday evening (last night) to see what's under flooring and suggest other areas to cut up.
Spoke to customer yesterday, hadn't started lifting flooring. Anyway I'm now starting to think this is going to be pig of a job. I'm going to be downstairs hanging rads but will have to keep going upstairs to help with the flooring or check what's happening. I decided to ask my mate who is a plumber also if he wants to do the job with me, he said yes. We'd both be making the same money and by no means good money. I'd priced the job for me only it now means splitting the money.
I warned my mate it might be a bit of a nuicance job. The plumbing and rads easy but flooring might become an issue.
We turned up this morning, only 10-15minutes from home. Went in armed with tools, dust sheet and hose. He was quite eager for us to start. I said can I give my mate a walk round to show him what's what. No problem.
Go upstairs and flooring hasn't been touched. Floor above boiler position carpet has been pulled back, hammer and bars on floor. Flooring has all been nailed down customer has no tools to cut flooring up.
After a short discussion how we were expecting flooring to up and how the job has been priced for plumbing only customer asked about rescheduling. I said I'm busy so would have to be in 3 weeks time. He didn't look overly happy.
Anyway that was agreed. Job booked for 3 weeks time. Outside me and my mate were talking about it, the customer comes out and said what about if you just do downstairs today, I said no as that's 2 lots of draining, filling and flushing.
Left site, 10 minutes later phone call from customer do you want to come back I'm going to buy a circular saw you can do downstairs while I'm cutting the flooring. I said no I've already moved a job forward so it's too late. Bit of a porky Im sending invoices and sorting the van out. By time I get back and drain down we've lost 1.5 - 2hours. And it means calling my mate back out.
He said he is worried about cutting the floor up with kids about, I said that's perfectly understandable but the job was priced on the understanding the floor would be up (or some of it). I've now asked my mate to help out which cuts my money in half. Didn't say that but its a fact. He said he is going to make a start on the floor, I asked if he knows any carpenters that could help out. He said he does so will speak to them. I said another option is I give a new price which includes us sorting the flooring out.
The guy is a plasterer, so he knows his way around a house and looks at joists etc all the time. He said the flooring wouldn't be an issue. In hindsight I should have said no, I 'll do the flooring or find someone else.
I know I could have stayed today and worked with him and got the work done but it would have been a lot of hassle and a lot of extra work which wouldn't have been paid for, he has had about 3-4 weeks where I have said any issues let me know and I'll come round (at no extra cost like a mug) to advise on the flooring.
I have a feeling he will get the job done elsewhere as I think they had their hearts set on it being done today, he did apologise for wasting our time.
Its not a massive property, downstairs 3 rads 1 towel warmer, upstairs 4 rads, 2 towel warmers. The hardest part of the job would be the flooring and running the pipes.
I think I'm in the right, I usually bend over backwards to help people out but it's becoming a regular occurrence and I'm letting people get away with too much.
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