Rate my business plan

[Riley]

I'm listening... What's your advice?

I think the advice we’ve all been trying to get across is that it’s not an easy job to do or get into. There is so much to learn and spend out. Nothing is ever simple and everyday is a school day. If you’re still keen then do it but getting gas safe properly and I mean with experience requires you to work with someone, not necessarily legally but come on, even when qualified common sense says you will be green for a good few years before you’re confident tonbe solo. It is not something you can just read the instructions and get on. You need real world experience.

 

[Riley]

You will learn how to pass an exam you won’t get what I’d call real experience

 

[Zippymark]

Thanks for the feedback.

At what stage did you feel confident enough to carry out services and give landlord certificates?

So to give you a full history I did Level 2 plumbing at a college (2 years), level 3 (another 2 years), whilst working in a plumbing and heating merchants for all but the first year of that. Then after maybe another year did the gas, then once qualified started doing little jobs (services, fitting taps, repairing toilets etc), mainly for friends and some i got via the shop. It was really after i'd done everything a few times that i thought i'd go for it and go out on my own. Landlord's certificates are fairly easy once you've qualified, it's the same sort of thing they drum into you over and over again whilst training, just take your time. The only thing i'd say is a lettings agency is going to want someone to cover everything, not just the easy jobs.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thanks for the feedback.

At what stage did you feel confident enough to carry out services and give landlord certificates?

Straight away. Servicing and landlords should be your bread and butter.

 

[Jamesjamie]

I think the advice we’ve all been trying to get across is that it’s not an easy job to do or get into. There is so much to learn and spend out. Nothing is ever simple and everyday is a school day. If you’re still keen then do it but getting gas safe properly and I mean with experience requires you to work with someone, not necessarily legally but come on, even when qualified common sense says you will be green for a good few years before you’re confident tonbe solo. It is not something you can just read the instructions and get on. You need real world experience.

Fair points. To be honest I'm taking time to mull things over as you guys have made me take stock. So from that point of view to those who were trying to give me a bit of a reality check you've achieved your goal and possibly helped me out! However I've not quite gave up, am rather looking into steps where I can ensure I've got a solid plans once I'm got through the initial fast track training.

 

[Riley]

You will learn how to pass an exam

Straight away. Servicing and landlords should be your bread and butter.

agreed but it’s amazing how many can’t

 

[Harvest Fields]

No one is debating it cant happen

It sounds to me like they are and it has always been the same on here. The OP just needs to realise that the approved and respected method on here and anywhere else will always be from an apprentice. However you only get out what you put in. If you are expecting to earn £50000.00 a year in your first 5 that will just not happen. It takes time, effort and a lot of sacrifice.

 

[Harvest Fields]

agreed but it’s amazing how many can’t

Doesn’t mean the Op will not be able to.

 

[Riley]

Doesn’t mean the Op will not be able to.

Fair point

 

[Jamesjamie]

It sounds to me like they are and it has always been the same on here. The OP just needs to realise that the approved and respected method on here and anywhere else will always be from an apprentice. However you only get out what you put in. If you are expecting to earn £50000.00 a year in your first 5 that will just not happen. It takes time, effort and a lot of sacrifice.

I could get by on earning between a grand and 1500 a month these days.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I could get by on earning a grand and 1500 a month these days.

Completely achievable mate. Just do not pretend to be something you are not. Be honest and work hard. Most experience comes with time even from an apprenticeship.

 

[Riley]

It sounds to me like they are and it has always been the same on here. The OP just needs to realise that the approved and respected method on here and anywhere else will always be from an apprentice. However you only get out what you put in. If you are expecting to earn £50000.00 a year in your first 5 that will just not happen. It takes time, effort and a lot of sacrifice.

I just don’t want to see people waste their hard earned money on promises that can’t always be delivered.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I just don’t want to see people waste their hard earned money on promises that can’t always be delivered.

It has to be there choice. All we can do is advise. (The good and the bad) Yes it is hard. Yes they should be an apprentice first. (Some of us didn’t have that choice) but everything in this world is achievable. Dependant on the amount of time and effort put into it.

 

[Jamesjamie]

Completely achievable mate. Just do not pretend to be something you are not. Be honest and work hard. Most experience comes with time even from an apprenticeship.

The position I'm in is my passion is in domestic property. I find all aspects of of a house interesting! Am 90% through my latest project which I am also living in. Me and my handy man put a bathroom in the other week. I can do some stuff which is less skilled and have even on an old rental I used to have put in a bath before and tiled it and it worked out OK. But recently on this project I ripped out the old suite, took off the tiles and boarded the walls with plaster board and the floor with ply. My plasterer re skimmed the ceiling for me. Then my tiler came and did the walls, handy man fitted the suite and I finished off the painting . I love it. Find it great fun and very satisfying.

Yet I work in a completely different industry. It's chalk and cheese. I want to learn. A trade which can be my bread and butter to financially keep me ticking over and what I can also use on future projects. I think once I'm in the trade I will pick up loads of other transferable skills too. I just need to be doing something that interests me.

 

[Harvest Fields]

From handyman level to where you want to be achieving mate is a massive gap.

 

[Jamesjamie]

From handyman level to where you want to be achieving mate is a massive gap.

True. But I'm not gonna achieve anything continuing to put my efforts into something I've got no desire to do any more.

 

[Riley]

It’s good to have a positive attitude. I would say you’d be vastly better off taking a plumbing course in the first instance. Learn to solder learn to calculate pipe sizes, understand the science behind it then contemplate going further. Your intention to jump in with both feet and play at Gas man (no offence intended) seems more like a nice to have and a whim rather than recognising that what you are proposing is some people’s livelihood and that is the level of commitment and work involved to achieve the necessary skills. As I have said about 4 times now. There is nothing saying you cannot learn the skills but seriously look at getting PROPERLY trained. I worked with a guy who did a short course and they “taught him to solder” all they taught him was how to put two ends of 15mm pipe into a 15mm elbow, burn it to hell, dab it with solder then chuck it in a bucket of water to cool. Nothing in situ, no z dimensions, no measuring, no different materials steel etc but as far as they were concerned big tick next to “knows how to solder”

 

[rpm]

Has anybody got anything NEW to add to this thread?

 

[Riley]

Has anybody got anything NEW to add to this thread?

Doubtful some say it’s doable some say it’s not others are pragmatic and try and advise. There’s not really a right answer sadly

 

[rpm]

Edit

 

[rpm]

Has anybody got anything NEW to add to this thread?

Doubtful some say it’s doable some say it’s not others are pragmatic and try and advise. There’s not really a right answer sadly

I rest my point your honour, nothing further to discuss.
Next!

 

[Riley]

To be honest you are quite right mate

 

[Harvest Fields]

To be honest you are quite right mate

Been saying myself also for ages. We should be eye openers but also supportive. It takes Grit to give up work and change careers.

 

[Jim09876]

Just do what ever you want mate! Just get stuck in and you will soon pick it all up. You will be sweet too with them rentals ticking you over...pull in a few gas checks here and there. Loads of folks fit boilers then get them signed off...Jesus...any gas cert could be signing off 10m John Guest gas pipe under floorboards!

Ooops dint see next 5 pages!

 

[Riley]

Just do what ever you want mate! Just get stuck in and you will soon pick it all up. You will be sweet too with them rentals ticking you over...pull in a few gas checks here and there. Loads of folks fit boilers then get them signed off...Jesus...any gas cert could be signing off 10m John Guest gas pipe under floorboards!

Ooops dint see next 5 pages!

Are you gas safe?? Doesn’t make it right or legal though. Please don’t make such flippant gas related comments in open forum