After my last post where the comments touched on a strategy for finding tradespeople, the events of today might interest someone. If not, the story is here for me to later marvel over my own brilliance
We have here a website called Airtasker (maybe you have similar). People post a job on Airtasker and then sort through the people who are applying to do the work. The website has developed over the years and it is probably a lot more sophisticated these days but that is the basic premise.
Today, I was thinking about buying second hand furniture and I wanted a plan ready in the event that none of my progeny were available to help out with transport.
I went to a local buy/sell group and asked if anyone could recommend a taxi truck or similar service. People said "Airtasker". Well, no, I was hoping to support a local business and not lose a percentage to a bloated monolith.
Pretty soon, I received a message "Hi Kylie, I can do that for you"
Well I was really on a fact finding mission more than wanting a specific job done so I replied
"I'm all sorted for now but for future reference, is this something you do normally?"
As it turns out, this guy has a van and does small pick up jobs as well as gardening to keep him busy while his wife works from home.
And, just like that, I had found someone willing to put their hand up for a small job, found out what kind of service he offers and found out he will work in my area.
I don't know if he's any good and maybe he's scanning facebook for work because he's not good but right now, I have a lead and I've probably managed to select for someone who is motivated, which is a great start.
How do you find people to do work for you?
After calling cleaning companies and answering ads for cleaning, I gave up on finding anyone. While I was in Publix (grocery), I noticed the woman ahead of me had on a uniform from a company I recognized as a place that helps elderly or disabled people to stay in their homes. We talked and she came here and cleaned the bathroom for three hours. Tommy gave her $70 and she is coming back a week later to work. It took many tries and a little boldness, but I found her.
ReplyDeleteToday, we saw a man mowing in the neighborhood, so I asked him about mowing our yard. He is coming Friday! We knew he did a good job. It turns out he works until 3 pm for a lanscape company.
So, two good finds.
You did a brilliant job of contacting someone! I was not so savvy.
I have watched a lawn mowing person in my street start with one client and end up with three, just the same way you found yours.
DeleteSpeaking to the cleaner in the supermarket made sense. Your persistence pays off
Well done. We have found people through trial and error. There have been some great finds - and some equally big errors.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a mixed bag. I had a ramp put in last year and the guy did a lovely job but it took a very long time
DeleteGood ‘men’ are hard to find! I usually ask one of our kids to recommend someone
ReplyDeletePersonal recommendations are always good to have but only if you trust the source
DeleteLiving on an Island and in a relatively small community it used to be very easy to find people (or one knew of people anyway) but things have changed as the demographic has changed so we make use of Facebook for similar groups to yours by the sound of it.
ReplyDeleteThere is a wealth of knowledge and experience out there and as much as I hate to say so, Facebook is a great way to tap into knowledgable communities
DeleteMost of the help that I use have been in business for over three decades since I moved into my present home. When I need someone else for whatever reason, there is a hardware merchant in my neighbourhood who I contact and he inevitably sends someone reliable to do whatever needs to be done. All tradespeople have to buy material from such a store and so he is in regular touch with them.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really smart way to find people. Hardware here is dominated by a hardware mega store so there is no personal connection between the supplier or the worker. We are very much the poorer for allowing this company to flourish but the prices are so good, who could possibly argue?
DeleteSorry Kylie. The previous comment is from me. I am yet to get used to this new commenting system!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be an issue for everyone but me. Maybe I am safe because I'm signed in all the time
DeleteI found the best people on Kijiji, a type of message board here. My helper Jessica came from there over two years ago and she is a wonder. Also the movers I found were the best when I moved to my apartment.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you found a small moving guy, Kylie, they are gold.
XO
WWW
Yes, when it's impossible to do everything one's self, it's important to have people we trust and who trust us.
DeleteFinding good tradesmen (or women) can be a nightmare. Even personal recommendations may not work out and good people often have more work than they can handle. I have a friend who is good electrician but last time he came to us he was shaking like crazy because he's probably become an alcoholic. I am looking for a different electrician now.
ReplyDeleteThat's so very sad.
DeleteDevon has a dearth of tradespeople - the good ones are booked months in advance. Anyhow, I usually consult my neighbours, and then I wait my turn.
ReplyDeleteI have a small plumbing job that nobody is interested in, I've been waiting two years after a plumber promised to get back to me.
Sx
Not so long ago a plumber came around my street putting his card in letter boxes and because he saw me, he asked if I wanted plumbing done. I don't know what happened to his card but I wish I did! I could send him your way :)
DeleteI work for an accounting office with a lot of clients including tradespeople, so I asked my boss for a few recommendations for some roofing issues when I had lost shingles in a storm. I ended up calling the insurance company and they had a contract with a restoration firm. Although the work they did was okay, they didn't actually finish the job, and on top of that the project manager showed up at my door demanding payment a month after I had paid them and the cheque had cleared the bank.
ReplyDeleteSo now I just let the jobs go and then worry at night that the house is structurally unsound, or that there is mold in the attic or the walls, or that there is too much weight in the room with the piano where the chimney bricks have dropped a half an inch. I am paranoid everyone will be the wrong choice.
So I am VERY glad to see this post and the comments today! Now I have some ideas on how to approach finding tradespeople and am also comforted by the fact that other people have had bad experiences too :)
Yes, I know how it goes. I worry about the wall we took out 20 years ago and whether the roof will collapse one day. And termites, especially after all this rain, it's prime termite weather.......
DeleteHopefully you will find the right people
The old fashioned way of phoning and then references.
ReplyDeleteI have had a LOT of failures with phoning over the years, people who just don't answer, don't call back, don't come to quote etc etc
DeleteReferences are good to have and google reviews mean you can check out pretty much any business.
We don't have anything like Airtasker here. If I need a trades person, I usually google the trade in question and east Belfast. Usually lots of names come up and I just work my way through them until I get someone who seems okay. The main problem is small jobs that lots of trades people can't be bothered with. But over the years I've built up a good list of reliable people for various job categories.
ReplyDeleteyes, that's the tried and true way to do it. Unfortunately I don't have a list because my husband did everything (or alternatively decided to ignore it)
DeleteWord of mouth is definitely the best way to go I think. But I guess that only works in a small community like the one I live in.
ReplyDeleteI think word of mouth is a great way to go and it can work in Sydney but for whatever reason, I tend not to hear recommendations
DeleteWe have a local magazine that covers this area and I tend to phone businesses that advertise there, that are local. It isn't always easy to find someone prepared to do odd jobs though.
ReplyDeleteyes, i like local publications. You know straight away that the business works in your area
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