tradespersons day rate

[Craig89]

That reminds me of an experience of a friend of mine. He had started working for himself doing some house bashing (electrical) and was called out to repair a faulty light fitting, charged them very little and went on his way. A couple of weeks later he received a call from the wife of the customer explaining that her husband had watched him do the work, thought it looked easy, and proceeded to try and change some light fittings. Needless to say it didn't go well and he was asked to go and sort it out. My friend told them to sort it out themselves as he thinks its so easy

 

[MatthewC]

I rebuilt an entire house, and renovated a house, on a day rate. Picking a local builder with a local reputation that is his to lose I found was a good starting point.

Exactly; the local reputation is the thing. In a town in the country, tradesmen know that a bad job will get around (especially with social media!) so you are more likely to get a good job from a local. I did my house in this old market town I used contractors who were based in the same town (and I still use and recommend them). Some were fixed rate and some were day rate, but I got the same good job out of all of them - yes, I was often on site doing things as well.

I used to live in London SE17, and almost every tradesman was effectively from another planet even if they lived a mile away as local reputation seemed to have no importance. They couldn't really care if they messed up - it was "bodgit and run", leaving the owner with almost no comeback (this was before social media became more useful).

IIf im on a fixed rate then its a fixed rate. i make it clear its all in ie no uplift unless I have asked for change. This can be tough. for example if a fixed rate to strip plaster off and replaster wall and they have inspected, if it turns out underlying plaster is tough and takes ages to come off, or its damp and they have to wait, then not my issues.

But if they suspect the plaster could be tough, they might include that in their fixed rate and if it happens then that it's not so difficult, it's the owner who ends up paying more than he needed!