my life is a living hell due to a builder

[Anonymous]

I won't go into details as there just isn't enough time but my build is now months behind schedule, the builder told me today that he can't see it finished for another 8 weeks. This conversation took place over the phone and culminated with him telling me to **** off.
I am totally fed up and stressed out, If he comes tomorrow (which I doubt) I think it will end in blows, he's a big fella but a bit of a lardarse, 50/50 as to which way it would go, but oh the satisfaction of putting one on him.
He's got to come at some point as he is due a payment, thats what he thinks anyway.
Now you might understand why I am grumpy.

 

[Jake]

I know the feeling.

 

[Slim]

Whats the quality of his work like?

 

[Anonymous]

I think its very average

 

[Jake]

I know the feeling, again.

 

[Anonymous]

The one bonus is it makes me realise how well I run my own business and what a great service my customers get.

 

[Jake]

My zinc roofer has just come on site and it is such a breath of fresh air - he's clearly a bloody good craftsman, he cares about the standard of his work both for himself in a professional pride way, and for me as paying client, and he's doing just what the spec says and not cutting corners...

I like him.

 

[tim]

Sorry to hear your woes.

The one bonus is it makes me realise how well I run my own business and what a great service my customers get.

Trouble is that these monkeys set the tone for all trades (unhelped by TV trade cowboy series) so that no one expects good service which consequently makes it harder to justify some prices esp with new customers.

I don't understand why builders in particular would want to pick up and put down the same job so often - I want to get a job finished and move onto the next. Much more efficient and the client feels more valued.

Am I alone in having built up a large collection of tools left behind by builders. To date a wheelbarrow, two toolboxes, several extension reels, a ladder, various roofing tools and a radio. I have told the guys that they are here but three or so years later I still ahve them. These were guys who had done a good job and had been paid so its most odd. My dad recently had a guy leaving a working mitre saw behind (the guy has disappeared).

Hope you get it sorted soon esp without coming to blows - you don't want to get into a court case with the idiot except over his shortcomings.

Cheers

Tim

 

[promhandicam]

Senior - get yer jap saw out and go swat some flies - imagining that they are your builder. Hopefully this will help to calm you enough to stop you whacking him when you next meet, or if not will help to get your arm in practice :wink:

Steve

 

[Waka]

Irrespective if he's due a payment or not, just sack him and make him wait for his money, I'm sure there's someone out there that will carry on the job.

A few years ago I had a similar problem with a landscape gardener, in the end I just sacked him, he never did get the payment he was due.

Unfortunately it's cowboys like this that really give the whole industry a bad name.

 

[ByronBlack]

I agree, if possible sack him and get someone more professional in. But the sounds of it you have been very patient with him and put up with a lot of crap, sometimes the best approach is to get rid. (I used to get this a lot when I sub-contracted out work to developers, had to get rid of more than I kept).