S
Sag
So instead of even trying to sit down and negotiate, terms you walk away from thousands of pounds of regular work. Madness.
Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws
- Thread starter village idiot
- Start date
S
Sag
Not if a proper agreement could have been reached. Instead, tar the landlord with the same brush and turn away work.
In reply to my post,
VI - I personally don't think you have given this Landlord and yourself enough time to negotiate.
He may well be a ***** - he may well think tradesman are not worth the money they charge.
But at the end of the day, you have made a decision on negativity and been made to feel that you are required to meet his demands / requests.
That may be well and true.
All it may have taken is for you to stand your ground and have a decent discussion on the phone or face to face.
Some things are worth having a go at.. and my point of view is that this was something worth having a go at.
You have made a decision not to have a go at it - fair call.
But I feel you have rolled over and given up without putting your point or services provided across.
Personally, I would have put my best foot forward and tried to negotiate a deal that would be beneficial to myself and offer whatever to make it happen.
I would not have worked at reduced rates, nor would I have cut corners to get the deal.
It may not have gone anywhere - but I don't think you put enough effort in to try and benefit yourself.
I don't have any harsh feelings towards you or your business dealings - that's your business.
Everyone has had bad dealings with landlords and estate agents, but not all estate agents and landlords are bad.
I just feel that you have let go of an opportunity that you haven't pursued fully.
No harsh feelings
Oz Plumber
VI - I personally don't think you have given this Landlord and yourself enough time to negotiate.
He may well be a ***** - he may well think tradesman are not worth the money they charge.
But at the end of the day, you have made a decision on negativity and been made to feel that you are required to meet his demands / requests.
That may be well and true.
All it may have taken is for you to stand your ground and have a decent discussion on the phone or face to face.
Some things are worth having a go at.. and my point of view is that this was something worth having a go at.
You have made a decision not to have a go at it - fair call.
But I feel you have rolled over and given up without putting your point or services provided across.
Personally, I would have put my best foot forward and tried to negotiate a deal that would be beneficial to myself and offer whatever to make it happen.
I would not have worked at reduced rates, nor would I have cut corners to get the deal.
It may not have gone anywhere - but I don't think you put enough effort in to try and benefit yourself.
I don't have any harsh feelings towards you or your business dealings - that's your business.
Everyone has had bad dealings with landlords and estate agents, but not all estate agents and landlords are bad.
I just feel that you have let go of an opportunity that you haven't pursued fully.
No harsh feelings
Oz Plumber
There are a lot of rogue plumbers about does that mean you are one too? You are tarring all landlords with the same brush? You have to take people as they come. A lot are bad but there are some good ones about too.
M
MOSSEP
As much as I like to agree with a fellow tradesman, I can see the issue from the Landlords point of view as well.
If I had a large portfolio of properties, I would know that I have a good thing to offer someone who is capable of doing the work. I would also want to be certain that I was getting this large amount of potential work done at the best price possible. Owning property is a business not a hobby and you do it to make money. I don’t suppose you shop at more expensive wholesalers unless you have a good history and relationship with them.
I would want to know that the stranger I am asking to do my work is not going to take the pish out of me, and if that meant that I wanted to buy the materials and only be charged for labour then so be it. I’m sure that after a few jobs you could have built up a good working relationship with potentially a large amount of work, and if it didn’t work out, you would not have lost anything either – other than maybe a few days where you may have earnt a bit more elsewhere.
If I had a large portfolio of properties, I would know that I have a good thing to offer someone who is capable of doing the work. I would also want to be certain that I was getting this large amount of potential work done at the best price possible. Owning property is a business not a hobby and you do it to make money. I don’t suppose you shop at more expensive wholesalers unless you have a good history and relationship with them.
I would want to know that the stranger I am asking to do my work is not going to take the pish out of me, and if that meant that I wanted to buy the materials and only be charged for labour then so be it. I’m sure that after a few jobs you could have built up a good working relationship with potentially a large amount of work, and if it didn’t work out, you would not have lost anything either – other than maybe a few days where you may have earnt a bit more elsewhere.
M
MOSSEP
Ive picked up work where the previous companies work was crap, where they became to expensive, where they were dishonest and also where they died! It hasn't got to be about the previous contractor throwing in the towel.
A
Andyswad
Too many eggs in one basket etc..
I can understand you walking away, I personally don't want too big jobs or contracts, Small jobs, quick payment or invoices.
I do work for a letting agent and do all their work but do get paid every month but when the invoice reaches £1000 I get nervous, that's my mortgage I cannot afford to loose that much.
£200 for PCB's is my biggest outlay any more than that and I get customer to buy or pay upfront, I do not hold merchant credit accounts just cash accounts. No bills at end of month to worry about then, buying boilers and waiting for payment is not for me
I can understand you walking away, I personally don't want too big jobs or contracts, Small jobs, quick payment or invoices.
I do work for a letting agent and do all their work but do get paid every month but when the invoice reaches £1000 I get nervous, that's my mortgage I cannot afford to loose that much.
£200 for PCB's is my biggest outlay any more than that and I get customer to buy or pay upfront, I do not hold merchant credit accounts just cash accounts. No bills at end of month to worry about then, buying boilers and waiting for payment is not for me
Being a self employed gas engineer is also a business and paying a gas engineer / business the equivalent of £ 15 per hour is taking the p@@s. It's a two way street in my opinion, the landlord gives plenty of work for which if he pays a fair rate and gets in return an engineer who jumps through hoops and is reliable allowing BOTH to make money. The old adage, of you pay peanuts you get monkeys spring to mind.
I have been to TOO MANY landlord jobs where things went wrong. Can you guess why? Because they wanted to get it done at the cheapest price??? As has been said, and as I keep reminding them: Pay cheap, pay twice.
I am 100% convinced I made the right decision.
Some would argue that this thread should not be in the open forum as landlords will see it? I'd say it is better in the Open Forum so they can access how we feel about the work we do for them and how we would like to be appreciated and compensated for the work we do.
I am all for tradesmen/women doing work ''on the cheap'' if they so desire. But one thing you need to realise is this: If after doing the job, there was a leak, etc, the customer will not consider that you were paid peanuts. He would be on your case asking that you rectify the situation. In this regard, I will always charge a ''Fair'' daily or hourly rate, and as a result, do a decent job and not rush things or be grumpy as I would be thinking I could be on another job, earning a better wage.
I am 100% convinced I made the right decision.
Some would argue that this thread should not be in the open forum as landlords will see it? I'd say it is better in the Open Forum so they can access how we feel about the work we do for them and how we would like to be appreciated and compensated for the work we do.
I am all for tradesmen/women doing work ''on the cheap'' if they so desire. But one thing you need to realise is this: If after doing the job, there was a leak, etc, the customer will not consider that you were paid peanuts. He would be on your case asking that you rectify the situation. In this regard, I will always charge a ''Fair'' daily or hourly rate, and as a result, do a decent job and not rush things or be grumpy as I would be thinking I could be on another job, earning a better wage.
E
Ermintrude
Had one today paid £10,030 invoice was £10,035. So shall invoice for the £5 tomorrow.
Another Asked for a price to do a bbu to flombay, told them on spot she hummed and made noises , so how much to fit then. Sorry supply and fit or do one. Started parping on, got in van and shouted bye!
Another Asked for a price to do a bbu to flombay, told them on spot she hummed and made noises , so how much to fit then. Sorry supply and fit or do one. Started parping on, got in van and shouted bye!
E
emergencyman
I've had landlords saying I have 100s of properties can you do me a deal?
Of course I will, I reply, Its only fair that someone putting a lot of work my way gets looked after.
(Landlord smiles nodding his head).
This is how it woks, I say, I charge you the first ten jobs/hours at my usual rate, then you get the 11th free.
(Landlord looks confused)
Like at Subway,I reply
Of course I will, I reply, Its only fair that someone putting a lot of work my way gets looked after.
(Landlord smiles nodding his head).
This is how it woks, I say, I charge you the first ten jobs/hours at my usual rate, then you get the 11th free.
(Landlord looks confused)
Like at Subway,I reply
When he gets balance of bill and pays up, drive round there at your convenience and hand him over a £4.99 bottle of wine from Asda, saying: 'this is just a courtesy call as I was in the area and just stopped by to see if everything is ok?'
Now, that will leave him very confused!!!!
E
emergencyman
By the way Village idiot, I think you did the right thing.
I very rarely work for landlords, simple reason is this.
Custard: Its his home and first and foremost is to get the job sorted to high standard, cost is an issue but not too important.
Landlord : It`s just a game. Object of the game is to collect as much as possible and spend as little as possible, even if that means treading on a few toes along the way. By working for a landlord you become part of his game.
I very rarely work for landlords, simple reason is this.
Custard: Its his home and first and foremost is to get the job sorted to high standard, cost is an issue but not too important.
Landlord : It`s just a game. Object of the game is to collect as much as possible and spend as little as possible, even if that means treading on a few toes along the way. By working for a landlord you become part of his game.
Landlord : It`s just a game. Object of the game is to collect as much as possible and spend as little as possible, even if that means treading on a few toes along the way. By working for a landlord you become part of his game.
Is this not the game we all play?
We try and charge customers as much as we can - spend as little as we can on materials.
The world wouldn't rotate financially if this 'game' was not played.
Oh - by the way - this game is not a new thing -!!!
Is this not the game we all play?
We try and charge customers as much as we can - spend as little as we can on materials.
The world wouldn't rotate financially if this 'game' was not played.
Oh - by the way - this game is not a new thing -!!!
If that be the case, why is Ray giving away things for free?
Official Sponsors of Plumbers Talk
Similar plumbing topics
- Question
- Question
- Question
We recommend City Plumbing Supplies, BES, and Plumbing Superstore for all plumbing supplies.
