Do you have concerns when hiring a trader?

Some architects will manage a project, so might use people they know and hopefully trust.

First step would be finding an architect you can trust….. If you look around your area for extensions that look particularly good, then look on your local council planning website, you can find the plans and see who created them. GOOD LUCK, you will need it.

Have you any trust in Which? Trusted Traders? If so, you could but in “builders” and your town to see what comes up.

Vynor – what type of project, size and budget would be useful before advising. !! : )

An elderly acquaintance who is a traditional architect tells me of the difficulties he has employing new graduates with architectural qualifications. All concept, no practicality apparently. You need, in my view, someone who understands structures, spaces, drains, and suchlike unless you wish to live in some fantasy house.

When planning our extension years ago I drew up some plans of what I was looking for before employing anyone to convert my thoughts in practical drawings that also satisfied building regulations.

Occasionally there can be genuine reasons why people don’t turn up. I had struggled to find a recommended tree surgeon to remove three Leylandii and when I did find one he turned up promptly to provide an estimate. On the appointed day he failed to turn up and later that day his wife rang to say that he had been taken into hospital in pain because of a kidney stone. Several weeks later he arrived and did an excellent job. More recently I received a call to say that an engineer would not be turning up because he had called in sick. When he did turn up I was impressed by the work he did.

I agree that it’s worthwhile seeing how well people perform before getting them to do larger jobs.

If someone is unable to turn up on time it takes no more than a phone call to explain – barring exceptional circumstances of course.

Cutting the hedges around a rather large garden is no longer as much fun as it used to be, and a holiday absence had allowed my lawns to grow – selfishly. I had been considering looking for some help for a while and found someone who had recently moved from greenkeeping to try his hand at going solo. Turned up just after 8, cut all the hedges neatly, cut all the lawns, bagged the cuttings and filled my compost heap and finished weeding large clumps of grass from one of the vegetable patches before he had to leave at 2:30. We fed and watered him, but he wasted no time, so he’ll be back – hopefully – from time to time.

I telephoned the builder a short time ago and he apologised for the delay which was due to him having to take his wife to hospital; he said he had called at the house to explain the position a few days ago but there was no answer. He’s coming early this afternoon and promises to get it all done today, so we’re back on track and I shall see if he wants the painting job. I don’t know how his price for the gutter and fascia cleaning etc compares with the firms who have display advertising in the local papers or are franchised operations but he quoted £130 which for a fairly large house with quite a lot of guttering seems very reasonable. We shall see. The previous owners had obviously not given any attention to the gutters for many years as they all contain lumps of moss and the undersides are covered in green mould. The vertical fascias and down pipes seem to stay clean through the action of the elements but will benefit from a wash down.

I had an electrician here earlier today as well to quote for a number of small jobs to replace fixtures and fittings and to install some new lighting positions. He turned up early, seemed very business-like and had some good solutions to possible problems. I was impressed and look forward to having him work at the house for a couple of days in early July. He did comment that the plastic consumer unit should be replaced with a metal one but advised me that it was OK not to disturb it unless it was necessary to install any additional circuits. It was last inspected in 2005 so I have put it on the “To Do” list.

At our previous three-storey house I had the windows cleaned every five weeks for just £15. The window cleaner used a filtered water system from a tank in the back of his van with a long narrow-bore hose attached to a lightweight telescopic pole with a water-fed brush on the end. He did a very good job and I need something similar at the new property but all the local window cleaners use ladders, bucket and cloth. Unfortunately the projecting ground floor extensions front and rear with pitched roofs make it difficult to use ladders as the angle is too shallow for safe working; one man said he could back his van up to prevent the ladder sliding but when I asked how he could do that at the back of the house his response was to say he would dig the foot of the ladder into the lawn. He lost my trade.

Is the window cleaner registered for VAT Beryl?
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/reclaim/2011/01/how-to-avoid-duping-by-vat-fraudsters-

Check them out here:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/

If you want to report them:
https://www.gov.uk/report-vat-fraud

I have had traders say it is the law to charge VAT even though they are not VAT registered. It is just more money in their pockets but if you were happy with their quote including their VAT, you tend to just pay it.

If all traders had to be assessed and licensed, they would be more accountable.

Many of them charge 3 or 4 times as much as their clients can earn and cash-in-hand might keep them under the VAT threshold. Why should they get away with paying taxes when we have to pay them? It is our public services like the police and NHS that lose out.

Websites that endorse and allegedly assess tradesmen are only a veneer to getting a good tradesman. Do your checks and get your own recommendations from people you know. Cash in hand & no written agreements just facilitates a black market and petty crimes (VAT avoidance & no warranty on the work). If you pay cash for a cheaper VAT free job, expect problems sooner or later.
A cash-less society would lead to a lot less crime! listen to this https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09y6zc2

I once had a new fitted wardrobe installed by J Lewis. The guy who was Polish, turned up to date and on time. His work was extremely professional and polished (of course) and he took a great pride in and enjoyed the work he did. J Lewis phoned the following day to establish whether I was happy with the standard and finish. I couldn’t fault it.

I would suggest you report it to Which? Trusted Traders and leave it to them to deal with the impostor.