Where do i start??? - Patio

[sal_ja]

This website has been reccomended to by a friend because I'm thinking about having my garden landscaped later this year, trouble is I don't really know where to start when it comes to getting it done.
What should I be looking for when trying to find someone to do it and how do I know who I can trust?
Any help or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[msh paving]

First thing is to get a idea off what you what done, then read the main site and understand what you are going to do , look for local contractors you see working locally on a regular basis,ask friends to recomend contractors ,looking local news for adds check the contractors previous work , get 3 maybe 4 quotes for the work have it all in writing makeing payment terms clear and aftercare

hope this helps MSH

[ilovesettsonmondays]

either see if anyone on here is local to you.keep yours eyes open for good quality driveways that you see locally.give the householder a knock and ask .family and friends reccomendations who have worked done.anyone who knocks on your door offering work ignore like the plague .stay away from the likes of companies who are namedafter favourite mountains etc who will charge you treble what a normal contractor will charge you .hope that helps

[rab1]

look for 3 quotes and ask family, friends etc for who did the work. your basically looking for someone with a good local reputation. basically whats been said before.

[Tony McC]

Start here

[irishpaving]

As all above and always ask to see their portfolio with at least ten different jobs and refs

gl

[mickg]

I agree with all of the above plus don't part with any money until the work is completed to your satisfaction

[Pablo]

I agree with all of the above plus don't part with any money until the work is completed to your satisfaction

Surely you mean the remaining 10% etc there Mick I wouldn't go near someone who won't at least pay me a percentage when I start. They hold all the cards and it's too risky.

[mickg]

looks like we are all different then as I don't take any payment off the customer until the work is completed

[lutonlagerlout]

well I dont like doing work for random clients, blind
I.E. if the client is a FOAF then we can wait till completion
but if it is joe bloggs we would prefer stage payments to lessen the risk.
I have only ever met 2 ,but there are people out there mick ,who have a hobby of knocking hard working quality trades
I know a patio is only likely to be 2 -5 days work , but 30%@materials on site,then 30% after excavation,and the remainder on completion sounds fair to me
gives 2 strangers a bit of a buffer.
I did some payment on completion work for a stranger last year and they started finding all sorts of spurious extras once i had done the specified work
they had me by the shorts as if i didnt do what amounted to 1.5 extra man days, then i would get stung for the lot
thats why i try and stick local now
LLL

[dig dug dan]

i concur with tony in that one.
Mind you, i did work for a friend of a friend and he turned out to be the areas biggest con artist, owing thosands to everyone. he is impossible to catch, and has no fixed address, but still has the balls to drink locally.
Mind you, a few people have waited for him outsde the pub and broken a few bones, but that doesn't get your money at the end of the day

[rab1]

mate did an extension, cash on staged payments. last big payment on completion 30k, client said no chance i`m now not happy see you in court. this twat has now moved house over 3 times and ripped god knows how many people off on the way.

[GB_Groundworks]

i've heard a story of someone similar, con man introduced to developer as a rich guy claiming 4m tied up by customs of shore. developer went ahead got planning etc and incurred over 150k in costs etc had a cheque from the guy but was being told to hold off till revenue attention went away. finally tried to cash it and obviously it bounced a mile high, turned out this guy had done it before a real fantasist. anyway so some real professional nasty men got involved gun in mouth job in his family home, on 30% commission on any money recovered, some of manchesters roughest. he never paid, but he'd be a brave man to do it again though.



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1263069953

[seanandruby]

i've heard a story of someone similar, con man introduced to developer as a rich guy claiming 4m tied up by customs of shore. developer went ahead got planning etc and incurred over 150k in costs etc had a cheque from the guy but was being told to hold off till revenue attention went away. finally tried to cash it and obviously it bounced a mile high, turned out this guy had done it before a real fantasist. anyway so some real professional nasty men got involved gun in mouth job in his family home, on 30% commission on any money recovered, some of manchesters roughest. he never paid, but he'd be a brave man to do it again though.

Hardly anything will stop a conman they usually have a condition like Megalomania. It's a Psychopathological condition that gives them feelings of grandeur. They are usually loners, gamblers etc. They are'nt necessarily hard men. The threat of violence does'nt usually deter them, you have to take from them whatever they have. :;):

[lutonlagerlout]

I think i mentioned it before but I had 1 guy,built his wall and he paid no problem
then he wanted his drive done in injun stone
he supplied probably the worst stone i have ever seen,but we managed to make a silk purse out of it
anyway he owes me £1500 labour,I have paid the lads and he turns around and says "sorry tony m8,i havent got any money"

so i said "no problem,just get your log book (he had a newish jeep type vehicle) and keys,I'll run your motor over letchworth car auctions tonight,flog it and give you the remainder of the money"
he said "but i wont have a car!!"
i said "its better than the alternative"
anyway suddenly he remembered he had £700 in the house,amazing how amnesia can clear so quickly
i got the rest in dribs and drabs,but i know for a fact that he knocked a kitchen company,double glazing company and even his milkman
it would be nice to have a database of these rogue clients
in 25 years i think i could only add 3-4 but they were rotten to the core
LLL