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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:24 pm
by archaeologist
Hi,
I have an annoying sloping driveway with two lines of concrete slabs running down it. Recently, the exhaust on my car has started bumping the apex of slope and pavement, and I think I will need to get the slabs re-laid / replaced where needed, and somehow get the slope evened out a bit at the top of the drive. I don't think my old dad and I are up to this ourselves: archaeologists can only use trowels for one thing!
So, I am trying to get a contractor to do the work, but all the 'approved' driveway companies in the West Lothian / Edinburgh area seem to concentrate on big jobs like monoblock. There are lots of ads for 'builders' in the local paper, but I am loathe to cold call a mobile or local number, all that is supplied in the ads.
So, my query is, will a 'big' company do such a job? If not, who should I be looking at to do the work?
Hope this is not too vague...
Kenny
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:35 pm
by Tony McC
Do you know, roughly, how big an area is involved?
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 1:55 pm
by archaeologist
Tony,
sorry for not answering sooner.
Essentially what we are talking about is 2 lines of 15 3x2 concrete slabs, a distance of 11-12m, plus another 15 slabs parallel to these running downslope as well and then round to meet the front door. These all need replaced (45 slabs in all), and the top of the slope needs evened out to lessen the angle between pavement and driveway.
2 companies have bothered to reply to my request for a quote. One told me they only do monoblock and to try the local paper, the other arranged to come and see the drive this morning to do a quote, so I am working from home today - but have not bothered turning up....
This is starting to seem like the kind of job that is too small for some, and too big for the rest!
Kenny
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:29 pm
by Tony McC
It's a sad fact, and a damning indictment on our trade, that 35-50% of 'appointments' to view potential jobs are not kept, and the vast majority of the missing contractors don't even have the basic courtesy to 'phone and make up a pathetic excuse for their non-attendance. I speak to contractors every week, and many tell me that they are busy, rushed off their feet, and don't have the time to get to see all the jobs, and why should they invest time and money in making a call to turn down a job they didn't want in the first place?
Basic courtesy, is the answer. It's bloody annoying for a homeowner to sit there, all morning, waiting for a contractor to turn up, only to realise, 2 hours later, that they've been 'stood up'. It angers homeowners; it reinforces the public perception that we contractors are all a bunch of feckless chancers; and it needn't be this way. A simple 20 second phone call to say that the contractor won't be able to make it, and given the workload, doesn't think it likely that a re-scheduled appointment would be a worth arranging. Terribly sorry, but better to let them know than to keep them hanging on.
If a contractor can't be arsed to make such a simple call, what's the likelihood that they could be arsed to do a decent job if they were to be given the work?
All I can say is that there are a lot of good contractors out there, contractors that would be willing to turn up at the appointed time, and to take on what might be a relatively small job. They may well charge a premium for doing so, but that's only to be expected. You may have to ring a dozen or more to get 2 or 3 that are interested and actually turn up, but persistence will pay off ... eventually!
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 5:51 pm
by ABILITY
Swings the other way as well some times, not for the first time. This morning, arranged a visit, "had to be Saturday morning" they said, for 9.30am.
6 am start, rush to site, call at two other jobs and delivery made before 9 to get back for visit. Grap portfolio, make it on time to house, nobody there!! Guess the shopping run or what ever was more important!
Whilst I agree Tony, many contractors do not keep appointments, and should have courtasy to call, customers also guilty at times and we certainly have better things to do than run around to empty houses.
Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:52 pm
by archaeologist
Tony,
I'm sure my no-show guy was not typical - at least other companies have been honest enough to say they would not do the job. Anyway, my dad has been over and reckons we can do the job if I reign in my driveway dreams a little and provide a director's chair for him to shout orders to my pals and I. It could be that I'll be back on for advice later in the Spring!
Thanks for your comments, and congratulations on a fantastic website.
Kenny
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:24 pm
by Tony McC
I'm glad to hear you're making some progress Kenny, and I hope you have fun with it - let us know how you get on.
Ability - you're right to point out that some customers are as discourteous as some of the contractors, and it really is bloody annoying, as we don't get paid for giving prices. When I was contracting and pricing-up on a daily basis, if an appointment was a no-show, I'd shove a card through the door with a note on the back saying that I was sorry I'd missed them and I'd be sending my bill in a day or so. It's amazing to find how many folk have called, before you even get back to the office, with all sorts of apologies and pathetic excuses, usually involving children and hospitals! 