Julie-Ann
17-11-2009, 10:44 AM
Here are a few tips that might help you next time you need to hire a tradesman:
1. Follow these steps when hiring a tradesman
Hiring a Tradesman (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/hiring-tradesman-86.html)
2. Don’t phone on a Monday morning.
On a Monday morning the tradesman is usually starting a new job and wanting to make some progress to please the client. When working with tradesmen on Monday mornings I have seen many of them simply turn their phones off.
3. Don’t phone on a Friday.
Personally I never ask anyone to do anything for me on a Friday. They usually are not going to have time to do it that day and by Monday they probably would have forgotten. I phone on Monday after 2pm instead.
4. Feed them TimTams
Be generous- offer cups of tea and coffee but also a little treat. Chocolate= sugar = energy = my job getting done. I even go to the trouble of finding out what is their favourite morning tea. My electrician, for example, is allergic to gluten so he gets a special cake from the gluten free café. It is the little things that help to motivate people.
5. Good cop/Bad cop
Sometimes you have to complain and ask for something to be done just a little better. When having work done on my own home I always use the excuse that my husband is a perfectionist and would they mind just fixing that little problem to keep him happy. Why do I bother- because people work harder for people they like. ***ody likes someone complaining, justified or not. This way they may get annoyed with my husband, who they usually never see, but I remain on good terms with them. Of course there are times when a firmer approach is necessary but preferably only when being civil has failed.
Let us know if there is anything else you do to make sure you and your tradesmen work well together?
1. Follow these steps when hiring a tradesman
Hiring a Tradesman (http://www.decoratingforum.com.au/showthread.php/hiring-tradesman-86.html)
2. Don’t phone on a Monday morning.
On a Monday morning the tradesman is usually starting a new job and wanting to make some progress to please the client. When working with tradesmen on Monday mornings I have seen many of them simply turn their phones off.
3. Don’t phone on a Friday.
Personally I never ask anyone to do anything for me on a Friday. They usually are not going to have time to do it that day and by Monday they probably would have forgotten. I phone on Monday after 2pm instead.
4. Feed them TimTams
Be generous- offer cups of tea and coffee but also a little treat. Chocolate= sugar = energy = my job getting done. I even go to the trouble of finding out what is their favourite morning tea. My electrician, for example, is allergic to gluten so he gets a special cake from the gluten free café. It is the little things that help to motivate people.
5. Good cop/Bad cop
Sometimes you have to complain and ask for something to be done just a little better. When having work done on my own home I always use the excuse that my husband is a perfectionist and would they mind just fixing that little problem to keep him happy. Why do I bother- because people work harder for people they like. ***ody likes someone complaining, justified or not. This way they may get annoyed with my husband, who they usually never see, but I remain on good terms with them. Of course there are times when a firmer approach is necessary but preferably only when being civil has failed.
Let us know if there is anything else you do to make sure you and your tradesmen work well together?