How are you at dealing/speaking to tradesmen?
 

ie I have 2 lads fitting a new boiler in the house

How are you at dealing/conversing when you have tradesmen (plumbers, chippies, carpet-fiters, repair-men, mechanics) round.

Can you get on fine with them, have a joke, a little light conversation

or

Are you awkward, intimidated, dont know what to say or how to say and kind of hide away and hope they leave soon?

https://www.ukselfstore.co.uk/wp-con...-3-600x600.jpg

Gavin worked in the building line for a really long time and is a qualified plasterer (although he doesn't do that now) and his dad is an electrician so it's really really rare we'd ever have anyone in to do something that Gavin or his dad couldn't do :laugh:

Definitely the latter, a lot of them seem to have this assumption I'll know what they're on about when they start getting all technical about their trade and then make clear they think they're dealing with a moron when I give the inevitable blank face in response so I normally just do the compulsory cup of tea then give it the 'so I'll just let you crack on then yeah' to avoid any chit chat

My only hope otherwise is shifting the conversation to football or other sport where I can actually hold my ground

Yes I can converse with them like a house on fire.

problem up here is that if they are football men and celtic fans that is where things get tricky

mind you the boiler is in smallest boy LTS room and on the door of the cupboard is a big Linfield poster so lets hope they are not Celtic fans and do a sh1t job

:worry:

Leave them to it, offer them tea every now and then, thank them when they’re done

It depends if they give off a pleasant vibe, you know straight away if someone is going to be serious or jokey ,personally , I like a laugh and joke with them ,but if they are not up for that it's fine at least you know they are concentrating on their job :hee:Funnily enough LT ,I am currently waiting for BG to come and see to our boiler.

I recommend a Worcester Bosch

They are here now,I am sure that is what we have,but its been losing pressure, so needs sorting.Look at us talking about boilers,:laugh:

https://us.123rf.com/450wm/luislouro...hite.jpg?ver=6

Kaz was all of a fluster as the boiler engineers arrived

"hi... would you like a cup of cock, <splutter>, i mean TEA"

:omgno:

Some people just never shut up, and are blind to the fact you are slowly edging your way out thier door as they continue to chunter on.

Depends. Some you can have a laugh with, others you just politely give them a drink and let them know you'll be downstairs/in the kitchen or whatever if they need you.

I'm the one you can gave a laugh with, and a wee flirt at times.

My trick with tradesmen is, keep the tea and biscuits coming, don't be afraid to make them a bacon sandwich if they're there for a while (bacon sandwiches seem to be a great hit with tradesmen)... but do pull them up - sharply - if they're taking the piss.... but I don't find that happens often.

LOL....

Has someone just had the tv mem round..cause I've just left a house where the lovely old dear was on about this very subject..one coffee and 3 chocolate biscuits later she mentions the window cleaners get a bacon roll...I left in the huff.

We all know how gav got paid.

Paid to fix things in his own house? :idc:

boilers lose pressure and there is a way to do it yourself, ask them to show you as it may just need topping up

I’m not explaining the joke Niamh.

Like Niamh we rarely have any in as Mr C is quite handy.

The electrican we use is lovely and we always have a great chat

If it's someone servicing the boiler, offer tea and leave them to it in the main

If you are paying someone by the hour, you are paying them to eat and drink your food.

Most trades want to come in fix the problem and get home unless it’s an emergency plumber, then they want to set up home with you.

When i lived up in the valley we knew all the tradesmen as they all were from the village or a wee one nearbye. Now my eldest who still lives there gets all sorts of home jobs done by her pals or their dads. Her boyfriend is a spark so that is handy

I'm not explaining mine either Sheriff

I blether away to them if they do the same, some are miserable bastards though.

Had a guy in earlier this morning fitting an extractor fan, I made him a latte and a cheese n ham roll and left him to it cos he looked crabbit as hell.

:laugh::laugh: they have gone now, but they were nothing like those pics :blush: and they didn't make me splutter,lol but they were nice enough and yes they did get a cuppa , :wavey:

Well this is as awkward as finding a plumber in your draws.

We could get it to work Cherie but we had to keep switching it off then back on, it only happened a few days ago when the weather got really cold,seems there was a problem with some pipe aswell, I can bleed the radiators though :laugh:

Kaz walks in with size 10, grunts, you put the kettle on little lady and il do me bleeding.

I pride myself on being a people person, so I can get on fine with anyone!

I hope that's my dress size sheriff and not my feet !! :laugh:

Either would be impressive.

* Mark sees the 2 plumbers approaching the drive and quickly changes from This Morning to Sky SPorts news and puts his copy of Take a Break under a cushion and brings out a copy of What Car he stole from the dentists on the coffee table.

"Aye cum in lads, am jist up - i wiz ott for a sesh last night and my heeds nippin (reality he put on a facepack and had a bath with candles listening to Enya).

Aye the bogs up the stair ahd gee it a minute as av just laid a cable if ye get me. Did ye see the geme last nicht - ah thot thon goalie iwiz offside, did yoo no?"

"oh look st that burd on sky id split that in half, hahahahah"

The 2 plumbers make their excuses and go to work upstairs, exchanging glances with each other while Marc opens a red bull and necks it in one.


man of the people right enough :joker:

you either have a leak or the boiler header tank needs to be replaced ... that happened here no so long ago :laugh:


I'm naturally nosey, so I like to know exactly what tradesmen are doing and nod sagely at appropriate moments even if i havent got a blinking clue what they are on about.

I tend to offer them a cuppa and then leave them to it.

Yes,he did say there was a leak also,you know your stuff Bots.:wavey:

Sorry sheriff feet size 5 and dress size 14 :wavey:

Hubby hovers...likes to see what’s what.
Our plumber always pops his head in the room roon to have a chat with me, same plumber for years.
Delivery drivers are the same, pop the stuff in the porch and give me a shout, well most of them do.
Cups of tea and biscuits are always on the go for all.

Il take it! 😂

You are sooooo lucky that must save you £1000s!! :)

I am polite and make tea and prey they don't rip me off because I know nothing.