Suggestions

[streetlighter]

hey guys, i need some ideas as to how i can gain a bit more work as we are dead as a dodo at the moment! the missus has got some PAT testing work next week, but nowhere near enough to cover our overheads!

We are getting the phone calls and going out doing quotes but it seems like no 1 wants to pay for anything they want it all doing for free and us busting our B***s for nothing!

Went out on a quote last week

3 Bed Bungalow, 2 Reception Rooms, 1 Kitchen Diner, and Bathroom,

Electrics looked like they had been done by a DIY'r and been done badly at that!

The C/U looked 2nd hand and had no RCD protection

missing blanks 3 lighting ccts fed of 1 10a MCB

2 ring finals ccts fed by 1 32a MCB (which noting was a CHINT MCB bodged into a Square D Quickline 2 C/U

and to top that the shower was wired in 6mm protected by a 50a MCB

junctions boxes everywhere , exposed live conductors left tiddling in the wind accessable by 2 toddlers at that!

non fire rated downlighters in the suspended cieling in bathroom ( cieling also has insulation behind)

Major undersized gas/water bonding

relocation of a flush double socket and new coaxial from satellite to Tv in new location. and rectifying the problems above, INC a NEW Wylex C/U

Went in at

 

[nsbs]

Sorry to hear things are tough for you mate, they are tough for a lot of people. You are right people want everything for nothing at the moment, and there are loads of people who will do it for nothing too.

When I relocated my business about 6 years ago form the north of Scotland to my current location I didn

 

[streetlighter]

cheers for the info mate,

yet again this afternoon we'v had yet another timewaster on the blower, 'moved into new house, cant get any power on, can you come have a look, yep whats the address!?!?! oh wait a min my missus gone missing ill ring u back, 3 hours later still no call back!!!

we are seriously beginning to consider about knocking it on the head!!!! We have tried local papers & buysell's we have posted endless amounts of leaflets (the missus is sick of the sight of em TBH)

we are constantly advertising via vehicles etc!!!

written to estate agents etc and local business's i am going to ask the missus to write to local builders etc though and see what happens from there!

Thankyou for the advice

 

[Evans Electric]

These are hard times Streety , I don't have an answer TBH. I only have one job on, and didn't work last week while the plasterer performs his evil rites there . The phone never rang except for two outfits wanting give me all the work in this area (Yeah Right)

Oh and West Bromwich Albion phoned ..........thought they wanted me to play up front in their next match ...( and me a Villa fan) .....but of course it was would I like to advertise in some publication they are doing.

 

[steptoe]

got a phone call on Friday., recommended by the gasman,

apparently they need a new consumer unit, the PIR they have said this, it took 2 hours to do a PIR in a 3bed occupied house!

"how much will you charge to fit a new box, I know they are about

 

[ProDave]

When I relocated my business about 6 years ago form the north of Scotland to my current location I didn’t have a customer, contact or clue to how start another business. But this is more or less what I have done to make my business thriving and busy.

I wonder where you used to be? I moved from darn sarf to the North of Scotland 8 years ago, and my workload has been steadilly increasing since I started. Perhaps I've picked up all your old customers?

My only advertising is the printed copy of Yellow Pages, and the free one line entry on yell.com Otherwise it's just my website. But by far most of my work now is word of mouth from previous customers, so I must be doing something right.

Fortunately I have never encountered the want it for nothing customer up here, but then I know I price my hourly rate at the bottom end of the scale so my prices are never too high to start with.

the other thing that helped me at start up when work was scarce, was checking the weekly planning application lists, and writing to people submitting plans for new builds and extensions offering my services. Picjed up a few worthwhile jobs from that to get me started.

 

[Manator]

My wife who is Scottish born in Arbroath keeps pestering me to relocate north of the border, to be honest I am tempted apart from the effect on my business and the need to almost restart up north. I could still be tempted I love Scotland.

 

[M107]

Have to say the phone calls asking for quotes have slowed up. I've got about a months worth of work in the book, but chatting it seems all trades are under the cosh at the moment. Even my wholesaler said he isnt getting the bodies through the door at the moment.

As for what to do about it....

I've teamed up with a local builder a landscape gardener & a kitchen fitter/plumber & we are doing shared leaflet drops in each of our local areas of town.

I'm also one of those annoying types that leaves a flyer on the car windscreen while you are shopping in the diy shed like this A5 glossy type that cost me

 

[safedepth]

Have to say the phone calls asking for quotes have slowed up. I've got about a months worth of work in the book, but chatting it seems all trades are under the cosh at the moment. Even my wholesaler said he isnt getting the bodies through the door at the moment.As for what to do about it....

I've teamed up with a local builder a landscape gardener & a kitchen fitter/plumber & we are doing shared leaflet drops in each of our local areas of town.

I'm also one of those annoying types that leaves a flyer on the car windscreen while you are shopping in the diy shed like this A5 glossy type that cost me

 

[NozSpark]

You know what,,

I read it and couldn't see any spelling mistakes the first time,,,, just had another look and...oh yeh!

 

[M107]

R is missing, not many see it first time.

SD full price was

 

[Evans Electric]

That smelling mistook tuk sum finding , knot menny peepul will notice it .

 

[sellers]

I had 6weeks booked up, but its now down to 2 and a 1/2 and not had much to quote for. Starting to get a bit worried.

 

[nsbs]

I wonder where you used to be? I moved from darn sarf to the North of Scotland 8 years ago, and my workload has been steadilly increasing since I started. Perhaps I've picked up all your old customers?.

Not sure where you are but i moved from Inverness. still up there each month to see my lad.

ian

 

[ktguk]

got a phone call on Friday., recommended by the gasman,apparently they need a new consumer unit, the PIR they have said this, it took 2 hours to do a PIR in a 3bed occupied house!

"how much will you charge to fit a new box, I know they are about

 

[NozSpark]

think everyone on this forum in every part of the country has had that conversation recently

Hardly even getting the chance,,, is my phone bust??

 

[streetlighter]

Hardly even getting the chance,,, is my phone bust??

sheesh it must be a phone thing then, i wonder if all 3 of our phones are

 

[fletchflash]

Bad times at the moment! Im on and off, got about a months work lined up at moment which is probably the most secure ive been so far this year. Ive decided I'm gonna go down under for a year or so after summer, let this work drout sort itself out.

Rather than sending out loads of letters I would suggest speaking to people on the phone, or even both. Letters are so easily put into the bin and to be able to speak to someone is such a better way to sell yourself. Try ringing round the electricians in your area aswell, ask for some subby work. I did loads of subby work for a small elec company at a museum before xmas, was getting a good wage

 

[ian932]

My wife who is Scottish born in Arbroath keeps pestering me to relocate north of the border, to be honest I am tempted apart from the effect on my business and the need to almost restart up north. I could still be tempted I love Scotland.

Mmmmmm yum not far from the home of the Bridie.

Why can't we get these down south, I have to get a load when I go north and freeze them

 

[ProDave]

Not sure where you are but i moved from Inverness. still up there each month to see my lad.ian

30 miles further north in Ross-Shire. Don't do many jobs in Inverness. Mostly the Ross-Shire towns, and further afield in the Highlands.