Neighbours buttonholing your tradespeople on your time

[sammyc]

Live as it happens straw poll.

Not for the first time, neighbour has just buttonholed my booked-in tradesperson the second they arrive & before the wheels have barely stopped turning.

Rude? or only if you're a protocol obsessed stickler.

[spacein_vader]

Buttonholed?

[Hoonigan]

Yes, I'm with you on this one sammyc, that would annoy me quite a lot. I don't tend to talk to anyone while they're working, especially if they're in my house doing any work. I hate people breathing over my shoulder asking what I'm doing or presenting their own running commentary.

I like to see people getting on with what they're getting on with.

Buttonholed?

When you engage in conversation, usually with people you don't know, and keep them there for ages, with very little actual "conversation" occurring because it's so one-sided.

[sammyc]

^ they wanted some work done themselves apparently, so it's not that they were hanging about making a nuisance, but in a way it's the nabbing them for yourself bit that annoys me.

apart from anything - why do it then, why not wait & ask me for a recommendation? at the start of the job, they could still turn out to be rubbish.

Buttonholed?

lol (what was your best guess..? )

edit: ooh, 4 yeses so far, not just me then.

[Hoonigan]

^ they wanted some work done themselves apparently, so it's not that they were hanging about making a nuisance, but in a way it's the nabbing them for yourself bit that annoys me.

apart from anything - why do it then, why not wait & ask me for a recommendation? at the start of the job, they could still turn out to be rubbish.

I think part of it will be just the 'wanting to talk about it', like they think it makes them more interesting or gives them a topic to talk about. You find people like that all the time.

[peterb]

It depends, if they are being nosy and trying to find out what you are having done - that’s rude. If they are asking for a card for some work for themselves, then fine, so long as it’s quick.

[Mr_Jon]

Depends if you're paying them a day rate or job rate. I charge the latter, which entitles me to yap to everyone I see. Plus, it's how I get most of my work.

[sammyc]

Job rate, but it's the etiquette as far as I'm concerned. You've come onto my property to talk to someone working outside my house - say the house was gated & walled off (would that it were..) - you wouldn't let yourself in & up the drive, would you? Same difference imo. (Ok he was parked on the street but only because he hadn't had one minute to ask if he could pull up the drive).

I guess I'm not thinking from the tradesperson's glad of the work pov, but even then, they (neighbour) could just ask & I'd pass on a business card &c so it comes out much the same.

[Ttaskmaster]

As per, really.
If it's quick and just looking to get a quote, then fair enough and the chap himself gets more business.
If he's actually buttonholing and being a nosey parker, trying to poach the guy, or just being a backside to tick you off, then he can go take a running jump.

That really is as politely as I can phrase it.

[Mr_Jon]

Most people will take the first person they see or are recommended instead of seeking someone out themselves. No idea why. From your man's point of view, while he'd have rather been getting on with the task in hand, it's a situation where he can't really ignore them if they want to eventually give him money.

[adidan]

If it's for a quote and i'm paying job rate then i'd overlook it, it'll be one off and people have to make a living.

If they pester after that i'd have a word if it's interfering with the job.

But yeah, odd to do it before seeing if they do a good job at yours.

[Saracen999]

It depends, if they are being nosy and trying to find out what you are having done - that’s rude. If they are asking for a card for some work for themselves, then fine, so long as it’s quick.

That, really.


"I'm at no.15 and need some work done. Can you give me a knock when you've got a few minutes" takes 10 seconds, and gets in nobody's way. Standing there shooting the breeze for 15 minutes on plumbing, electrics, painting and decorating, or whatever, is just rude. People need work done and others have livings to make.

So .... it all depends.

[Saracen999]

....

But yeah, odd to do it before seeing if they do a good job at yours.

It does, but .... they may figure that, first, they want several quotes and here's an easy one, and second, that sammy dude is pretty sharp and doesn't employ any passing idiot, so if he's interested, so am I.

[Saracen999]

Argh. Duplicate post. Dratted tablet dropping net connection every few seconds.

[adidan]

It does, but .... they may figure that, first, they want several quotes and here's an easy one, and second, that sammy dude is pretty sharp and doesn't employ any passing idiot, so if he's interested, so am I.

There is that, a case of I trust my neighbour's judgment more than my own

[Saracen999]

Depends on the neoghbour.

But it's not so much trusting it, as that if you think the neighbour is careful, even hiring them is better than just a random guy from an online trades search site. It would give me confidence to at least get them to quote.

I ssy that because I've just in the process of commissing about two grand's worth of interior paintwork (the hall, stairs, etc) and a couple of painters never showed up to do the quote, one more did but then nevef sent the quote snd now says he's busy until next May, or something. Hunt-the-decent-tradesman cxn be a frustrating game.