Quiet

[Kevboy]

How are you tilers finding the work situation. I've never known it so quiet (around Milton Keynes). Priced jobs but not got them and I'm not cutting my prices any lower. Other trades I've spoken to seem to be slow as well.

 

[foggy34]

i think it maybe something to do with bank holiday etc for me always the same in april then busy until next

 

[Kevboy]

Only after Christmas I've found the worse but it usually picks up Feb/March but not this year

 

[One Day]

Busiest I've ever known so far. Work booked in until Sept/Oct.

 

[cam_low]

If I booked in every little dinky job instead of turning them away I would be done for the year. Im lucky enough to be in a postion to refuse the small jobs and take on the task of the more difficult and intricate.

 

[radim]

If I booked in every little dinky job instead of turning them away I would be done for the year. Im lucky enough to be in a postion to refuse the small jobs and take on the task of the more difficult and intricate.

i did 3 metre floor about 3months ago.didnt want the job but went and did it. now I am pricing job for his friend. three barn conversions about 1000m2.........

 

[Rizzle from the Portizzle]

well talking to over 30 tile and tile and bathroom shops its been a strange start to the year so far the domestic clients seam to have disapeared on mass but the contract side is getting very busy and this seems the same across the uk if it goes on like this then those shops that depend on the domestic market will be gone by the end of the year how much the internet is playing in this wont be clear intill they relase there sales grouth this year you have to stay very flexabal in a market like this and look at were the work is and follow that path .adapt or go hungry

 

[TJ Smiler]

I think it may have something to do with Easter being latter this year why some have gone a bit quiet. I am flat out and also booked solid until September. I never turn away the small jobs but i do tell them it will have to be done over a weekend and can fit them in within the next six weeks, then if i get a small break in my diary i slot them in. At the mo though i am playing catch up in my diary and got Tatts in with me next week to speed up a floor i gotta do so i can get back to the bathroom installation i'm in the middle of!!

Had years of struggling but now seem to never stop so no complaints from me at the moment.

 

[White Room]

Busiest I've ever known so far. Work booked in until Sept/Oct.

I think it may have something to do with Easter being latter this year why some have gone a bit quiet. I am flat out and also booked solid until September. I never turn away the small jobs but i do tell them it will have to be done over a weekend and can fit them in within the next six weeks, then if i get a small break in my diary i slot them in. At the mo though i am playing catch up in my diary and got Tatts in with me next week to speed up a floor i gotta do so i can get back to the bathroom installation i'm in the middle of!!

Had years of struggling but now seem to never stop so no complaints from me at the moment.

If your contracting then I could see why your busy until September but the general public won't wait 2 weeks, if I told them 2 months there'd be off looking somewhere else to do the job.

 

[Sean SML Tiling]

How many weeks in front is normal for donestic work?

 

[White Room]

One half want it done tomorrow the other half would'nt wait 4 weeks let alone 2 months....

 

[Kevboy]

One half want it done tomorrow the other half would'nt wait 4 weeks let alone 2 months....
I agree there, not many people would wait more than a month, that's for sure.

 

[One Day]

I get calls from people wanting jobs done tomorrow. Can't do it so it ends there.
As 99% of my work is from personal recommendation the other ones generally will wait if they're convinced it will be worth the wait.
With me it's quality first and speed second. I'd never rush jobs just to get to the next one.

 

[TJ Smiler]

If your contracting then I could see why your busy until September but the general public won't wait 2 weeks, if I told them 2 months there'd be off looking somewhere else to do the job.

No i'm not contracting, it's all private work. Personally i don't find it a major problem to take bookings so far in front, lots of customers do want it done tomorrow and i generally find i miss out on them ones (but i only miss out because i'm booked) so although it's annoying to lose them i'm not strictly missing out and i always try to pass it over to someone else. if it's a small job i tell them i will be able to do it within the next six weeks but can't give a deffinate date... many of them are more than happy to do this if they like me, and if i do my job properly on the quote they normally do like me and will wait. As for customers who are investing anywhere between say 2k and 5k on average on a complete bathroom rip out and re-installation they have absolutely no problem waiting if they think they are going to get a proper job.

I can see what your saying though Mark there are loads who call and want it done the next day.

 

[TJ Smiler]

I get calls from people wanting jobs done tomorrow. Can't do it so it ends there.
As 99% of my work is from personal recommendation the other ones generally will wait if they're convinced it will be worth the wait.
With me it's quality first and speed second. I'd never rush jobs just to get to the next one.

Snap Mate

 

[Andy Allen]

Im turning away 3/4 jobs week because I cant get them to wait and im only booked up for 5 weeks...hate doing it but there's only so much you can do. If its a client I've done work for before or a recommendation then they might wait but a new customer. ..forget it..

 

[TJ Smiler]

I turn away loads too mate (or pass them over) i am not by any stretch saying i make all of them wait.... I probably lose more than i win because most won't wait but between now and September there will be one or two who will wait. That's how it is for me anyway.

 

[Ian]

I've turned away every day this week, the guy I usually pass work on to can't do the jobs either. If anyone wants anyone want any work in the Grantham area, give me a PM. Loads going.

 

[Andy Allen]

Heres a question for you lot.....

When your piled out with work and a nice easy job comes in thats a good earner would you ditch or put off a more complicated pain in the bum job that you've had booked in for ages when work was slow.

Im sure we've all been there...

 

[AliGage]

Harded part of this job is managing your diary

 

[aphilp]

We are very busy and rather than turn people away, I always recommend that they post their jobs on the Forum, if we are unable to assist.

We fitted in a small domestic job today at short notice from a client who found us on the Forum. Our contract work is increasing and hopefully, we will need extra CSCS tilers soon.

Best Wishes

Anne

 

[charlie1]

I turn away about 3 jobs per week, just can't fit them in! I always prioritise the better paying ones even if it means cancelling mrs jones from council est then I let some other less competent tiler pick up the scraps. I'm booked full till 2015 now, all high end work of course, I don't even have time to myself at weekends lol, I don't even know how I'm typing this!!! Hahahaha aha.

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

well we had a great start to the year here, when lots of other guys were worrying , right up to two weeks ago ,and now it has dropped -off again, so i.am promoting myself at the moment in the hope it will pick-up again...... mad stuff , sometimes i wish i did your sort of tiling ! well general tiling or stonework or even cleaning and renovation to keep-us going year round ......

 

[charlie1]

I hope all the sarcasm was detected in my above post. In all honesty, I'm pretty quiet apart from full bathroom refits which covers messy rip outs, joinery, plastering tiling and plumbing, I think I've lost my passion for the tiling at mo. IMO, there simply isn't much money in tiling and that's fine if your happy plodding away... And I know , I know some of you really are very busy just tiling... Well your probably very good tilers in that case but there are better ones with no work... I can assure you!

 

[aphilp]

Tiling has always been famine or feast.

We were quiet for a few weeks, had a long well earned holiday, and then spent our time on tenders, up-dating Health & Safety and tiling for domestic clients.

Anne