New Home Owners

[cleanteamofny]

Since some of you have brought new homes within the last two years, did you have trouble finding people to do work around the house like simple plumbing, electrical, etc..
For the life of me, since I've moved upstate, finding service personnel is like everyone is afraid to do work or there bad water flowing through my pipes.
I do not know what it is but I'm get frustrated calling and not getting service.

Living in Brooklyn, NY I've never had this problem!
I can pick up the yellow pages call 5 businesses and all five gives quote and one starts work, but up here,
five gives quotes, and not one began work because???
I don't have a clue......

My neighbors tells me that this is not new and they have the same problems as well.
Don't get me wrong, it's a good area with little or no crime, but I wonder if these workers have too much work or they don't want to travel?
I've tried Servicemagic with no luck and now I'm trying Angies List today 06/23/09.

Feedback is welcomed!

 

[launderess]

Have found that with electrical, plumbing and simple construction work myself. Very hard to find anyone willing to do "simple" things anymore.

One theory is that many professionals have been so priced out of the lower end by the flood of "illegal" workers, they no longer bother, and stick to the big jobs.

The other theory goes pretty much along the same lines, in that many professionals would rather work on big jobs where they can make very dear wages,as opposed to doing several small jobs.

If one contacts a licensed electrican in NYC for a job that takes less than a full day, one will likely get an lower worker and even then the cost will be dear. If the real electrican comes out, you will pay his full days rate, even if the job only takes a few hours.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Maybe I may have to get a general contractor and bundle the work.
Do you think I will have a better chance of getting some work done around here L?

 

[launderess]

General Contactors are only as good as the workers they bring together. IMHO you may be still in the same situation as many still won't bid or come on a job that is small beer, regardless of who is doing the bidding.

Around here even though the contractor may be Italian, Russian, Polish or whatever, by and large the workers are mainly Mexican and or from South America. No scratch that, lately even the Latin workers are being replaced by Chinese.

Am not trying to start anything, nor am being racist, just reporting things as one sees. Across the street from our house a large very old apartment building is being renovated, and all the workers are Chinese, with perhaps a few Mexicans.

One also thinks allot of former highly paid construction tradesmen have either moved on or found work elsewhere. Even when NYC had a boom in construction, everyone from developers, to landlords complained about high labour costs for union job. With the Internet allowing anyone to advertise, many unlicensed persons have set up shop doing work (of varying quality), with rates that make a top person say "why bother". I mean how can one bid against someone who is willing to take pennies on a job that should cost major dollars?

What I would to is ask around your town for recommendations. Someone has to be doing work up there.

L.

 

[cleanteamofny]

Thanks L,

I will ask around and see if anybody is willing to work for a hot dog, a coke and a tip of the day (tie your shoes).

 

[toggleswitch2]

My father was born in Manhattan and once married lived in Queens, where I grew up. (Varous parts of NYC- central and outer).

He bought a house in Suffolk county (east end of Long island) [that is only two counties from New York City] in his more advanced years and complained BITTERLY at the lack of decent workers/businesses in general and relating to home improvements and construction.

He commented on their general lack of personal hygiene, lack of grooming, lack of teeth, lack of skills and lack of education. Getting them to get to work every day and on-time was a nightmare. His area is a seasonal summer community and even getting them to work off-season was not-a-happening.

As much as big cities (like New York City) have their faults, at least things get done, and stores and restuarants are actually open past 9 to 5 M-F.

"You can take the boy out of Brooklyn, but you can't take Brooklyn out of the boy" --and I have come to realize this is a VERY GOOD THING!

 

[perc-o-prince]

Hey Larry,

You might want to try getting friendly (well, not THAT friendly.... though.....) with your local volunteer fire department personnel. We were told by an attorney who buys and rents properties that many of them have PT or FT jobs as repairmen of all sorts (electrical, plumbing, etc.). He uses them all the time, plus, they're usually friendly locals.

Best of luck,
Chuck

 

[cleanteamofny]

Can you picture me with a pair of Daisy Dukes and a plate full of Brownies with a pair of Red 7" pumps to get them to volunteer for little ole me??? LOL

 

[toggleswitch2]

and dont forget hair extensions and silicone enhancements.

You go boi, offering them some tasty chocolate!

 

[cleanteamofny]

Children close your eyes!

All dressed up, no where to go and ain't got a date!

View attachment 6-23-2009-08-52-27--CleanteamofNY.jpg

 

[toggleswitch2]

LOL OMG that is SO wrong on SO many levels.

Those thighs around any neck could be lethal!

 

[ptcruiser51]

Just my $0.02

Working at Home Despot I see contractors daily. ALL OF THEM have Latino men in their employ, often day laborers that they pick up where they gather. Several communities around here report difficulties with large groups of immigrant men gathering in the morning waiting for a day-job pickup. Problems result with women/girls going to Dunkin Donuts, train station, etc. Remarks passed, that sort of thing. One of the guys in our paint dept. runs a painting service on the side, he says he always gets day laborers for a small job (painting one room, for example). My BIL is a roofer, when he's on-job he regularly gets business from neighbors coming over to inquire. He does excellent work, so he's never at a loss for jobs. Try stopping by THD in the early morning (7:30 am is good) and talk to the contractors lined up for supplies - maybe you'll get lucky or at least get some leads.

 

[toggleswitch2]

That, my dears, is known as an "AMIGO DEPOT".

 

[petek]

What you need is a handyman. I found ours pinned to the message board at the entrance to the A&P. Lifted him down and brought him home. LOL
It's worked out pretty good, he can fix most anything.

Mom found one as well, a guy who did lawncare but now she just has him doing odd jobs around the house, garden etc. Shows up once a week and he'll either clean the house, paint something, whatever she figures needs doing.

Check those for sale boards that most grocery stores have for folks to tack up ads for stuff they're selling etc. Sometimes the local small rags, community papers etc have ads for handyman. Pay as you go under the table sort of thing.

 

[toggleswitch2]

What was that "T-shirt" prompted by "Desperate Housewives?"

I mow your mother's lawn............

 

[yogitunes]

Larry....

Thank You thigh-master?.....lol

you're too much woman for them......

more man than they'll ever be.....more woman than they'll ever GET!!!!

 

[launderess]

Back In The Day

Most towns and or areas had a few "handymen" as described above. One assumes they evolved from the practice of great homes and estates having such men on staff for repairs and the like. Sort of man one calls to do odd jobs around the house or garden. Well there are husbands, but we're not on that right now, *LOL*.

 

[maytagbear]

Even though this is a rental,

my landlord is not too efficient(?) effective(?) (He is cheerful, though.) and I have had to either hire my own, or in recent years, rely on a very kind and competent friend.....

He's straight but not narrow, and I found him at church. In fact, he is the Scoutmaster(!) of our Boy Scout troop. {See, church can be good for something!!}

He's rehung the front door and insulated it, he's replaced electrical outlets, he's replaced the showerhead and also the kitchen faucet....

So, ask around. I take him and his wife out to dinner every few months, or I cook for them....

If I ever ever become a homeowner, I am going to take all the evening/weekend classes offered at the local vocational high school, and at places like Homo Despot.

However, if hiring, it is always a good idea to double check with the BBB and Angie's List.

Lawrence/Maytagbear