Not even tradesmen want to work. Keep getting ghosted for a fence repair.

This is a big reason why I've learned to do a lot of DIY.

I needed a repair for my brick mailbox. Called about 8 different brick masonry contractors and couldn't get a single one to come look at it. Ended up fixing it myself with the help of youtube.

I recently called a guy to do some dirt work. He had done several houses in my neighborhood and came highly recommended. Good looking work. Talked to him, said to text my address, haven't heard from him in over 2 weeks. Called him again, no answer.

Seems like most of them don't want to mess around with small jobs.

Same here. It is so hard to find reliable tradesmen these days.

I own some rental properties and I've been through about 3 handymen, 4 painters, etc. Its frustrating as hell. The old days of having reliable people you could call for many years on end is all but gone.

I wish I could. But I’m female and feel it’s beyond my area of ability. Maybe I should learn! Saw a woman who youtubed fence repair and did it. But I need posts in ground, too. I have male friends who could do it, but really don’t want to, but I hate to put it on anyone in case something goes wrong. I save little the things for them to help with.

quote:

---

But I’m female and feel it’s beyond my area of ability. Maybe I should learn!

---

Do you think guys are just born knowing how to do this stuff?

If you can do some simple math, planning, dig a hole, and learn from youtube you can do it. Nail gun will help for sure and you'll need a circular or miter saw.

The only difference between us and women is that we have learned to have the confidence to do it ourselves and don't have a man that will do it for us... at least for "free".

Thank you. That would explain it. It is just confusing bc they are begging for work online. One even said he needs to feed his family.

It has started to slow down construction wise here where we live, so guessing it is a regional thing.

That being said, it seems like you get three results when asking for a quote on stuff like this.

1. They never show, and never answer the phone
2. They quote a very large number to make it worth their while
3. They give you a decent price, but are months out.

Good luck

A lot of them will go out of business bc more folks will become DIYs.


Thank you all for your responses. Seems to be industry standard. But re smaller jobs, it at least shows you whom not to call for the big jobs. Be honest it’s not worth the while vs “we repair, big or small.” This was about a $1000 job (which included the material as it is only a section of fence) based on estimates who didn’t bother to show to do the work. Good luck to all who are looking. Maybe a drive over to Home Depot on a weekend morning is in order.

Thanks, sounds like it. I’m nearing retirement within 6 to 10 years so will take time to learn to do things. I guess I am just used to when you’d call someone to make a repair and it’s done.

I have a buddy that was in a high paying finance career and he decided to quit his job and start a fencing company. He's absolutely killing it. He has about 8 crews that he keeps busy constantly. He says that it is incredibly easy right now. All he does is communicates with his customers, makes sure crews come out when he tells them they'll be there and he goes to each job to make sure the job is done properly. His first year he did over a million in revenue. He said that when something goes wrong, he goes one step ahead to make things right. The crew hit a water line on a job. He went and got the PVC fittings to fix it, went and fixed it same day, then sent a box of Tiff's treats to the homeowner with a sincere apology and the homeowner referred him a few jobs to others. He isn't even the lowest bidder by a stretch. He has healthy margins.

I have to think that right now, if you want to start any kind of trade business, if you can just be communicative with the customers and do what you say, you'll have a pile of work and good margins.