Looking for work

Discussion in 'Wanted' started by Phil A, Nov 16, 2010.

  1. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Hi Everyone,

    As some of you know, i'm trying to get my business off the ground repairing & restoring historic buildings.

    But right now, I need any sort of work in the west country to put food on the table.

    I have worked as a gardener for the College of Law, looking after 23 acres of manorial gardens & will do any sort of work except thatching & gas plumbing.

    Any offers will be appreciated.:thumb:

    This ad is with the kind permission of the moderators, cheers Daisees :ntwrth:
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I guess you have put postcards in your local post office, shops etc.

    Have you registered on http://www.ratedpeople.com/?

    I hired our Groundworkers who did the foundations and drainage for my extension on there, very good they were too. (For us punters it's free) I think you might have to pay as a tradesman to use it so you'll have to consider that.

    Good luck and hope you find something soon.
     
  3. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I've heard checkatrade.com advertised on our local radio a fair bit recently, I've not been on there but it might be worth investigating.
     
  4. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Cheers John,

    Had a look, seemed a bit too fussy for casual work.

    Miraflores sent me a list of sites, one of them recons I should be charging £20-30 per half hour. I know i've been out of the loop for a bit, but that seems a bit excessive.

    What do you guys expect to pay tradesmen these days ?
     
  5. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I'm paying my bricklayer £160 a day (that's in Surrey as you know) - thats about £21/hour.

    My brother is building his own place and currently paying his bricklayer £110/day plus £60/day for his labourer - that's in Norfolk.

    Hope that helps.
     
  6. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Yes that does help John. I'd guessed the £20 per half hour was probably London rates, so i'm probably looking for £15-20 hour, depending what the work is.
     
  7. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    Ziggy,I think at rates like that you should do well. All it needs is the first few successful jobs and word of mouth advertising will kick in.
     
  8. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Its looking that way already Dave, no confirmed jobs, but a few noises in the right direction.

    Have just got some new cards from Vistaprint, highlighting that I do not charge VAT, & some magnetic sign boards for the van.

    Will do some cold calling & introduce myself to some of the georgian households in the area, people can only say yes, no or push off.:tnp:
     
  9. has bean counter

    has bean counter Gardener

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    A good number of historic buildings will be listed and therefore require planning permission for repairs/alerations. you can find applications on the local authorities websites.

    Secondly, these are often submitted by agents or architects. Check these out.

    I would think that most householders will say "no thank you" to cold callers. Sorry but that is what they are advised to do.

    You could try producing a mailshot.

    Go to the local builders merchants and see if they know of any work thats going.

    GL
     
  10. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    "people can only say yes, no or push off"

    Or Expelliarmus, Immobulus, Impedimenta or maybe some others that are worse!
     
  11. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :gnthb: Zig, admire your pluck.. Go for it mate.. I am sure you will find something.. I have you at the top of my list if I hear of anything in this area will let you know, but pretty quiet at present round here.. :gnthb:Good Luck with everything you try..!! :gnthb:
     
  12. Tiarella

    Tiarella Optimistic Gardener

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    That sounds very "Harry Potter", Kristen :hehe: Good luck, Ziggy :thmb:
     
  13. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Might use this one to clean buildings,

    Scourgify (Scouring Charm)

    Pronunciation: /ˈskɜrdʒɨfaɪ/ SKUR-ji-fyeDescription: Used to clean something.[10][19]Seen/mentioned: First used by Tonks to clean Hedwig's cage in Order of the Phoenix. Later, Ginny performs the spell to clean up Stinksap in the Hogwarts Express. While looking at Snape's memories, Harry sees Sirius use the spell on Snape's mouth.Suggested etymology: English scour meaning "to clean by vigorous rubbing".[25]

    Copyright JK.

    During the 1990s recession, I could tell I was going to be made redundant on the mushroom farm by the fact that I was cleaning tunnels out & not putting any new spawn in them.

    I had my 1/2 acre veg plot so I cold called the entire village. Most folk said no thanks they shopped at the supermarket but some jumped at the idea of locally produced food.( before anyone had heard of "food miles" )

    I wrote them down in my notebook( thats one that involved paper & a biro ) And visited every friday to tell them what was available & take orders for a box delivery on saturday.

    When it came to sweetcorn, i told my regulars that it was 20p in the supermarket but i'd be charging 30p, as mine was better.

    No one turned me down.
     
  14. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Brill Ziggy. I'm sure that would work now too.

    I love RK's spells and curses - and the names too. Clear use of bastardised Latin and the like. Our kids love it to when you explain something to them - like "Sirius" being the dog star - they even already knew where it was in the sky, they'd just never made the mental connection.

    http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/spelist.shtml for a list (first one I found in Google)

    Avada Kadavra - Curse

    Tell me that isn't a play on Abracadabra?
     
  15. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    With the cadaver bit thrown in.

    That list looks a bit like my gardeners latin book.
     
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