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How was your week? (feddit.uk)
submitted 8 months ago by to c/askuk@feddit.uk
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[–] 4 points 8 months ago* (5 children)

Been alright. Lost a revenue stream, so am looking for some side work to make up for it.

Builder's finally out of the house so I can reclaim the space again. I'm also noticing the many many faults, plus he damaged my bikes, plus the house is covered in dust^[how hard is it to hang dust sheets above doorways?] plus I owe him money. Hoping to negotiate a price reduction given that it'll take another 1000 to fix the house still, something he promised would be the case once he finished... I hate having to play hard cop with seemingly friendly people, but you can't live your life in fear wishing you had said something. It'll be a tough talk.

On the plus side I'm getting excited about doing the other rooms myself. I've seen how the cowboys do it and it actually doesn't seem that hard. Not relishing ripping out old lathe and render from the walls and ceilings, but I have^[motherfucking] dust sheets and know how to hang them over doorways, so I don't think it will be a huge problem

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (4 children)

    It can be really difficult to talk money with people, especially when they put up such a friendly, cheerful front. They make you feel like the bad guy for stuff they did wrong, and then you really feel like being a bastard about it now that you're feeling resentful as well.

    Ahh...Fuck all that, here's my advice: I once had a career advisor teach me a non-confrontational way to raise money issues (and this works for asking for raises too): P.R.O.: Problem, Research, Options. In your case obviously the Problem is the extra costs you're taking on to finish the job. Research is, just list them in absolute terms of man hours and/or a quote you've gotten from another builder. Options: either they give you a reduced price, or if they think the other guy is cheaper than the price reduction you're asking, have the builder invoice them. Change the details as needed, you get the idea. Hope it helps.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago* (3 children)

    Oof yeah, appreciate it. It happened this morning and it was my first rodeo and I was totally unprepared as I'd worken up late (dead phone) so whatever notes and planning I had planned to go over that morning just went out the window.

    Still, I got 600 pounds less which is 400 pounds more than I wanted to negotiate, but I'll take it. Took a few arrows too in the sense that quick fixes he would have happily done are now up to me to do, so I need to get up a ladder this weekend for some emergency grouting, and also need to fix the wonky electrics. Ah, whatever it's done

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Be safe! Not much good saving money if you get hurt. You sound like you know what you're doing, though. I'd be a bad Uncle Fester cosplay in ten seconds flat if I screwed with the electric.

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  • [–] 2 points 8 months ago (1 child)

    Yeah, my fuseboard is a weird one too -- there's technically two: one from the 80s and one from the 00s, and the master kill switch after the meter or before the meter simply doesn't exist. No RCD breakers for killing sudden surges.

    If there was a master switch, I'd feel less nervous - follow a youtube video on how to junction a circuit, switch it on / switch it off to test. Without... hmm, I might just get an electrician

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