As a tradesman you will always try to satisfy your customers with your work, however there are times where there will be misunderstandings which could lead to complaint or even arguments between you and your employer. The fact of the matter is that eventually nearly all tradesmen will have to deal with a complaint in some form or another, which means it’s essential that you know how to deal with them properly. Here, we look at some of the most common reasons that complaints occur for tradesmen and how you can deal with them in the appropriate manner:

Preventing Complaints

The old saying goes ‘prevention is better than cure’ and for tradesmen this is often the case. By preventing complaints in the first place not only will you save yourself a lot of stress but you will also protect your business and your reputation. The best way to prevent complaints is to make sure that you draw up a contract with your employer before you start on any job detailing exactly what has been asked of you and the amount that you are expected to be paid. While drawing up a contract it is also a good idea to go through with your employer exactly what you are planning to do during the job, and how and when you expect to complete each stage. This means that if your employer does complain at any point you can refer them back to the conversation you had when you first started the work as well as your contract.

Meet your Employer’s Expectations

One of the biggest causes of arguments between tradesmen and employers is that they don’t see eye to eye at the beginning of the project, meaning that the final result may not be what the employer was looking for. Learning what your employers want when they describe it to you is a skill that you will pick up as you gain experience in your trade, however it’s always a good idea to make everything as clear as possible. Diagrams and sketches are a great way for you to show your employer what you visualise their final project to look like, and brochures are also useful to show examples of other projects that are similar to the one you are working on. The most important thing to remember here is to really take you time when it comes to understanding your client, and let them get involved as much as possible.

Avoiding Arguments over Costs

When you first start working for an employer you will provide a quote in your contract for the amount you assume the work will cost, which should be broken down to include the individual costs of parts and labour. However, it is quite common to find that once work has started issues arise which require you to either purchase extra parts or spend longer on the project than you first intended. This can often cause arguments with your employer, especially if they are on a strict budget, however if you explain clearly the necessity of the extra work or parts they should gradually come around. Unfortunately, if they flat out refuse to pay you may then have to stop working on that project, or find a way to finish the project within your employer’s budget.

Damages to Property

Your tradesmen liability insurance not only protects you and your tools while on a job, but also pays out should you accidently cause any damages to an employer’s property. Naturally, if you cause damages while on a job your employer will not be too happy, however if you contact your tradesmen liability insurance provider straight away they should be able to arrange for the damages to be fixed and paid for as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, as a tradesmen it is very likely that at one point or another you will make a mistake, especially if you are working with heavy objects or high powered tools. The good thing is that your insurance policy will be able to help you should the worst happen, meaning that you can carry on with your work as quickly as possible.

Having the skills to deal with complaints is essential for all tradesmen, which includes planning ahead and trying to understand your client’s point of view as much as possible. Keeping calm during a disagreement is also a great skill to have, as it means that matters are less likely to get out of hand!