Questions a customer must ask their Tiler/Tiler checklist.

[Waluigi]

I’m thinking about compiling a list/checklist for prospective customers to ask their Tilers quoting for work some questions to ascertain whether they are any good or not.

If anyone has any suggestions of questions to ask then please post them.

I do have quite a few ideas myself and will post them later on but I am keen to get more feedback. This is a list that any of us could use and send out as an attachment when we provide customers with their quotation. Obviously we would fill the form out ourselves but leave space for other tilers to fill it out too.

Any feedback would be most welcome.

I though about this after seeing the countless poor tiling photos from disgruntled customers on here so this might not only help the good Tilers get more work but also to stop customers getting poor tradesmen in to do work for them.

Obviousely there will be some suggesting that they don’t need any help finding work and I absolutely agree but I still think it’s a good discussion to have.

 

[Spare Tool]

1/ Have you done this before?
2/ Why can you start on Monday?
3/ How come your so cheap?
4/ Why do you only accept cash?
5/ Do you own a Rubi?
...theres the door, goodbye 🙂

 

[Italy]

1/ Have you done this before?
2/ Why can you start on Monday?
3/ How come your so cheap?
4/ Why do you only accept cash?
5/ Do you own a Rubi? (this is too much) 🙁
...theres the door, goodbye 🙂

 

[Waluigi]

6. Do you have Public Liability Insurance?
7. If you answered ‘Yes’ to question 6 then Please can I see a copy of your Insurance Certificate. If you answered No then please proceed to question 45.
...
...
..

45. Please **** off.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Not only would we be telling ‘tilers ‘ on here what to ask, but it’s taking the bread out of my mouth along with all the free information that’s provided here to ‘tilers’ with no morals and will just rip off any little old lady.
These people don’t need help, they need to train to do the job properly and stop putting my trade into disrepute.
I tell my customer how I’am going to do the job, what materials I’am going to use, and how much I want to do it - and that’s fixed for the original work quoted.
It’s taken me 45 years to get this grumpy and I’am not about to give out my experiences to rip off merchants!
It’s Friday 5.00 and I’am still at work, and loving every minute of it!

 

[Italy]

Not only would we be telling ‘tilers ‘ on here what to ask, but it’s taking the bread out of my mouth along with all the free information that’s provided here to ‘tilers’ with no morals and will just rip off any little old lady.
These people don’t need help, they need to train to do the job properly and stop putting my trade into disrepute.
I tell my customer how I’am going to do the job, what materials I’am going to use, and how much I want to do it - and that’s fixed for the original work quoted.
It’s taken me 45 years to get this grumpy and I’am not about to give out my experiences to rip off merchants!
It’s Friday 5.00 and I’am still at work, and loving every minute of it!

it's 6 o'clock, go home, it's time. 🙂

 

[Waluigi]

Makes no sense in relation to the topic, Timeless John.

What I’m suggesting is a way for customers to only choose the professionals, like yourself.

If a so called Tiler is unable to answer the questions satisfactorily then the customers shouldn’t appoint them as their Tiler.

That said, I do take something from your post and understand that you won’t be contributing.

 

[Waluigi]

Question- how many years experience do you have?
Question- how would you prepare the walls in my shower?

 

[Italy]

I do not even help,
no customer asks me questions ....
I have to ask questions to the customer ....🙂

 

[Middlesex Tiles]

When my customers come saying that their Tiler has requested PVA - I tell them to request a new tiler.

 

[Blunt Tool]

Most work I do is recommendation so no need to convince customers I’m best suited. New jobs I can afford to walk away without need to convince them I would be best choice. The more medals, certificates, stripes, trophies you try and push under a customers nose the dearer they think you are going to be and most just want a bonnie bathroom/kitchen etc that hubby won’t lose the rag as to how much it’s costing. Best advice is to turn up at quote on time not looking like a hobo, be polite, considerate and confident to deliver what is asked for and promised then give a sensible clear quote.

 

[Waluigi]

That’s the thing, customers don’t know what to ask. That’s where the list comes in.

I couldn’t care less if someone inadvertently gets help from this thread who hasn’t been tiling for more than 6 months. Plus it’s not just about the tilers, it’s about the customers too. Trying to make it easier for them to get a good job done by a professional.

I do agree about being busy enough to not worry about it and I’m in the same position but I still think it’s a good excercise. Who knows what’s round the corner?

 

[Italy]

Most work I do is recommendation so no need to convince customers I’m best suited. New jobs I can afford to walk away without need to convince them I would be best choice. The more medals, certificates, stripes, trophies you try and push under a customers nose the dearer they think you are going to be and most just want a bonnie bathroom/kitchen etc that hubby won’t lose the rag as to how much it’s costing. Best advice is to turn up at quote on time not looking like a hobo, be polite, considerate and confident to deliver what is asked for and promised then give a sensible clear quote.

in short, it was what I wanted to say.
but you were faster than me .... haha

 

[One Day]

They should ask "what is the meaning of 42?"

Seriously though, I know where you're coming from but like many others, I'm the one asking the potential customer the questions, not the other way around.
I think most customers can guage your value and integrity pretty quickly.
First impression counts a lot too.

 

[Waluigi]

OK, let’s say hypothetically that you wanted to employ a Tiler because you’d broken your neck in an unfortunate speedboat accident. Do you have any questions you would ask a Tiler if he was quoting to install say a level access Wet room for you?

 

[Dumbo]

The question how long have you been tiling is a rubbish question. Because some young lad who has a very good apprentice master probably turns out better work than some people who have done it all their lives

 

[Waluigi]

Possibly yes, I agree with that, However if someone said they completed a two week course three months ago, that question might be more useful than you think

 

[Dumbo]

Possibly yes, I agree with that, However if someone said they completed a two week course three months ago, that question might be more useful than you think

What and somebody is going to fess up to that .

 

[Boggs]

Are you on mybuilder?
See ya!

 

[Waluigi]

Someone said they did the other day on here when asking for advice.
I take your point though.
I think they are both extreme scenarios.

If I was employing a Tiler and they said they had been at it for two years then that would be a big negative for me personally.

There again, I’d weigh up all of his answers and make an informed decision. That’s what I’m trying to achieve.

 

[Waluigi]

Are you on mybuilder?
See ya!

The same could be said for Checkatrade. Or any of these companies

 

[One Day]

The only benefit to making such a list and giving it to potential customers, is to make you (the giver) look good and give them (the customer) confidence in you.
It would show them that you are clued up enough, and confident in your abilities enough, to encourage them to question you.

 

[Waluigi]

Yeah, I think it could work well enough. It would simply be a PDF attachment that you send alongside your written quote. With the replies already filled out.

The clipboard idea is more humorous though

 

[Blunt Tool]

Best piece of paper you can give any potential new customer

 

[Waluigi]

This doesn’t work because I could’ve got my mate Dave to send the message to me.

 

[Doug McAlpine]

Hi, one tiler i had actually had the gall to put in the contract that he will dot and dab the tiles onto a contact layer of adhesive... Plus the contract looked pretty slick so without a bit of research it wouldn't have stood out as something that's odd / bad.

So that's one question I ask...

 

[Spare Tool]

This doesn’t work because I could’ve got my mate Dave to send the message to me.

View attachment 100928

They'll say anything to get their key back 😀

 

[Waluigi]

Yes if you were to scroll down there’s a picture of the restrainer order.........

 

[Spare Tool]

Money transferred = key returned 😉 that's the answer to question #50