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County4x4
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 80 Location: Carnforth, Lancashire
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Lorrainelovesplants
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 6521 Location: Dordogne
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Penny Outskirts
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 23385 Location: Planet, not on the....
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County4x4
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 80 Location: Carnforth, Lancashire
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Lorrainelovesplants
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 6521 Location: Dordogne
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County4x4
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 80 Location: Carnforth, Lancashire
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 10 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Right - better clear out the spare room then - I'm on my way to make my fortune!! Two sugars in there please!
As far as being cheerful goes - it just makes everything so much easier doesn't it? I'm sure if I turned up at a customers house with a scowl on my face and moaning about everything I wouldn't be asked back again. I always try and leave them with a smile on their faces, and have a bit of a laugh and a gossip, and will always try and do a bit extra like giving the stove glass a proper clean while I'm doing the chimney.
And while I don't sell myself short, and don't believe in undercutting everyone else to get the work, I charge what I think is reasonable, considering my time and travel and business expenses and so on. Judging from what customers have said, they obviously think I charge a very reasonable price as well! I may not make quite as much as some sweeps, and probably make more than others, but I'd rather leave a customer thinking they've had a good job at a good price than "he did a good job but he was a bit pricey" Happy customers come back is how I see it!
Take care,
Andy |
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Cobnut
Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 475 Location: North Herefordshire
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County4x4
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 80 Location: Carnforth, Lancashire
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 10 10:16 am Post subject: |
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There are some very expensive courses run by the main trade bodies, NACS, Guild of Master Sweeps etc, usually over a grand for a two or three day course. This seems quite pricey considering a neighbour of mine did 26 full days training at a DIY school in Manchester learning plastering, brickwork, decorating and so on for under two grand!
Quite a few sweeps I've spoken to don't rate these organistaions very highly at all to be honest - I'm not entirely sure what has gone on in the past but several have had fallings out with one or the other and either swapped sides or left the bodies altogether. Others think that the annual membership is not worth the money and that they have had no increase in work after joining, or no decrease after leaving.
I did quite a bit on my own originally for friends and neighbours etc, learning as I went along, but then spent time working with a professional sweep which was great as he passed on all sorts of stuff that would have taken a long time to pick up on my own.
I'm currently looking at training to install stoves and chimney liners. To avoid the necessity (and expense) of having work signed off by building control this will mean I'll have to be HETAS registered, which is going to be quite an expensive process itself, but hopefully worth it in the longer term.
Cheers,
Andy |
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Mary-Jane
Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 18397 Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
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Lorrainelovesplants
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 6521 Location: Dordogne
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Mary-Jane
Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 18397 Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
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County4x4
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 80 Location: Carnforth, Lancashire
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Mary-Jane
Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 18397 Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales
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Jenna
Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 263 Location: Away with the fairies
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Lorrainelovesplants
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 6521 Location: Dordogne
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