New research from Ford Pro has revealed that tradespeople will work harder and are more likely to return for a follow-up job, if they are given a warm welcome by homeowners.
Ford Pro said its study of 500 tradespeople and 1,000 homeowners in the UK found that both sides agreed that offering a hot drink and making small talk are still the most important gestures for making visiting workers feel comfortable on the job. It also found that there are other factors on both sides that can help foster a positive relationship.
According to UK tradespeople, for example, while 70% customers are keeping up the tradition of offering a hot drink when they have work done in their home, nearly 40% say they don’t have a friendly chat. In addition, 56% of tradespeople don’t get offered the use of the toilet, and three quarters haven’t arranged a parking space or permit for their transit before arriving at a job.
The survey also revealed the things that annoy homeowners and tradespeople about each other. For tradespeople, 60% said feeling rushed to finish quickly is the biggest source of tension. A further 53% said unfriendliness and 49% said hovering.
On the homeowners’ side, 70% said tradespeople turning up late was their biggest annoyances. A further 62% said not cleaning up properly and a third said they become frustrated when they feel their tradespeople are rushing in and out of jobs and not taking enough care.
Just under half, 41%, of tradespeople even admitted to giving nicknames to their clients, with a third saving these down as contacts on their phone, one in 10 of which were positive. Nicknames such as “Mr Know All”, “Sir Moan-a-lot”, “The Guvnor”, “Grumpy Greg” and “Happy Joe” were included on the list of names given to homeowners by tradespeople.
To highlight the importance of the relationship between tradespeople and homeowners, Ford Pro has enlisted the help of Tom Skinner, entrepreneur and TV personality, to give a tradesperson the warmest possible welcome.
Tom said: “Great Britain is full of lovely people, and we should all be looking out for each other and treating people with respect. I love having tradespeople in my home, and when you find one that’s the absolute guv’nor you must be good to them. Give them your best biscuits, keep them out of trouble with traffic wardens and don’t hover over them for goodness sake.”
Ford Pro said that its “Dream Job” campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of honing strong relationships between tradespeople and homeowners, focusing on the key pain points between the two sides.