Crazy Workmen/Home Renovation

[lurkingaround123]

I have just brought my first house by myself, I am a 26 year old woman for context. I figured once I had the keys that the place needs a full re-wire, found an older man electrician with a decent price. He started on 13/11/21. We've got on really well so far, he's let me borrow his drill etc which has meant I have been able to get a lot of work done quicker than I would've otherwise, he has helped me do some things when I have been there on my own.

The issue is, he keeps getting a bit too involved, especially when other contractors come.

My auntie and uncle have a kitchen shop and they are doing my kitchen, and the electrician was arguing about where the kitchen sockets etc will go with my uncle, then came to me in the other room and said to me do you know this man? When I told him I do know them he kind of stopped kicking off as much, but he was still being so rude to them for no reason.

He keeps suggesting really expensive things I should do, like get all the radiators moved, move the boiler to the loft. I have told him I haven't got spare money to do these things and he keeps going on and on about them again and again and when I say I can't afford to he's like yeah well I'm only saying.

Now today I have had a plasterer come round to look at filling in the holes he has left from the re-wire and he has just randomly started kicking off. He said he could start filling the holes, then he couldn't. Then he was up in the loft, said something and the plasterer said what was that mate? and he went IM NOT TALKING TO YOU. Then he started throwing stuff down from the loft really loudly and aggressively. Insulation has fallen down on to me and my eczema is now on fire from it which has annoyed me even more too.

Understandably the plasterer has said I'm gonna wait until he isn't there because he's being mental and its probably gonna kick off. I am just so annoyed!!!

What could I say to the Electrician to keep him sweet and make him hurry up? I don't want to be rude to him because he's been great so far, but I really need him to stop being so aggressive. He keeps telling me to take my time, I don't need to do anything in a hurry but I really do so I can move in.

He's mentioned to me before about making sure I get a good price for stuff and don't get ripped off but he's being far too overprotective. I feel like he's coming from a good place but how can I make him stop?

 

[BettyCrockerr]

I have just brought my first house by myself, I am a 26 year old woman for context. I figured once I had the keys that the place needs a full re-wire, found an older man electrician with a decent price. He started on 13/11/21. We've got on really well so far, he's let me borrow his drill etc which has meant I have been able to get a lot of work done quicker than I would've otherwise, he has helped me do some things when I have been there on my own.

The issue is, he keeps getting a bit too involved, especially when other contractors come.

My auntie and uncle have a kitchen shop and they are doing my kitchen, and the electrician was arguing about where the kitchen sockets etc will go with my uncle, then came to me in the other room and said to me do you know this man? When I told him I do know them he kind of stopped kicking off as much, but he was still being so rude to them for no reason.

He keeps suggesting really expensive things I should do, like get all the radiators moved, move the boiler to the loft. I have told him I haven't got spare money to do these things and he keeps going on and on about them again and again and when I say I can't afford to he's like yeah well I'm only saying.

Now today I have had a plasterer come round to look at filling in the holes he has left from the re-wire and he has just randomly started kicking off. He said he could start filling the holes, then he couldn't. Then he was up in the loft, said something and the plasterer said what was that mate? and he went IM NOT TALKING TO YOU. Then he started throwing stuff down from the loft really loudly and aggressively. Insulation has fallen down on to me and my eczema is now on fire from it which has annoyed me even more too.

Understandably the plasterer has said I'm gonna wait until he isn't there because he's being mental and its probably gonna kick off. I am just so annoyed!!!

What could I say to the Electrician to keep him sweet and make him hurry up? I don't want to be rude to him because he's been great so far, but I really need him to stop being so aggressive. He keeps telling me to take my time, I don't need to do anything in a hurry but I really do so I can move in.

He's mentioned to me before about making sure I get a good price for stuff and don't get ripped off but he's being far too overprotective. I feel like he's coming from a good place but how can I make him stop?

Before you agree for any work to be done on your property you must make sure you sit down with the contractor and go through details first - making sure that a schedule of works is drawn up between the two parties so that you both have a general idea of time scale and cost - do you have anything like this with your electrician? What stage is he at with re-wiring the house? You are going to need to sit down with him and plot out a time frame from now for his section of work to be completed. Just be honest and explain you are working to a budget and you need to know generally when he’s going to be finished so you can organise other things you are needing done.
It sounds like because you are young and female he’s assuming (rightly or wrongly) that you are in need of help when you aren’t. It’s probably coming from a good place but you need to draw the line and make him aware that he is being paid to be there as an electrician and nothing else - he’s not there to project manage. You also should stop borrowing tools etc from him and stop allowing him to “help” with extra stuff - that’s also causing the lines to become blurry here.

forget about him booting off with other contractors or tradesmen- they all argue with eachother, don’t worry about it!!!

 

[Chuff offohc]

He might have a daughter or someone he might feel protective like hes helping you. It might be coming from a good place but I agree with betty about not blurring the lines.
Years ago I was a single mum and my landlord had arranged for a plumber to come out and cap off the outdoor tap. Long story short I offered him a cuppa and he took an unwanted shine to me and I couldn't get rid of him at all. He would offer to do other work etc and take his time with the work so he could be at my home longer. It was quite scary. In the end I moved house so didn't see him again. But its definitely given me something to think about when employing people to work in my home going forward. Especially now we are just buying our first home. Congratulations on the house by the way best of luck with it.

 

[Tui]

Is he still rewiring ten days later? Our house took about 4 days to rewire, it’s a 3 bed semi. There was an electrician and he had another lad to help hold and pass stuff and get the floorboards up. Is he just fiddling about ?

 

[lurkingaround123]

He said he should be done with the first fit by tonight or tomorrow, but now the plasterer can't come until Saturday, which is a really awkward day for me because I have plans so can't be there all day.

Taking from all your comments, I definitely think he is kind of enjoying the job and staying longer for no reason. He keeps saying he can leave some bits and do it in a few months etc because I am not having a kitchen put in until January, but I am like no lets crack on now and he's like stop rushing. I might change the locks once he's gone because the scary plumber story has creeped me out! I think these guys are definitely trying to feel like a bit of a saviour, but instead are making us feel awkward in our own homes.

It is irritating because I am fiercely independent and I already have my dad throwing his 2 pence in on everything so I definitely don't need another guy doing it He's even commenting on random stuff like the fireplace and which way the furniture should go etc. I don't need that at all, I have lived alone since 18 I can make decisions for myself. He is not that great at speaking English, so another thing that's annoying about it is he spends ages and ages giving his opinion on stuff which isn't relevant and I am not going to do anyway, but I'd feel so rude to interrupt and be like NO DO YOUR JOB.

He's also hesitant to take the old sockets out for some reason, saying yeah well if I do that you won't have any power in the house. I keep saying yes, that is fine I need the plastering doing all at once so crack on I don't live here yet I can cope but he isn't doing it

He works on his own which I assume is why he is taking longer, at first I was fine with that but now I'm just irritated, because of his behaviour. I didn't go back there yesterday because he had really annoyed me and I wanted to let the dust settle. I can only pop my head in briefly after work today, but I think I'll go and make 100000% sure that he will be finished for the plasterer to come on a Saturday, then he said he'd come back and put the new power back on but with the sockets loose so I can paint, then he'll come back and tighten them. I might get a dehumidifier to make the plaster dry faster and paint before he does that so he only has to come back the once.

Thanks for your comments, buying a house which needs renovating alone, at 26, with no annual leave left wasn't my brightest move but hopefully once this guy has gone it'll be less stressful

 

[WilmaHun]

Id be annoyed too. Whilst it's probably coming from a good place, at the end of the day he's being paid to provide a service - nothing more, and he doesn't need to stick his 2 pence in. If you're happy for the old sockets to be taken out leaving you without power, then that's what he should do. I don't see why he can't follow your instructions? If you're not living there anyway it doesn't matter. When we recently renovated we had our new sockets put on, but they were loose (sort of hanging off the wall but not as dodgey as it sounds) we then taped round them and painted then my partner just screwed them on the wall once done.


I recently had my house plastered and mentioned putting a dehumidifier on to help dry the plaster out but the plasterer said be careful as it can cause new plaster to crack doing that! Might be best checking with your plasterer first

 

[Sheabutter]

He said he should be done with the first fit by tonight or tomorrow, but now the plasterer can't come until Saturday, which is a really awkward day for me because I have plans so can't be there all day.

Taking from all your comments, I definitely think he is kind of enjoying the job and staying longer for no reason. He keeps saying he can leave some bits and do it in a few months etc because I am not having a kitchen put in until January, but I am like no lets crack on now and he's like stop rushing. I might change the locks once he's gone because the scary plumber story has creeped me out! I think these guys are definitely trying to feel like a bit of a saviour, but instead are making us feel awkward in our own homes.

It is irritating because I am fiercely independent and I already have my dad throwing his 2 pence in on everything so I definitely don't need another guy doing it He's even commenting on random stuff like the fireplace and which way the furniture should go etc. I don't need that at all, I have lived alone since 18 I can make decisions for myself. He is not that great at speaking English, so another thing that's annoying about it is he spends ages and ages giving his opinion on stuff which isn't relevant and I am not going to do anyway, but I'd feel so rude to interrupt and be like NO DO YOUR JOB.

He's also hesitant to take the old sockets out for some reason, saying yeah well if I do that you won't have any power in the house. I keep saying yes, that is fine I need the plastering doing all at once so crack on I don't live here yet I can cope but he isn't doing it

He works on his own which I assume is why he is taking longer, at first I was fine with that but now I'm just irritated, because of his behaviour. I didn't go back there yesterday because he had really annoyed me and I wanted to let the dust settle. I can only pop my head in briefly after work today, but I think I'll go and make 100000% sure that he will be finished for the plasterer to come on a Saturday, then he said he'd come back and put the new power back on but with the sockets loose so I can paint, then he'll come back and tighten them. I might get a dehumidifier to make the plaster dry faster and paint before he does that so he only has to come back the once.

Thanks for your comments, buying a house which needs renovating alone, at 26, with no annual leave left wasn't my brightest move but hopefully once this guy has gone it'll be less stressful

I was the same age when I acquired my home. I hired the super to take up the ugly old purple-gray carpet and replace the unsalvageable wood floor with a new one. I was appalled when he “redecorated” my apartment. He moved things around to his liking and assembled a freestanding clothes hanger I was in the process of returning. I’m jealous you don’t have to live across from your electrician. My super and I are neighbors and we do not get along.

 

[lurkingaround123]

Id be annoyed too. Whilst it's probably coming from a good place, at the end of the day he's being paid to provide a service - nothing more, and he doesn't need to stick his 2 pence in. If you're happy for the old sockets to be taken out leaving you without power, then that's what he should do. I don't see why he can't follow your instructions? If you're not living there anyway it doesn't matter. When we recently renovated we had our new sockets put on, but they were loose (sort of hanging off the wall but not as dodgey as it sounds) we then taped round them and painted then my partner just screwed them on the wall once done.


I recently had my house plastered and mentioned putting a dehumidifier on to help dry the plaster out but the plasterer said be careful as it can cause new plaster to crack doing that! Might be best checking with your plasterer first

My dad is coming tomorrow to help out with some bits so I have said to my dad please do the talking for me because I feel like its probably my age and gender which is making what I say come across as optional as opposed to an order from an employer. Ahh good advice thank you! If i put the heating on low and leave it a couple of days hopefully that'll be fine too

I was the same age when I acquired my home. I hired the super to take up the ugly old purple-gray carpet and replace the unsalvageable wood floor with a new one. I was appalled when he “redecorated” my apartment. He moved things around to his liking and assembled a freestanding clothes hanger I was in the process of returning. I’m jealous you don’t have to live across from your electrician. My super and I are neighbors and we do not get along.

What the hell is wrong with these people I have 3.5 hours until I finish work and I'm just sat here thinking through what I am gonna say and how pressed for time i am. I can't wait for my new flooring to get put down, it'll feel more like a home at that point i think. Just hopefully I dont come back to a new layout like you

 

[Tui]

He said he should be done with the first fit by tonight or tomorrow, but now the plasterer can't come until Saturday, which is a really awkward day for me because I have plans so can't be there all day.

Taking from all your comments, I definitely think he is kind of enjoying the job and staying longer for no reason. He keeps saying he can leave some bits and do it in a few months etc because I am not having a kitchen put in until January, but I am like no lets crack on now and he's like stop rushing. I might change the locks once he's gone because the scary plumber story has creeped me out! I think these guys are definitely trying to feel like a bit of a saviour, but instead are making us feel awkward in our own homes.

It is irritating because I am fiercely independent and I already have my dad throwing his 2 pence in on everything so I definitely don't need another guy doing it He's even commenting on random stuff like the fireplace and which way the furniture should go etc. I don't need that at all, I have lived alone since 18 I can make decisions for myself. He is not that great at speaking English, so another thing that's annoying about it is he spends ages and ages giving his opinion on stuff which isn't relevant and I am not going to do anyway, but I'd feel so rude to interrupt and be like NO DO YOUR JOB.

He's also hesitant to take the old sockets out for some reason, saying yeah well if I do that you won't have any power in the house. I keep saying yes, that is fine I need the plastering doing all at once so crack on I don't live here yet I can cope but he isn't doing it

He works on his own which I assume is why he is taking longer, at first I was fine with that but now I'm just irritated, because of his behaviour. I didn't go back there yesterday because he had really annoyed me and I wanted to let the dust settle. I can only pop my head in briefly after work today, but I think I'll go and make 100000% sure that he will be finished for the plasterer to come on a Saturday, then he said he'd come back and put the new power back on but with the sockets loose so I can paint, then he'll come back and tighten them. I might get a dehumidifier to make the plaster dry faster and paint before he does that so he only has to come back the once.

Thanks for your comments, buying a house which needs renovating alone, at 26, with no annual leave left wasn't my brightest move but hopefully once this guy has gone it'll be less stressful

I think if he can’t finish to a defined time frame I would bin him off and find someone who will get on with the job. Most tradesmen want to be done ASAP so they can move onto the next job and next pay!

 

[WilmaHun]

How are things now @lurkingaround123

 

[lurkingaround123]

How are things now @lurkingaround123

He actually apologised to everyone He said it was because his car had been playing up in the morning and it stressed him out. The plasterer has been and done his bit, we've knocked my fireplace hole bigger without using the electricians tool so my cast iron insert now fits All waiting on the plaster drying so I can paint the walls then have the floor put down on the 10th. It's been so fun but so stressful.

 

[lurkingaround123]

Aaah god. Need to vent this somewhere.

The kitchen was always going to be fitted 10th January. I am ridiculously impatient, and also can't wait to live there without workmen coming back and forth so decided to do the bathroom at the same time, its currently being fitted as we speak. This means the electrician was required to come back and finish off by doing the ceiling lights & shaver socket in the bathroom and the hard wiring of kitchen appliances.

He came yesterday and was going absolutely mental, because the family friend who had fitted my kitchen had not done it how he wanted it to be done. He was screaming at me to the point I was hysterically crying for about an hour, which is not something I ever do. He was screaming at the family friend on the phone and refused to speak to him to let him explain, he was calling him all the names under the sun it was absolutely ridiculous. During my crying sesh I got a knock from United Utilities who were sorting the broken stop tap outside. They were like omg are you okay? I told them what happened and went to sit in my car on the phone to my dad to continue my cry in peace. When the electrician came down after sorting the bathroom lights, he was being a lot calmer but I was absolutely traumatised by this point. He then got to work on the kitchen and there seemed to be no issue at all so not sure why he had to go insane at me before that?

Then United Utilities were leaving and the man who knocked on was like do you have snapchat? So I said no. Then he said what's your Instagram then, which is weirdly scary when you're a girl in their 20s stood in the door of your own house which you clearly live alone in, and I was mentally worn down after what had happened. I asked for his, typed it in and just blocked him on it because idk what he would've said next. Also how weird to ask someone who's just been crying that.

THEN the electrician was leaving, after being there for 4 hours. He said do you want to come and stay at mine? (because I have no bathroom) I obviously declined

The electrician said he needs to come back and finish off, but apparently there is no rush, even though I have no oven or hob until he does. I am going to try and get him to come today whilst the plumber is there so i don't have to deal with him

Does this seem absolutely insane to everyone else, or am I being dramatic?

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Aaah god. Need to vent this somewhere.

The kitchen was always going to be fitted 10th January. I am ridiculously impatient, and also can't wait to live there without workmen coming back and forth so decided to do the bathroom at the same time, its currently being fitted as we speak. This means the electrician was required to come back and finish off by doing the ceiling lights & shaver socket in the bathroom and the hard wiring of kitchen appliances.

He came yesterday and was going absolutely mental, because the family friend who had fitted my kitchen had not done it how he wanted it to be done. He was screaming at me to the point I was hysterically crying for about an hour, which is not something I ever do. He was screaming at the family friend on the phone and refused to speak to him to let him explain, he was calling him all the names under the sun it was absolutely ridiculous. During my crying sesh I got a knock from United Utilities who were sorting the broken stop tap outside. They were like omg are you okay? I told them what happened and went to sit in my car on the phone to my dad to continue my cry in peace. When the electrician came down after sorting the bathroom lights, he was being a lot calmer but I was absolutely traumatised by this point. He then got to work on the kitchen and there seemed to be no issue at all so not sure why he had to go insane at me before that?

Then United Utilities were leaving and the man who knocked on was like do you have snapchat? So I said no. Then he said what's your Instagram then, which is weirdly scary when you're a girl in their 20s stood in the door of your own house which you clearly live alone in, and I was mentally worn down after what had happened. I asked for his, typed it in and just blocked him on it because idk what he would've said next. Also how weird to ask someone who's just been crying that.

THEN the electrician was leaving, after being there for 4 hours. He said do you want to come and stay at mine? (because I have no bathroom) I obviously declined

The electrician said he needs to come back and finish off, but apparently there is no rush, even though I have no oven or hob until he does. I am going to try and get him to come today whilst the plumber is there so i don't have to deal with him

Does this seem absolutely insane to everyone else, or am I being dramatic?

I’m going to say this, and please take it in the way it’s intended here….. but you have to grow up a bit. You seem to have a bit of a victim complex and keep implying that everything that’s happening is because you are female and in your 20s. Stop it. If someone is shouting at you and acting like an hole you tell them to get out of your house. If some random guy asks you for your Instagram account details or whatever you say no - you stand up for yourself and you tell him no. You can’t keep running off crying and calling your Dad for help.

like it or not but this is your house - you are the client. It’s up to you to speak to contractors and ensure things are being done properly and that the right hand knows what the left is doing.

 

[GiftedNotFree]

Aaah god. Need to vent this somewhere.

The kitchen was always going to be fitted 10th January. I am ridiculously impatient, and also can't wait to live there without workmen coming back and forth so decided to do the bathroom at the same time, its currently being fitted as we speak. This means the electrician was required to come back and finish off by doing the ceiling lights & shaver socket in the bathroom and the hard wiring of kitchen appliances.

He came yesterday and was going absolutely mental, because the family friend who had fitted my kitchen had not done it how he wanted it to be done. He was screaming at me to the point I was hysterically crying for about an hour, which is not something I ever do. He was screaming at the family friend on the phone and refused to speak to him to let him explain, he was calling him all the names under the sun it was absolutely ridiculous. During my crying sesh I got a knock from United Utilities who were sorting the broken stop tap outside. They were like omg are you okay? I told them what happened and went to sit in my car on the phone to my dad to continue my cry in peace. When the electrician came down after sorting the bathroom lights, he was being a lot calmer but I was absolutely traumatised by this point. He then got to work on the kitchen and there seemed to be no issue at all so not sure why he had to go insane at me before that?

Then United Utilities were leaving and the man who knocked on was like do you have snapchat? So I said no. Then he said what's your Instagram then, which is weirdly scary when you're a girl in their 20s stood in the door of your own house which you clearly live alone in, and I was mentally worn down after what had happened. I asked for his, typed it in and just blocked him on it because idk what he would've said next. Also how weird to ask someone who's just been crying that.

THEN the electrician was leaving, after being there for 4 hours. He said do you want to come and stay at mine? (because I have no bathroom) I obviously declined

The electrician said he needs to come back and finish off, but apparently there is no rush, even though I have no oven or hob until he does. I am going to try and get him to come today whilst the plumber is there so i don't have to deal with him

Does this seem absolutely insane to everyone else, or am I being dramatic?

All of this is… horrendous. Why is the electrician so personally invested in this? It doesn’t seem normal at all. If it was me, I’d cease his services and ask friends / family for recommendations of a professional that will come in, do the work, get paid then leave.

As for the person that asked for your socials while you were visibly upset, I’d report that to their employer. Completely unacceptable IMO.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

All of this is… horrendous. Why is the electrician so personally invested in this? It doesn’t seem normal at all. If it was me, I’d cease his services and ask friends / family for recommendations of a professional that will come in, do the work, get paid then leave.

As for the person that asked for your socials while you were visibly upset, I’d report that to their employer. Completely unacceptable IMO.

The electrician was probably pissed off that he’s being asked to sort of the kitchen electrics after the kitchen has already been fitted. The kitchen fitter should have had the electrician on site prior to the instal to discuss the kitchen instal and to agree on the details. Being asked to retrospectively do the electrics after the kitchen has gone in was never going to go down well! Yes, ok he sounds like a bit of a diva but this is what happens when there’s no one particularly in control of a project and when the home owner has no idea what’s going on.

 

[Chuff offohc]

Even if he was working for free I dont know why you would then allow the guy back into your home unless this is either one big fantasy story or there is something else your not mentioning? All seems a little unrealistic to me. And if it is true then why on earth do you keep allowing this behaviour?
Sorry but I just find it all a bit hard to believe at this point.

 

[BettyCrockerr]

Even if he was working for free I dont know why you would then allow the guy back into your home unless this is either one big fantasy story or there is something else your not mentioning? All seems a little unrealistic to me. And if it is true then why on earth do you keep allowing this behaviour?
Sorry but I just find it all a bit hard to believe at this point.

Agree. It all seems ridiculously far fetched.

 

[lurkingaround123]

I wish it was a joke tbh I am just an internet stranger to be fair you can take it or leave it I won't be offended

Its super stressful, I have had a man break in to another address previously and assault me, so i do get major victim mentality when scary men come in my house and start booting off at me.

Also the electrician said he needs to come back afterwards to hardwire the kitchen, you can't hardwire a hob and oven in to a kitchen which doesn't exist. We both explained what needed doing to him but he wouldn't listen over screaming at everyone

 

[BettyCrockerr]

I wish it was a joke tbh I am just an internet stranger to be fair you can take it or leave it I won't be offended

Its super stressful, I have had a man break in to another address previously and assault me, so i do get major victim mentality when scary men come in my house and start booting off at me.

Also the electrician said he needs to come back afterwards to hardwire the kitchen, you can't hardwire a hob and oven in to a kitchen which doesn't exist. We both explained what needed doing to him but he wouldn't listen over screaming at everyone

How can you explain anything to anyone? You have no idea what you are talking about. I’m not trying to be rude but what do you know about fitting a kitchen or the process of doing so?

if any of this is true - the problem you’ve got is that you have no idea what you are doing and you’ve got no one around you who does so by default someone on the project has to try to project manage in order to get the job completed. Your electrician sounds like that’s what he’s trying to accomplish.

next time - hire a contractor and pay them to manage the project.

 

[Cats_eyes]

We're renovating at the moment, mr cats an experienced builder thank god.

This bloke is taking such a long time for electrics, something sound's fishy with him, I'd have someone check his work. For 3 rooms and a bathroom it took my father in law 2/3 days. (Ours is an apartment, sorry if it's completely different for houses). I feel like you really need to settle up and move on from him, or if you're happy with the work ask him to work out of hours so you can get the other work finished. Good luck, currently looking at good energy saving ovens