| Let's take an example | | | | - "And if we put the new... here... there'll be room |
| Suppose I know someone who is looking for | | | | for..." |
| someone to completely 'make over' her bathroom: | | | | - "I've just finished a job where I used slates for the |
| New everything. | | | | floor, came up a treat..." |
| As it happens, we had ours done not long ago by a | | | | - "Don't go for mirrored tiling on that wall - you won't |
| two-man team. We had strong ideas on the particular | | | | like it - we'll get a mirror cut to fit the space..." We |
| style of bath and, because the bathroom is quite | | | | still had minor glitches, such as the fact that they |
| small, were anxious that the space would be well | | | | glazed the wooden door before removing the thumb |
| used and keen that the natural light should be | | | | print smudges, but nothing that couldn't be fairly |
| enhanced as much as possible so wanted a full sized | | | | easily rectified. |
| mirror or mirror tiles to cover at least one wall. Other | | | | And they cleared up really well at the end of each |
| than that we were quite open-minded. | | | | day's work, so we didn't feel as if we were living in a |
| My recommendation of this two-man team would be | | | | construction site. |
| 'warts and all': They were no more or less reliable on | | | | Now my friend has a reasonable and realistic idea of |
| turning up on time and with the expected sanitary | | | | what to expect if she decides to make contact. |
| ware and the necessary tools to do the job of the | | | | Referrals and recommendations |
| day than we'd come to expect from tradesmen. | | | | This point may seem obvious, but I'll make it anyway |
| However, once they realised that we appreciated the | | | | because, with the best will in the world, things do go |
| work they were doing in the cramped space and | | | | wrong and people do get 'burnt': |
| summer heat, they started to be more forthcoming | | | | It's important to only give referrals and |
| with helpful suggestions, such as: | | | | recommendations in the best of faith. For example I |
| - "Don't go for the cheapest wall tiles - they'll look | | | | know a painter/ decorator/ carpenter whose work |
| okay for a couple of years, then you'll need to | | | | by all accounts is excellent. However, he's notoriously |
| replace them" | | | | unreliable. Would I use him? No. So I can't recommend |
| - "Don't go for wall tiles that are too big or too small | | | | him. Would I refer him? No chance. I have my own |
| - they'll look wrong in a bathroom this size" | | | | reputation to protect. |
| - "We can source a wall mounted heated towel rack | | | | We need to all bear this in mind when we're asking |
| that'll fit in just here..." | | | | others for referrals and recommendations! |