Research from Ford Pro reveals that 50% of tradespeople admit to working harder in the homes of friendlier hosts and are more likely to return.
New research from Ford Pro has unveiled something the UK has long suspected – 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.
Finding a reliable tradesperson is top of the list for homeowners, with more than one million new skilled workers needed over the next decade just to meet the rising demand for services across the construction and trades industries. So, making your tradeys feel at home can make all the difference in retaining the support homeowners need to keep their homes running.
Ford Pro’s study of 500 tradespeople and 1,000 homeowners in the UK sought to understand what is causing the greatest strain on this relationship and highlight the value of building a strong bond with the tradespeople who literally keep the lights on in our homes every day. And while the research 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, there are other factors on both sides that can help foster a positive relationship.
According to UK tradespeople, for example, while customers are keeping up the tradition of offering a hot drink when they have work done in their home (70%), nearly 40% say they don’t have a friendly chat. In addition, 56% of tradeys 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 tradeys, feeling rushed to finish quickly (60%) is the biggest source of tension, this is followed by unfriendliness (53%) and hovering (49%).
On the homeowners’ side meanwhile, their biggest annoyances are tradeys turning up late (70%) and not cleaning up properly (62%), and a third say they become frustrated when they feel their tradeys are rushing in and out of jobs and not taking enough care.
Just under half (41%) of tradeys 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 tradeys.
To highlight the importance of the relationship between tradespeople and homeowners, Ford Pro has enlisted the help of Tom Skinner to give a tradesperson the warmest possible welcome.
Tom Skinner, entrepreneur and TV personality, 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, BOSH!”
Ford Pro’s “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. As the creator of the UK’s favourite van – The Transit – Ford sees the role of tradespeople as crucial in keeping our worlds moving and keeping the lights on in our lives.
