the joys of being self employed....

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rated_2000

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hi guys aint been on for AGES due to laptop dying, finally got a new one this week  :)

so im bk in da game  :o

like many of u im feeling the pinch of the credit crunch, building game going up the creek, work is non existant at the mo

and im gonna have a moan about being self employed, your expected to be loyal, turn up on time, work ya nuts off for crap money, asked to work saturdays by the gaffer, u put your self out for them, then when it goes quiet u get dropped like a tonne of bricks, not a penny to ya name.

seems unfair how the employer gets all the benefits when they want them and you get none when u need them

this whole sub contract thing sucks, you can just be dropped like that!

where if u dont feel like turning up for a day u get fired probably  :'(
 
hey rated_2000 i would be well pisst if i was in your position, not fair if you've got a mortage to pay.

all my work is domestic..... so ive got customers to put up with and they expecting someing for nothing, does my fecking head in. i've recently put my day rate up to £150-£200 for plastering im sick of doing people favours, no cun-t ever done me any favours.

also having a week of this week because ive had a right tit full of it.
 
That sounds like a really sh!t position to be in mate. I'm lucky myself just domestic work and the phones not stopped going for the last 2 months got work past xmas. Wouldn't u be better working for a firm if thats the predicament your in just now?
 
After 25 yrs of subin i gave up my card a few years back,best thing i ever did,i still get price all the time but now i get all the perks, holidays,box money if im ill,the gov dont really want to help you unless your employing,also dont miss paying 1 1/2 grand a year in back tax!
 
That sounds like a really sh!t position to be in mate. I'm lucky myself just domestic work and the phones not stopped going for the last 2 months got work past xmas. Wouldn't u be better working for a firm if thats the predicament your in just now?
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i stuck in the middle, cause i not quite experienced enough to go solo, and not getting enough trowel practice being a labourer (right place right time i can get on the trowel, certain jobs places cant), now not working at all, jus sitting around waiting for a call to get goin again :'(

its hard to get the practice :(

me plastering is decent, but i know me self i not done enough yet to go solo
 
hey rated_2000 i reckon u should have a crack, if u've got no work. you need to earn some bread some how
 
hey rated_2000 i reckon u should have a crack, if u've got no work. you need to earn some bread some how
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yeah but i aint got da confidence and i know i am not that experienced, aint got the full kit u need , no van etc

i know im not ready but i finding it hard to get the practice, catch 22 i guess
 
you dont need a van..... and what ever tools u need, price them in to the job. when i started my own business i didnt have any cofidence, that comes in time. what have u got to lose
 
you dont need a van..... and what ever tools u need, price them in to the job. when i started my own business i didnt have any cofidence, that comes in time. what have u got to lose
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well i care about what kinda job i do for people and i worry it go wrong, but i know with more experience under me belt i be 100% sure i do the right job, and just be better all round 8-)
 
I'm with Troweladdict on this one - like he says, what have you got to lose ? We all had to make the leap at some point - Hell, I was in banking 4 years ago , decided to jack it in and go for something completely different - Haven't looked back since !!

Confidence will come the more jobs you get but if you are happy with your plastering then go for it - I will always compromise time over quality , especially if I was starting out as its then that you get a name for yourself - I'd rather take an extra half day if I knew I was going to get it bang on , especially with domestic work, customers have an annoying habit of calling you back if they are not happy - but be polite, dependable  and above all flexible to a customers needs , and if your spreading is of a good quality, word will soon get around that '  That Rated 2000, bloody good spread he is, good price too and he cleans up really well after he's finished " - The calls will come , believe me !

Dont expect to be earning 200 quid a day , start off at maybe 100 or 120 just to get a customer base - And dont forget this site - if you are ever unsure of anything before going into  a job ( or during) . post a thread on here and someone is bound to help you out

Do it !!!!
 
at the end of the day rated_2000. even the best plasters make mistakes all you've got to do is put the mistakes right, from talking to u seem to know what u talking about just give it 100% and you wont go wrong.. i just make it up as i go along.. but always give a 100%
 
hey rated_2000 i reckon u should have a crack, if u've got no work. you need to earn some bread some how
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I disagree its all very well trying to wing it on a building site, but in someones home your having a laugh my friend, if someones paying good money then they should get a good job, not some chancer.
 
dont listen to gps what ever you do, ull never get anywere in life..... Rated_2000 you dont sound like a chancer to me and as i said if u make a mistake, all you got to do is put it right, we all make mistakes. if you feel that bad dont charge them. what else are you gona do work in your local shop, earning peanuts donig something you hate, think about it
 
dont listen to gps what ever you do, ull never get anywere in life..... Rated_2000 you dont sound like a chancer to me and as i said if u make a mistake, all you got to do is put it right, we all make mistakes. if you feel that bad dont charge them. what else are you gona do work in your local shop, earning peanuts donig something you hate, think about it
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yes because not charging them is going to earn him money, you can get a job patching with an agency or something like that but YOU CAN NOT GO INTO SOMEONES HOME and do a substandard job, its just not right, I tell you this if some one come in my house and doing a job I wasnt happy with they would be straight out dont worry about that.
 
no i not a chancer i been trained by a pro of 30+ years, i am very knowlegdeable and have witnesses just about eveything in domestic work, our days were not just skim skim skim! far from it, we use to do the good the bad and ugly of the job
 
at the end of the day.... it think my point is just as valid as gps. if you want it.... im sure u'll do it.
 
at the end of the day.... it think my point is just as valid as gps. if you want it.... im sure u'll do it.
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yeah i think it down to the individual and i feel i not quite there yet :)

i wanna be 100% ready so i do the best job
 
at the end of the day.... it think my point is just as valid as gps. if you want it.... im sure u'll do it.
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yeah i think it down to the individual and i feel i not quite there yet  :)

i wanna be 100% ready so i do the best job
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Fair play to you, get on the agencys it may only be 13ph but its a good starting point, your other option is to use a room in your house to practice on.
 
at the end of the day.... it think my point is just as valid as gps. if you want it.... im sure u'll do it.
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yeah i think it down to the individual and i feel i not quite there yet  :)

i wanna be 100% ready so i do the best job
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if i knew 10 years ago what i know now id be a lot better off mate...
end of the day its all about the quality of finish, not how 'im the big i am, i am...' you are...
if your finish is good but your a little slow, kb the jobs you cant handle and take the ones you can, take yer time, be polite, do a good job and expect to get paid for a good job...
dunno about pricing the tools into your first job though?? means you gotta get paid before you start :-?... why not borrow some trowels and a whisk, buy a few new buckets and dust sheets... total outlay 30 quid...
then when you get paid, invest in some new gear...
most domestic work is small jobs anyway, 1 room, 2 rooms, 1 ceiling...
suit you down to the ground mate, just dont be too cheap...
put the word out your a plasterer or can plaster and wait till someone asks you to come do a little job, then dont knock it back if you think you can handle it, leaving it for someone else to come and be in and out in 4 hours and charge 200 quid and leave the place a sh't tip..go do the job, borrow some tools off the gaffer, say its for your mum...
like i said, if i knew then what i know now...
youll soon know if you can hack it or not, if not, at least you find out now and not in 5 years eh?
 
at the end of the day.... it think my point is just as valid as gps. if you want it.... im sure u'll do it.
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yeah i think it down to the individual and i feel i not quite there yet  :)

i wanna be 100% ready so i do the best job
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if i knew 10 years ago what i know now id be a lot better off mate...
end of the day its all about the quality of finish, not how 'im the big i am, i am...' you are...
if your finish is good but your a little slow, kb the jobs you cant handle and take the ones you can, take yer time, be polite, do a good job and expect to get paid for a good job...
dunno about pricing the tools into your first job though?? means you gotta get paid before you start  :-?... why not borrow some trowels and a whisk, buy a few new buckets and dust sheets... total outlay 30 quid...
then when you get paid, invest in some new gear...
most domestic work is small jobs anyway, 1 room, 2 rooms, 1 ceiling...
suit you down to the ground mate, just dont be too cheap...
put the word out your a plasterer or can plaster and wait till someone asks you to come do a little job, then dont knock it back if you think you can handle it, leaving it for someone else to come and be in and out in 4 hours and charge 200 quid and leave the place a sh't tip..go do the job, borrow some tools off the gaffer, say its for your mum...
like i said, if i knew then what i know now...
youll soon know if you can hack it or not, if not, at least you find out now and not in 5 years eh?
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ive got trowel and that, and whisk few other bits, any specialist other bits id have to pick up in future i have been doing little bit spreading on the job b4, i aint got the full shabang
 
right, when the post started i was under the impression that rated_2000 was a spreader and had been sub contracting and had been layed off and didnt want to sub anymore, but didnt have the confidence to start his own business.

also thinking he was a spreader, i thought he'd have some off the tools, i didnt mean price a refina mega mixer on to your first job. maybe a few buckets or tarpaulins ok.

also if i new he was a labourer i would probably give different advice :-[
 
right, when the post started i was under the impression that rated_2000 was a spreader and had been sub contracting and had been layed off and didnt want to sub anymore, but didnt have the confidence to start his own business.

also thinking he was a spreader, i thought he'd have some off the tools, i didnt mean price a refina mega mixer on to your first job. maybe a few buckets or tarpaulins ok.

also if i new he was a labourer i would probably give different advice  :-[
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well it does say on my 2nd post on this thred ;D laubourer been on course with some spread experience on the job too
 
if i offered you 100 quid to come and overskim my 3mx4m light stipple artex ceiling could you do it?
you need:
1 wisk
1 bucket trowel
2 buckets
1 finish trowel (preferably worn in/used)
roller on a pole
roller tray
pva / gypbond (take the gypbond option ill give you another tenner)
1 cleaning brush, 1 splash brush
1 pozi / 1 flat screwdriver (for dropping the light fitting and re fixing)
1 hop up
3 long thin dust sheets (to keep you off my stair carpets / hallway)
hosepipe is handy but not strictly necessary or practical sometimes
3 bags of multi finish
sweeping brush
floor scraper
you can dig a little hole in the garden to tip your wash out in, any left over plaster you can stick back in an empty bag and take it home with you... drop it in the skip at work on monday
you can fit all that in the back of a fiesta matey... you dont even need a spotboard...
dont worry about loookin a muppet, ive worked out of a fiesta.... and a mondeo, and an astra estate, a lwb transit and a luton!!
 
i reckon 80 % of the lads on here are on a par with rated 2000 ...............you might be surprised at what a well taught labourer can turn out
 
1 wisk - YES HAMMER DRILL JOB
1 bucket trowel - GAGING TROWEL
2 buckets - YES
1 finish trowel (preferably worn in/used) YES WORN IN STAINLESS STEEL
roller on a poleC- YES
roller tray - YES
pva / gypbond (take the gypbond option ill give you another tenner) - YEAH GOT PVA
1 cleaning brush, 1 splash brush - YES
1 pozi / 1 flat screwdriver (for dropping the light fitting and re fixing) YEAH
1 hop up - LADDER
3 long thin dust sheets (to keep you off my stair carpets / hallway) - NOT REALLY FEW OLD CURTAINS
hosepipe is handy but not strictly necessary or practical sometimes - IF NEEDED
3 bags of multi finish - WOULD BUY
sweeping brush - YES
floor scraper - NO

GOT MOST OF THAT IN MY DIY KIT
 
ITS funny on here ive seen u guys say to so many before oh it takes years to learn properly and be ready, u cant rush it, here i am holding me hand up saying i dont feel ready quite yet and everyone saying go for it ;D

i started this post to state that being in the process of learning and work drying up leaves me up the creek cause i dont feel i can fly solo and cant get on any walls to practice and get experience, without workin :-/
 
theres a big difference between someone who does a two week course in a training school having been an office boy for ten years and someone who's been in and out of peoples houses for the last 3 or so years, watchin the problems crop up and get dealt with, spent some time in the real world on a trowel with experienced tradesmen and just generally learning and getting a feel for the domestic building game...
 
the only reason i said go for it, was because i was in your boat 7 months ago. and its the best thing i ever did. i wanted it so bad i made it happen
 
theres a big difference between someone who does a two week course in a training school having been an office boy for ten years and someone who's been in and out of peoples houses for the last 3 or so years, watchin the problems crop up and get dealt with, spent some time in the real world on a trowel with experienced tradesmen and just generally learning and getting a feel for the domestic building game...
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i agree ive seen all sorts of stuff, stuff you wouldnt dream of on a 2 week course, loads of differnet repair situations, half of walls having to be removed and re floated, all sorts of surfaces and problems etc etc etc, i dont see skim skim skim,

i got plenty of theory just need a bit more practical, just a shame the game is dying at the moment and halting my development
 
well if you reckon you could handle my example little job confidently and leave a good finish id say go for it, if not though, its a simple little job really, i'd give it another 6 months or a year mate... up to you, but we all start somewhere, and with your background you have a good chance of getting it right...
 
well if you reckon you could handle my example little job confidently and leave a good finish id say go for it, if not though, its a simple little job really, i'd give it another 6 months or a year mate... up to you, but we all start somewhere, and with your background you have a good chance of getting it right...
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as much as i hate skivvying for low wage i appreiciate the situation im in i know it a great learning opportunity, seeing and taking part in all sorts of crazy situations and not jus skim skim, it will give ma better all round game, not a one trick pony
 
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