I’ve always believed in doing a good job at a reasonable price. As a handyman and gardener, I know I’m not performing brain surgery – I’m providing a service that should be honest, practical, and fair. Unfortunately, I see far too many tradesmen trying to squeeze every last penny out of their clients, and frankly, it gives the rest of us a bad name.
Take today, for example. I went to visit an elderly lady, clearly struggling to keep on top of her garden. She was unsteady on her feet, and the place had understandably become rather overgrown. Nothing major – a half-day job at most. A bit of tidying, trimming, and clearing up, and it would look respectable again.
But here’s the shocker: two gardeners had already been to see her and quoted £500 for the work. £500! Where on earth does that number come from? Let’s break that down – even if it takes four hours, that’s £125 an hour for a bit of gardening. This isn’t specialist engineering or emergency plumbing in the middle of the night; it’s basic maintenance work.
I didn’t give her a final price there and then, but I told her straight – it will be a lot cheaper than £500. And that’s the way I like to work. I’d rather do an honest day’s work for a fair price, leave someone happy with the result, and know they’ll recommend me to their friends.
At the end of the day, reputation matters more than overcharging. A good job at a fair price brings repeat business, word-of-mouth recommendations, and trust – which is worth far more than making a quick buck by taking advantage of someone, especially someone vulnerable.
I hope when I finish this job, the lady will not only be pleased with the garden but also feel reassured that there are still honest tradesmen out there.
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