A Reddit thread – how to handle messy tradesman – has sparked a debate into tidying up after a job.
The original post says that a plumber undertaking a bathroom renovation left the property in a state, with “carpets absolutely filthy and he’s used and broken our Hoover”. There have been plenty of responses from tradespeople, saying that cleaning up after work has been completed is all part of the job and should have been built into the quote.
One said: “I have been in the trade for 28 years and do not use anything from the house just in case it breaks like that, always have my own hoover, sheets, dust pan etc.”
Another semi-retired plumber added: “I never, ever used the customer’s appliances. Always put dust sheets down. When roll & stroll tacky plastic came on the market I would put that down then dust sheets on top. Stains on your carpet need professional cleaning at the tradesman’s expense.”
An electrician said: “I tried to leave every property in the state I found it. In many cases it was cleaner when I had given it the industrial hoover treatment than on arrival. The plumber should have covered all carpets with protective film or sheets etc.”
We asked the Installer community how important it is to leave a job nice and tidy, and we had these responses:
- “Extremely essential – standard practice.”
- “No debate. If you make the mess, you have to clean it.”
- “If you read customer reviews, this type of thing is often mentioned. It’s a big deal!”
- “Essential, being tidy can make or break the chance of future work or recommendations.”
- “Very important, people will judge you so much on tidiness.”
And then the (joking, we assume) response: “Very important, unless you’re a sparky.”
What do you think? Tag us in your responses on Instagram or TikTok @installershow
