Chile Forum

by **Scouser** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:05 pm

Hello

My friend has decided to remodel her property in Santiago.

She has no contacts in terms of builders etc, how do you guys find tradesmen for all trades. reputable, reliable (or is this asking too much) :-)

Thanks

by **nwdiver** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:59 pm

Scouser wrote:Hello

My friend has decided to remodel her property in Santiago.

She has no contacts in terms of builders etc, how do you guys find tradesmen for all trades. reputable, reliable (or is this asking too much)

Thanks

You are asking too much, unless you are hardwired in to the trades community.

Her family and friends may have used someone and can recommend them, never use someone that a friend “recommends” unless that person has used their services and can show you their work.

The Architect/Designers I am using (for an ongoing build) have built many buildings and houses and have good quality trades, but I interview and decide myself, I have weeded out a guy who quit working for a bigger glass company and my project was going to be his first larger project, but he couldn’t read a plan or estimate material needs, this after he had the plans for 5 days. I’m all for giving a new young guy a break, but if he couldn’t spend the time or have the ability to do this basic function he’s not for me, the A/D company was very embarrassed and he won’t be doing work for them, too bad he was a decent type.

by **zer0nz** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 4:29 pm

nwdiver wrote:
Scouser wrote:Hello

My friend has decided to remodel her property in Santiago.

She has no contacts in terms of builders etc, how do you guys find tradesmen for all trades. reputable, reliable (or is this asking too much)

Thanks

You are asking too much, unless you are hardwired in to the trades community.

Her family and friends may have used someone and can recommend them, never use someone that a friend “recommends” unless that person has used their services and can show you their work.

The Architect/Designers I am using (for an ongoing build) have built many buildings and houses and have good quality trades, but I interview and decide myself, I have weeded out a guy who quit working for a bigger glass company and my project was going to be his first larger project, but he couldn’t read a plan or estimate material needs, this after he had the plans for 5 days. I’m all for giving a new young guy a break, but if he couldn’t spend the time or have the ability to do this basic function he’s not for me, the A/D company was very embarrassed and he won’t be doing work for them, too bad he was a decent type.

you know what the annoying thing is, it takes them 5 days, they wont admit it or ask for help,

i have one like that at the moment, very close to giving him some more rope to hang him self, he wont ask for help when he should! and i have told him too many times!

by **Donnybrook** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:19 pm

Usually recommendations from friends or seeing someone doing work that looks good in the neighbourhood (we ring the bell and ask the owner if they are happy). For a job inside the house the recommendation has to be very positive and I prefer it to come from a Chilean friend rather than a foreigner but you have to beware of friends trying to help out their gardener's cousin. But it is often a lottery anyway. The key is overseeing what is being done and not just using the same person to do everything. For instance, if you want the floors refinished get a company which does that and don't just buy the materials and let any workman doing other work to do it.

by **Scouser** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:32 pm

Hummmm it seems a challenge then :-)

Thanks again all for the help

by **Scouser** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:09 pm

Have you tried Vaseline (To aid the camel through needle) :-)

by **Scouser** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:05 pm

patagoniax wrote:
Scouser wrote:Have you tried Vaseline (To aid the camel through needle)

Save the vaseline. You'll need all of it and more before those maestros get finished with you.

lol

by **seawolf180** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 8:24 pm

I find them to suck. Lol
You have to SEE, their previous work. You have to SPEAK to their previous employers, who you shouldn't trust either.
You have to micro manage them throughout the job. And God help you if you have no construction experience.
Having said that, you possibly, maybe, occasionally, hopefully, can find some maestros who will do some decent work, and if you don't take your eye off them, you might get some marginally, decent, ok, passible, results.
Or you might get the other guy.
May god protect and guide you, as you pass through the rings of hell.

by **admin** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:20 pm

You got to approach it from the point of view that YOU are the prime contractor, no matter how many contractors you hire between you and the worker. So, that essentially means you need to know how to do the job yourself, before you start trying to manage a bunch of guys that do not know how to do the job in a foreign language.

It is not completely impossible. I got a older gringa friend that is originally from Europe, in her 70's, currently remodelling her own house she just bought in the south. Granted she has lived all over the World and speaks Spanish fluently (Columbian spanish), but she is still a 70 year old foreign women with blond hair. You would think it would be a total disaster for her to deal with the local maestros.

So far so good. She is just completing a full kitchen remodel (including removing two structural wall, replacing windows, insulating exterior walls), and is moving on to the rest of the house. I have stopped by for dinner from time to time and put in my 2 pesos about what they are doing (mostly just where to find materials), but for the most part she has managed the whole thing herself. I am sure that project would have likely made a lot of younger gringo males with some construction experience breakdown and cry with frustration. She managed to get it done in under month, and under budget. Guess it depends on your skill set, and your attitude.

Most importantly, just be there. Biggest mistake is hire someone and walk away.

by **trabajo en progreso** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 12:56 am

maybe your girlfriend should hire the 70year old woman to sort it for her

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Need Help In Chile?

Phone From Outside Chile: 1-917-470-9653 ( USA to Chile)
In Chile Land Line: (56) 65 421 024
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Chile Forum

Who is online

Need Help In Chile?

Phone From Outside Chile: 1-917-470-9653 ( USA to Chile) In Chile Land Line: (56) 65 421 024 Cell Phone 747 97974 (From a Cell Phone in Chile dial with no other numbers)

Phone From Outside Chile: 1-917-470-9653 ( USA to Chile)
In Chile Land Line: (56) 65 421 024
Cell Phone 747 97974 (From a Cell Phone in Chile dial with no other numbers)