They often get a bad rep, but the majority (90%) of tradesmen from the Midlands will go above and beyond their actual duties when it comes to keeping their customers happy.
A study into 500 tradesmen revealed that many go that extra mile for the people they work for. Almost a third of local builders said they have taken a customer to hospital when they’ve had an accident.
One in six have given first aid to a customer, one in 18 have taken a pregnant customer to the hospital when they’ve gone into labour; while the same number have also helped deliver a baby.
Three quarters of UK tradesmen have taken time out of their busy schedules to spend one-to-one time with customers they think might be lonely or in need of some company, with one tradesperson saying he has cooked Christmas dinner for a customer before.
The research commissioned by Origin, a British manufacturer of bi-fold doors, windows and blinds, found that many tradespeople are happy to do small things for customers that can make a big difference.
In fact, over 40% of local tradesmen help out with DIY that is not part of the job they are doing, while the same number help customers by carrying shopping for them and heavy items. One in eight have even taken dogs for walks.
Ben Brocklesby, Director at Origin, said: “Tradesmen work in one of the most versatile environments, ever changing homes of the nation, and regularly get insight into the lives of people within their local communities.
“They are arguably in a great position of power and responsibility, not only to improve the environment in which we live, but caught up in incidents in our lives where we may need their assistance in more ways than one.”
A fifth of tradesmen from the Midlands will help customers use their phone or computer and even help assemble furniture. One in 10 has helped fix a broken down car or change a tyre.
And it’s not just in the home that many help out, with a quarter even taking letters and parcels to the post office, one in four popping to the shop for customers and one in seven running errands.
The study also found that 70% of local tradesmen have observed an argument whilst at a customer’s house, and around one in five claim to have witnessed a ‘spooky event’ while working at a customer’s home.
A quarter have come across old or dangerous work when carrying out a job, and fixed it without mentioning it to the customer.
The study also revealed that 88% of UK tradesmen would be more willing to go that step further for a customer if they made their job easier when visiting the home.
Top of the list was - ensuring the area was prepared for their visit, e.g. moving furniture; followed by the customer being honest about budget and, of course, offering the worker a cup of tea or coffee.
Ben Brocklesby added: “It’s great to hear that so many tradesmen are going that extra mile to deliver not only what is required of them, but exceeding customer expectations by performing heroic acts - they truly are unsung heroes of the home.”
