Recent research has uncovered the most annoying customer habits that tradespeople have to endure while on the job. Results show the top seven most bothersome customer behaviours that tradespeople would rather do without.

Not being home
Topping the list of gripes according to the research is customers not being at home after agreeing a date and time for a job. Not only does this waste time, it can also cost a tradesperson money as this is time they could have spent on another job. With the majority of tradespeople being self-employed, any time spent not working is time they aren’t getting paid for.

Constantly asking for progress updates
When working on a job, it’s no surprise that customers constantly asking for progress updates can really irritate a tradesperson. The time it takes to complete a job can of course vary, so it’s not uncommon for jobs to take longer than initially expected. However, constantly asking for progress updates may result in the job taking even longer as the tradesperson is having to stop to explain what they’re doing and how long they think it’ll take.

Adding on extras
Coming in at number three is customers who wait for the tradesperson to arrive and then start adding to the list of agreed jobs by asking them to do additional tasks that have not been quoted for. This is bad enough, but what can make this situation even worse is if the customer is expecting the additional tasks to be done for free. It’s worth noting that most tradespeople quote for jobs by estimating how long they will take and also the cost of buying materials, and thus price jobs up accordingly. This means that if extra tasks are added on top, this could result in the tradesperson being late for their next job and/or incurring more costs themselves.

Not paying on time
…or trying to bring the cost down after the work has been agreed
Late payments or asking for discounts after work has commenced can have a damaging impact on a tradespersons’ business, especially for those working for themselves or as part of a small team. This behaviour can also have an impact on their ability to do more jobs or even pay their own bills, as the vast majority of tradespeople will pay for their own tools and materials ahead of the job. This means that anyone not paying on time, or asking for a reduction after the work has started, will be hitting the tradesperson’s bottom line.

Getting harassed by a pet
Not everyone loves pets, especially if it’s an overly aggressive dog that’s barking constantly or just generally getting in the way of the tradesperson. That’s why this comes in at number five on the most annoying customer habits. This could be everything from a dog standing and barking at them to a cat climbing up them or constantly getting in their way. Not only is this occurrence irritating for the tradesperson, it can also potentially be dangerous.

Not having enough room to work
Tradespeople don’t expect customers to do a full spring clean just for them to be able to do the job, but they will need space to work and will usually have a lot of tools or equipment with them to enable them to complete the work. They will only allocate a certain amount of time for the job so it’s worth making sure none of that time is wasted to clear personal items just to get on with the work.

Not being offered a drink
This one isn’t really annoying but more about common courtesy. However, it still annoyed enough tradespeople to make the list at number seven. For those working hard on the job, they may not have had a chance to stop all day if they’re busy so being offered a drink can be a life-saver. Even if it’s just a glass or water or a cup of tea, it can be enough to make their day.

Discussing the research, Tom Cain, technical engineer at Ultra LEDs, says: “As a tradesperson, customer interaction is a key part of the job but it can also be the most frustrating. When you’re on the job, the last thing you want is for the customer to be constantly asking for updates, being barked at by a dog or turning up for them not to be home when you’ve agreed a date and time.

“If you’re having issues with your customers, it can be difficult to remain diplomatic. However, it’s important for both the business and your own personal reputation to remain professional.”

The research was carried out by lighting supplier, Ultra LEDs.