IAN and HELGA,,ONWARDS and UPWARDS!!

And a couple of these for the van... Cost about £20-30 a pair.."Magnetic" (y)

310605
 
ian if you want work keep it simple you only need business cards, quotes and invoices are all done on a phone now days i use a specialised gas one but invoice to go is one ive heard of im sure there will be a similar builders one
ian the builder would be fine as a name and there is billing software out there for a couple of quid a week definitely get a van thats signed up
and you need to get a facebook page and get pictures of previous work on there
local facebook reccomends is where you need help ive had family and friends reccomending me at first but now i get work from ex customers doing it
i would jump at the ian the builder .co,uk domain as it makes you emails look professional and goes on the side of the van you can redirect the emails to come to which ever email account your using now
my van cost me about 150 to signwrite with stickers
 

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Yep, ianthebuilder.co.uk sounds just right to me too. Go for it Ian, before someone else on the www goes for it. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)

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ok ianthebuilder , i have to be the one to put the damper on again, are you really sure you want to get into all this, buying vans , barrows , websites , invoices , i know you have had a rough month so didnt like to comment if i couldnt be positive but is this really what you want to get into, you know how you like to change your mind at the drop of a hat, getting bogged down with all this business stuff will keep you in one part of the country , helga will be redundant, going down south or spain or portugal will be out of the window you will be stuck in norfolk laying bricks.
 
chaser said:
ok ianthebuilder , i have to be the one to put the damper on again, are you really sure you want to get into all this, buying vans , barrows , websites , invoices , i know you have had a rough month so didnt like to comment if i couldnt be positive but is this really what you want to get into, you know how you like to change your mind at the drop of a hat, getting bogged down with all this business stuff will keep you in one part of the country , helga will be redundant, going down south or spain or portugal will be out of the window you will be stuck in norfolk laying bricks.
Click to expand...


You really are the life and soul of the party chaser. Most people wait months to get a good builder in, why wouldn't Ian be able to work here for 8 months of the year then get away for 4 months in the winter. Ian's explained more than once that he's got a shortish window to get some decent funds behind him, what better way than running your own show?
 
Eggs said:
You really are the life and soul of the party chaser. Most people wait months to get a good builder in, why wouldn't Ian be able to work here for 8 months of the year then get away for 4 months in the winter. Ian's explained more than once that he's got a shortish window to get some decent funds behind him, what better way than running your own show?
Click to expand...
He was doing all right as he was ,touring around without getting bogged down with official stuff .
Once he commits to regular contracts he can't just up and go somewhere else.
Besides which it's now nearly July , how long is it going to get off the ground before winters here again.
 
chaser,,,,, I’m going to have to be a bit blunt here!!

Now I love working for the funsters on here, all over the place, it has been fun,,

I’ve worked and supported people all of my working life,,, I’m now getting a bit older and to be honest, it doesn’t get any easier, I’m not complaining!!

Trying to stay positive while just having been, what I call robbed for maybe £100,000 is hard enough but to hear all the negativity from you is not something I want to listen to,,

If I had the funds I foolishly thought I may get, from a mum and dad who worked hard all their lives, my Portugal dream, and one of plodding on and working a few months and travelling the rest would have become a reality,,, but in light of what I’ve discovered, that is no longer possible,,, Now I never relied or banked on any inheritance, which is a good job, I still However have to live,,,

I have nothing but Helga, now an old van, and my skill, experience, and work ethic that I will have to rely on to get me through the next however many years!!

If a dream I had has to be put back, cancelled, forgotten about for a while, then so be it!! I have made a decision to do what I have to do, in order to prevent myself ending up with nothing!!

Now, with all due respect mate, I know you’ve worked hard for many years, but when your family passed on, you inherited a lot of land/ farm and rightly so, you then, at a certytime sold some land to a building company,, probably family bought land,, you are in a great position to live a full and satisfying life, as are your smashing family after you!! If I had a tenth of what you have, I would be well set up,, but I haven’t, so I have to plod on and earn a living,,,

Now,, I have for the last three or four weeks been thinking about selling Helga, in order to raise some funds for a new way of life,,, this is still something I’m considering, I’m not really happy with it, but a few things have come up that I may have to change my lifestyle to take advantage of!!

It’s perfectly fine, travelling round the country working for funsters, but I feel, especially now, that I have to knuckle down for a few years, while I’m single, still able to graft, that I have to take a step back to move forwards,,
But working and making a living, while living in a Motorhome on a site in an area I want to be in for a time, is not credible!!

I haven’t made my mind up as to what I’m going to finally do yet, because I’m finding it hard to gather my thoughts about anything long term,,,,

Please don’t take offence at anything I’ve said Charlie, but that is the situation,,, maybe you realise how lucky you are,, or maybe you never give it a thought,,, There are thousands of people who would change places with me mate,,, and I think about how privileged I am every day, and I also do what I can to help anyone who needs it,,,, that will never change!! Maybe you should spare a thought for others, think about how negative your posts are, before getting on to me!!

I have enjoyed your banter over the last few years,, and it was smashing meeting and working for you, and your family,,, But give it a rest mate,, I ain’t in the mood! X

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Can someone tell me, or help me with getting that ianthebuilder website,, how do I do it, what do I have to do?

Can I also get a new email address that’s similar? Cheers,, x
 
ianthebuilder said:
Can someone tell me, or help me with getting that ianthebuilder website,, how do I do it, what do I have to do?

Can I also get a new email address that’s similar? Cheers,, x
Click to expand...
go on to 123-reg.co.uk and the domain name is about £10 a year mate

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ianthebuilder said:
Can someone tell me, or help me with getting that ianthebuilder website,, how do I do it, what do I have to do?

Can I also get a new email address that’s similar? Cheers,, x
Click to expand...

Give me a call Ian, I've got a mate who is a web designer, and owns/runs a busy Internet forum. He's also local so you can nip down to see him.
 
I use this company:

www.names.co.uk

Domain Names | Email | Websites | Web Hosting | names.co.uk

We can help you with domain registration, web hosting and building a website. All with free personalised email and friendly UK support 7 days a week.
www.names.co.uk www.names.co.uk

You register the domain name that you want ie ianthebuilder.co.uk

You then set up Email forwarding, so that an email sent to ian@ianthebuilder.co.uk or sales@ianthebuilder.co.uk etc is sent on to your email address that you use now - it just looks and sounds more proffessional
 
ianthebuilder said:
I’ve actually just messaged a funster on here, who’s in the computer game, he may help, I don’t want to bother rob, he’s on holiday! Lol. Eating!! X
Click to expand...
This is a good place to start

www.wix.com

Create Your Own Website | Wix.com

Create your free website with Wix Free Website Builder, the easiest way to build and design a website. Create your own website and go live today!
www.wix.com www.wix.com
 
ianthebuilder said:
chaser,,,,, I’m going to have to be a bit blunt here!!

Now I love working for the funsters on here, all over the place, it has been fun,,

I’ve worked and supported people all of my working life,,, I’m now getting a bit older and to be honest, it doesn’t get any easier, I’m not complaining!!

Trying to stay positive while just having been, what I call robbed for maybe £100,000 is hard enough but to hear all the negativity from you is not something I want to listen to,,

If I had the funds I foolishly thought I may get, from a mum and dad who worked hard all their lives, my Portugal dream, and one of plodding on and working a few months and travelling the rest would have become a reality,,, but in light of what I’ve discovered, that is no longer possible,,, Now I never relied or banked on any inheritance, which is a good job, I still However have to live,,,

I have nothing but Helga, now an old van, and my skill, experience, and work ethic that I will have to rely on to get me through the next however many years!!

If a dream I had has to be put back, cancelled, forgotten about for a while, then so be it!! I have made a decision to do what I have to do, in order to prevent myself ending up with nothing!!

Now, with all due respect mate, I know you’ve worked hard for many years, but when your family passed on, you inherited a lot of land/ farm and rightly so, you then, at a certytime sold some land to a building company,, probably family bought land,, you are in a great position to live a full and satisfying life, as are your smashing family after you!! If I had a tenth of what you have, I would be well set up,, but I haven’t, so I have to plod on and earn a living,,,

Now,, I have for the last three or four weeks been thinking about selling Helga, in order to raise some funds for a new way of life,,, this is still something I’m considering, I’m not really happy with it, but a few things have come up that I may have to change my lifestyle to take advantage of!!

It’s perfectly fine, travelling round the country working for funsters, but I feel, especially now, that I have to knuckle down for a few years, while I’m single, still able to graft, that I have to take a step back to move forwards,,
But working and making a living, while living in a Motorhome on a site in an area I want to be in for a time, is not credible!!

I haven’t made my mind up as to what I’m going to finally do yet, because I’m finding it hard to gather my thoughts about anything long term,,,,

Please don’t take offence at anything I’ve said Charlie, but that is the situation,,, maybe you realise how lucky you are,, or maybe you never give it a thought,,, There are thousands of people who would change places with me mate,,, and I think about how privileged I am every day, and I also do what I can to help anyone who needs it,,,, that will never change!! Maybe you should spare a thought for others, think about how negative your posts are, before getting on to me!!

I have enjoyed your banter over the last few years,, and it was smashing meeting and working for you, and your family,,, But give it a rest mate,, I ain’t in the mood! X
Click to expand...
ianthebuilder i never take offence of anything you might say, i have met you and think the world of you in a fatherly way , you deserve better mate, i dont know about any inheritance , you should have got , and i have give it a rest as you say , because of your recent problems , but i know what you have posted on here before about how you hate norfolk and wanting to move to portugal and now you say you are going to set up in business in a place you hate, why?
you say spare a thought for someone else, what do you think i am doing for you, makes no odds to me what you do but if i can help with a bit of advice why not?
but ok if you dont want me to comment again , i wont, just wish you all the best.
 
Hates Norfolk. That's strange as I thought he'd said he loves it there.

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ianthebuilder said:
Well hello,,,,

It’s been a dodgy couple of weeks, but all good now,, had some demons to fight, truths to realise, disappointments to overcome, but I pulled myself to one side, had a little chat with myself and I’m all good !!!

I have news,,, I haven’t had a Taylor made fag for two weeks,, I have been smoking about ten roll ups a day, but mostly I’m vaping!! It’s amazed me how good it is!! And when I sat down and worked out how much I was spending on fags,, it shocked me! Immediately in the last two weeks I’ve saved over £200. Amazing!! Also,, I’m not coughing, or wheezing,, at all,,, amazing!!

Ok,, I’m still here in Norwich, where I will be staying for the foreseeable future,, I am on the C@CC site nr the city, and I can stay for 28 days at a time,,, so after this shocking weather has passed ( they give it for two / three days) I shall get into the van ( old transit connect) that my mate has let me borrow, and look for a bit of work!!

I shall be advertising, locally, and also, soon, getting a Facebook page sorted, so I will be hounding whoever I’ve worked for for references,,, I hope you will be nice!! Lol.

Ok, not much on the agenda today, it’s pissing down!! But I will try to navigate the new site, cause it’s very different ( well, for me on this iPhone), can’t see how to upload pics etc, yet!! To be honest, I’m unsure if I like the overall look of it,, it looks very efficient and official now, where as I thought the previous set up was more friendly and light hearted! But it may be just me,, I’m sure I will manage my way round it with help!!


I hope your well, and life is good for you,,

Like the title says now ,,, ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!


I’m not going to post on the previous thread now, but I don’t know how to end it!! Lol.


It’s nice to see you,, again,, xxxxxxxxx
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I just read this again Ian and am wondering why you need a website ?

Without spending loads on advertising, nobody is going to ever find your site.

Same goes for Facebook- I wouldn’t waste any time, energy of money there. Nobody goes to Facebook to find a builder.

If you used Checkatrade for example, you’d be found by loads of potential customers who want to hire someone right now.
You can add pics and references from past jobs too.

As for email you could set up ianthebuilder@gmail or yahoo and access your emails from your phone.

Hope this helps ?
 
Robert Clark said:
I just read this again Ian and am wondering why you need a website ?

Without spending loads on advertising, nobody is going to ever find your site.

Same goes for Facebook- I wouldn’t waste any time, energy of money there. Nobody goes to Facebook to find a builder.

If you used Checkatrade for example, you’d be found by loads of potential customers who want to hire someone right now.
You can add pics and references from past jobs too.

As for email you could set up ianthebuilder@gmail or yahoo and access your emails from your phone.

Hope this helps ?
Click to expand...

Hi rob, funny that, I have been told a thousand times a Facebook page is a must!!

I’d be happy with just the email mate, cheers! Xx
 
Robert Clark said:
If you used Checkatrade for example, you’d be found by loads of potential customers who want to hire someone right now.
You can add pics and references from past jobs too
Click to expand...
I’ve just tried Checkatrade very recently and not impressed with them tradesmen have to pay Around £15 a time to get a lead and that does not guarantee a job. :)
From my experience of the building I wouldn’t bother with that type of trade organisation we used to be member of NHBC what a waste of money, we found word of mouth the best advertising from past customers. You have loads on here.?????

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Speve said:
I’ve just tried Checkatrade very recently and not impressed with them tradesmen have to pay Around £15 a time to get a lead and that does not guarantee a job. :)
From my experience of the building I wouldn’t bother with that type of trade organisation we used to be member of NHBC what a waste of money, we found word of mouth the best advertising from past customers. You have loads on here.?????
Click to expand...
I’m using Checkatrade right now to find a number of tradesmen for some work I’m having done at home. From a customer perspective I’ve found it useful.

Looking online it costs about £70 a month
Ian has saved loads more than that by giving up buying fags
Maybe he could invest some of the money he saved ?

A rich man once told me that you have to speculate to accumulate

Link Removed
 
Robert Clark said:
I’m using Checkatrade right now to find a number of tradesmen for some work I’m having done at home. From a customer perspective I’ve found it useful.
Click to expand...
We are having some work done and I thought I’d give it a try although I am a carpenter & joiner by trade and had my own building company for some years, I found that I had two referrals both from some distance from us and wanting to charge for travelling and also I specifically requested a certain trade one was basically a Handyman and then to find they were paying for referrals put me right off.
The trouble is lots of folk want quotes but never have the work done in my experience and you could waste a lot of money and time on time wasters. I suppose you could say I was one but thought I’d try them out. The first man didn’t want to lay the tiles we wanted and the second I was not convinced he could do the job.
Im sure Ian will make the right decision ?? for him whatever way he goes.
 
Silver-Fox said:
I wish you well using that site.
I know some who use that site and I wouldn’t employ them ?
Click to expand...
I guess it’s the same as finding a tradesman from the newspaper, or a leaflet through the door or looking online. You need to do due diligence and check the tradesmens references.
We’ve used Checkatrade and Rated People a number of times over recent years without issue.
We only use people who have lots of positive reviews.

Anyway we’re not looking to find Ian a builder, we’re trying to help him find some work
 
Robert Clark said:
I guess it’s the same as finding a tradesman from the newspaper, or a leaflet through the door or looking online. You need to do due diligence and check the tradesmens references.
We’ve used Checkatrade and Rated People a number of times over recent years without issue.
We only use people who have lots of positive reviews.
Click to expand...

That’s fair enough.

I wouldn’t use any one using flyers or the like.

As I say to any one who asks, word of mouth always turns out the best ?

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