'They walk in with muddy shoes': Aussies share the things they can't STAND about tradies working in their homes - after tradesmen listed their biggest gripes about clients

Frustrated customers revealed their biggest gripes about tradesmen
A group of Australians shared their experiences with radio duo Kyle and Jackie O
List includes leaving muddy footprints in homes and not cleaning up properly

Published: 01:26 BST, 9 August 2021 | Updated: 01:35 BST, 9 August 2021

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Frustrated customers have revealed their biggest gripes about tradesmen working in their homes, ranging from leaving muddy footprints throughout their house to not washing their hands after using the toilet.

In a radio segment on The Kyle & Jackie O Show on KIISFM, a group of Australians shared their experiences - including Rebecca who complained about 'dirty' tradesmen.

'I cannot stand tradies that walk through your house with muddy shoes after they've been rolling in the dirt in your front yard. Cannot stand it,' she said.

'They should take off your shoes. They should have a bit of respect.'

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Frustrated customers have revealed the biggest gripes they can't stand about tradesmen working in their homes (stock image)

Another customer James said he couldn't stand tradies who 'never clean up after themselves' when they finish their job.

'That's half-a*** in my opinion,' he said.

But one thing that infuriated him was when a man he had hired ended up using his brand new vacuum cleaner to clean up the mess they made after drilling holes into his bricks to install blinds in his home.

'I asked them "are you going to clean that up?" They came back the next day and used my brand new vacuum cleaner to clean up the dust,' James said.

'Not their own, why can't they have their own vacuum? How is it my problem? Why don't you bring your own tools for the job? I thought they had everything, no? It's my tools, not their tools.'

Jackie O interjected, telling James he needed to 'settle down' after disagreeing with his ridiculous comment about his precious vacuum being used.

'For not letting them use your vacuum cleaner? You're the one with the problem. Just be thankful they are cleaning up,' she said, to which James replied: 'Should I charge them a cleaning fee then?'

In a radio segment, KIISFM radio duo Kyle and Jackie O (pictured together) speak to a group of Aussies who shared their biggest gripes about tradies

Third caller Alexa said her biggest pet peeve was a tradie using her bathroom.

'My gripe is when they use your bathroom for a number two, they spend ages in there, making an absolute mess of it and then you don't hear the water running so you know they haven't washed their hands,' she explained.

'They come out and start touching everything.'

Donna said she was left disgusted after a tradie performed a 'bushman's blow' in front of her.

A bushman's blow is a term describing the act of placing a finger on one nostril and blowing forcefully out of the other without using any tissue or handkerchief.

'This tradie says to me "can I use your toilet?" and I'm like "yeah, no worries". He finishes in the toilet and goes to the hand basin... and he does a bushman's blow into the sink,' she said in disgust.

Confessions of a tradie: Tradesmen reveal the things they cannot STAND about clients

Marty - who works as a gyprocker - revealed a list of things he can't stand about his clients, ranging from asking 'stupid' questions to telling him how he should do his job.

'Firstly if somebody is calling up a tradie and they need something done, don't call and ask "hey mate, what do you charge?" because it's such a broad question and it's so annoying. "What do you charge?" can mean a million things,' he said.

Another thing that bothers him is when a client suggests his job shouldn't take as long as he says it's going to be.

'Don't call and ask for a quote and say "it's only going to be a half day job, mate" - because you're telling me how long my job is going to take, I'd be the judge of how long my job is going to take,' Marty said.

'Don't ever call me and say it's only a half job because most of the time, it's not. If I'm putting a coat on the wall, it needs another four coats, this needs to dry overnight, it could go on. If you think it's going to take that long, do it yourself.'

Marty - who works as a gyprocker - revealed a list of things he can't stand about his clients, ranging from asking 'stupid' questions to telling him how he should do his job (stock image)

If a client books a tradie in for a job at their home, Marty said it's your responsibility to organise a car space for them by the time they arrive.

'Move your car out of the driveway or let us know if there's an appropriate place to park. There's nothing worse than rocking up at 7am and there's nowhere to park. You want the job done, right? You want us to go in and out and be done?' he said.

Another thing he can't stand is having a client watch him while he's working.

'Don't silently stare at us while we're working on your home. It's really awkward. And don't ask "is that supposed to be like that?" "Hang on Karen, the job isn't even done yet". You can swing by and check up on us but don't stand there,' he said.

Marty said clients should always 'lock up' their pets and children before they arrive.

'We are not babysitters and we're not the entertainment for the day. We don't want your baby crawling under us, we might have screws or nails, it's dangerous,' he said.

'When we step out the door to go to our truck, your dog would run out the door. Then it's our responsibility. Please lock up your dogs.'

Ensure you 'make an attempt' to move your furniture or have the area clear, he said.

'Because in our quote, we didn't put in an option to disassemble or move your pool table in the quote. So make it as clear as possible,' he said.