Michael Redding Builder

Do you have a favourite customer story you would like to share?

As mentioned above, a young newly married couple hired me on the recommendation of a friend, to build their first home. A few years later, they hired me again to build their second (and more upmarket) home. Three years later, the phone rang again ... "Hi Michael, it's Graham & Vickie again, we've sold that house and bought an expensive block of land on the hill overlooking the city. We were wondering if you would build another house for us!"

What experience, skills, qualifications or training do you have to make you the right person for the job?

In almost all carpentry related work, including joinery, cabinet work, planning an alteration, repair & maintenance work, even furniture or boatbuilding, I have had a lot of experience. If there is a limitation to what I can do I will tell you and advise where you should look for help.

Is there a particular aspect of your trade or industry that you specialise in?

I am very good at fine woodwork. As a carpenter I was often hired to complete finishing work on important projects. My services were used to finish Huka Lodge, a world famous fishing lodge near Taupo, New Zealand.

How do you normally charge for your service?

Most work is done with a fixed price quote. There are some exceptions to this such as repairs where the full extent of the repair cannot be determined beforehand. White ant damage is a good example of this. In these instances I usually provide an estimate based on the known aspects of the job.

How can a customer save money before you start the work? Please give 3 tips

Usually, the jobs will go more smoothly if the customer has made a lot of decisions before the job starts. Having as much planning done as possible with selections already made is a good start to any job, big or small.

What questions should a customer ask to hire the right service professional?

They should check on other work or clients the tradesman has been involved with to verify that he knows what he is doing and is reliable & honest. I have been employed by clients to remedy another trademen's mistakes and poor workmanship, and this costs the client much more in the long run.

What do you like most about your job?

I am always meeting new and interesting people, some of whom remain good friends. These start off as clients, but later invite me back for (typically) a BBQ and introduce me to their friends. I enjoy seeing people experiencing their new house/addition/renovation for the first time.

How did you decide to get into your line of work?

I always enjoyed working with my hands, so while studying university, I got a job with a building company. I have never looked back.

Why should a customer hire you over another service provider?

There are plenty of good tradesmen out there, the trick is to find them. I personally guarantee my work and take a great pride in leaving satisfied customers. They are, after all, my best advertising!

What experience, skills, qualifications or training do you have to make you the right person for the job?

I have extensive experience in carpentry and related work including joinery & cabinet making. I am good at concepts and planning. I have been doing this for well over 35 years.

What makes your pricing competitive?

My pricing is not done to be competitive with other builders, my pricing is done to give the best job that I can do. If, for example, I priced a job to compete with a bad builder, the job would probably go to the bad builder based on price. I could come back later and fix the problems created by the other builder, but the job would cost the client more in the long run. This has often been my experience.

Are there any special offers you would like to offer to Oneflare customers?

The best I can do is to offer my services to do the best job I can and leave behind a happy customer. Someone who will recommend me to their friends and neighbours.

What are the typical things that you need to know before you can provide a quote to a customer?

I will usually need a plan. Sometimes a client will have this already, but I have often been involved in the planning as well. I need to know their preferences and the styles they like. So it is good to have examples such as pictures from magazines or the internet, brochures, colour charts and samples.

Are you an insured business and do you guarantee your work?

Yes, I am fully insured against any damage or problems that could occur and I do not like to leave the job until the customer is happy. I personally guarantee everything I do. I will always come back and attend to anything that the client is concerned about but this is not something that has happened very often.