Mates' Rates - are we asking for too much?
In light of this, we’ve asked people in the UK to reveal their typical expectations around hiring a friend/family member for trades work. So, what are the true costs of mates' rates and which trades do we value most?
In total, 81% of people expect discounts on work done by friends in a trade as you can see from the infographic above. This reveals that mates' rates are a standard expectation when work is carried out, and suggests a pressure for tradespeople to provide discounts on a regular basis. With 43% of people claiming they’d be annoyed if they didn’t receive a discount from a friend in a trade, tradespeople could be put in an unfair position, choosing between friendships and earnings.
The results suggest a lot of us are expecting discounts from friends and family in trades, but how much of a discount are we expecting? The overall average expectation of mates' rates is for a tradesperson to take a quarter off of their rate. Is expecting 25% off trade work an acceptable figure? We'll look at who is asking for these discounts next.
Overall, Millennials are the most reliant on mates' rates, with 13% suggesting they’re not able to pay full price for the work. Although Millenials are the most reliant, people between 16-24 years of age expect the highest discount, at 33%, while those over 55 years old expect a lower discount at 20% off.
People from Sheffield come out on top when it comes to expected mates' rates, with 36% of people surveyed wanting discounts. London is in second, with 34% wanting discounts, and Glasgow is in third at 32%. In comparison, Belfast and Edinburgh are the best cities for tradespeople to be paid in full, with only 1 in 5 friends and family asking for mates' rates.
It’s clear from the research that many of us want discount when it comes to our friends and family in trades, but which skills are the most useful? 41% of people would find an electrician the most helpful tradesperson to have as a friend or family member whilst plumbers come in close second, with 39%.
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