Does anyone have a good painter and carpenter in Budapest ?

Ebowens111 wrote:

All we need is carpenter , electrician, Plummer and we could take over the market.

The wall fell almost three decades ago. Do you not think it is a little naive to believe nobody thought of that already? And tried it?

Do consider, this is not the USA. Things work very different here. For one thing, if you are buying, renovating and flipping, you have a business in Hungary. Which has all the tax liabilities of having a business (again, it does not work like the USA), and if you are doing any sort of construction business the reporting requirements are jaw dropping with recent changes in the law. My general contractor now says he spends more time filling out paperwork than ever before and spends more time doing that than checking on his crew on a project. And I have not even gotten into the cultural issues of having any sort of business in Hungary (another can of worms).

Here is a shortage of labor in Hungary. Many mechanics and experts are no longer Hungarian.
Post an ad on www.profession.hu  can also give  advertising in English. Unfortunately, the painter and water supply technician in Hungary speaks Hungarian. Like Italian in Italian, French in France.:-))

Well like in the US there are ways to get things done. I do many rehabs dealing with the historical departments. Believe me nothing is worse than that. I have found good people in Budapest  it's just you have to stand and babysit them to do the job which is my issue as I have to get back to US. They are able to do the job but once you leave well they stop. It's not uncommon as I did building in Costa Rica and have a business there so a third world country like CR is no comparison to a civilized country like Budapest. Sorry CR but CR  will never change. Count your blessions for those of you that live in Budapest. Good people. To the other person that says there's a shortage. You are right. Hungarians are leaving for other parts of Europe I. Search for higher wages than 5.00 an hour. The government is to blame. 27 per cent VAT and you cannot run a country. Thanks  for your view as my wife is Ukraining so I understand about what you speak of. We are bringing Ukraining workers in. End of story

It is better to hire workers from Ukraine or other Balkan countries. I can not find a normal car mechanic, electrician, although I'm local and I speak in Hungarian. My car is three weeks since there is no mechanic in the service. A retired car mechanic may do it, but it is slow.

Ebowens111 wrote:

I have found good people in Budapest  it's just you have to stand and babysit them to do the job which is my issue as I have to get back to US.

The issue is again cultural.

Hungary is a relationship based society, where the group is more important than the individual. So by hiring individual painters, plumbers, etc you are extracting them from the group which means you have to individually handle them. Which is why, in Hungary, you should hire a general contractor, who brings in his group. I never had a problem leaving workers brought in by my general contractor, who was not only the top dog who keep the group in line and working, but had a long term relationship with his crew -- call it loyalty (something you will never have with short term workers).

Also, this relationship and group mentality makes is way into everything and every transaction here, in even small ways. For example, you said you would supply the paint. A cultural faux pas. Again, because of social groups and relationships here. That is, the painter who takes a job then buys the paint from his relative who works in a paint store. Thus, spreading the benefit. If he takes a job and does not buy paint from his relative, the painter gets social and relationship blame and feedback. Thus, even if it is the painter's personal interest to take a job, they won't take that job if it damages their social relationships. Unless, of course, you pay an extraordinary amount of money. Then the group approves for "doing one over" on the foreigner.

And of course, that is why hiring "foreign" workers (e.g. a painter from Ukraine) is easier for other foreigners (e.g. Americans), because neither have any local relationships to damage.

This has changed in recent years. People here also make money. The Hungarians, after the English, are the most indigenous nation on the continent. In other European countries, social relations are important, not just in our country. In the summer, the workers were busy pre-contract for summer. This is not America. It is not easy to find workers in France or Germany.On the other hand, you need to get acquainted with the Hungarian people. The Americans believe that everything is like in America. This is another country, another continent. We do not want to follow American lifestyle. If someone knows in Hungarian, they can find a worker. If I go to France and want to prevail in English, I will have difficulties.

Put advertise :www.hungarytoday.hu. Contractors will apply. Contract with a company

Contractors: hollobt.hu , bloxx.hu  ,otthon-felujitas.hu,  balazsbau.hu

http://vizgazvillany.hu/property_maintenance

Thank you for post on hiring outside Hungary to the person that told me about his car. We are lucky we want no cars as this was a big reason to move to Budapest and live in the city. Great transportation. This persons post was honest and helpful. My wife is from Ukraine so we are bringing in a person to work. Please to all the people reading my ad. Do not take offense that I am putting down Hungary, I am not otherwise I would not have purchased a Flat here. We love the culture and people and we have Hungarian friends. Weather anyone likes the US or not is NO  interest to me. As for the person that said I need to learn the language I would say this, how long did it take for you to learn a second language.?  We are trying but it's a hard language to lean and we have only been coming to Budapest for one year, not living here yet. So give us a little break. Thank you to the nice people on this site,

Don't give up and enjoy the stay. :-))

Ebowens111 wrote:

My wife is from Ukraine so we are bringing in a person to work

Just be sure you get all the proper work visas for this person. Ukraine now has visa free travel to the EU, but is still not in the Schengen zone, and so does not automatically allow for work in a Schengen country like Hungary without a work visa.

Ebowens111 wrote:

As for the person that said I need to learn the language I would say this, how long did it take for you to learn a second language.?  We are trying but it's a hard language to lean and we have only been coming to Budapest for one year, not living here yet. So give us a little break.

If you want to do business or even just renovate your home you do not have to learn the language. Just hire a professional translator and interpreter to help you with language and cultural issues. Not difficult.

Tamás wrote:

This has changed in recent years.

Depends on the industry. In something like IT relationships matter less. In construction, they still matters quite a bit.

www.trustworthypainter.eu

Daniel,

Thank you fir your reply. Do you have your own tools? Do you live in the city? The first Flat will be Blaha Stop next to Marriott hotel.
I have Viber to communicate free
I have messenger as well for free phone communication

Ed owens Richmond Virginia you will find me on Viber.

Thank you fir your reply

I am in Budapest with my wife while she is teaching for two semesters at the university.  I grew up in the construction business.  Was a contractor for years, then started flipping houses, and the started a handyman business and started buying rental property.  I can pretty much do it all and am getting bored in the city with sightseeing while the wife is working!  Plumbing, electrical, drywall, tile, I am an excellent painter, etc... I can do it all.  I know your post is old so I hope this gets to you.  If you don't have any work now, maybe you know someone who does?  Heck at this point I would be happy with just doing grunt work and clean up.  I am honest, and reliable, and have a good work ethic.  Drives me nuts to see these people standing around on the jobsite here!  Thanks and hope to hear from you.

JP

HandymanJ wrote:

I would be happy with just doing grunt work and clean up.

In case you did not know:

Government passed a law some time ago: most construction work, even which may simply include handyman work needs to be daily accounted for and recorded in a government database for regulation compliance, income and VAT tax purposes.

Even grunt work requires a business license and tax booklet to record your work and give customers receipts.

Anything else is considered "black work" and can get heavy fines if "caught".

And I of course assuming your visa includes a work permit.

Welcome to Hungary......

Hello Ed,

Sounds interesting. We have lived now for 1.5 years in Budapest (I am from Germany, my wife is from the US). I just started my carpentry business again here in the city and have a lot of work at the moment.

Maybe I can help you, but we would have to look at the scope of the project and dates.

***

Kind regards,
Robert Baumgartl

JP

Thanks you for reply.  If you are still here please contact me at ****. Working on rehab of second Flat. It’s not had to find good people you just need to pay them more to work. Not a problem. I have seen the “Group” GC working their men like slaves and keeps them housed all together while they are watched 24 hours a day. All I am saying is if someone wants to work outside the Group and start a business, let me know. it’s not hard to escape from Slavery.
I love what I do and that is to design and work with good workers that are talented at what they do and make a fair wage. The GC Of The Group makes all the money. To one post twice the cost than in US.
Great country and people in Hungary. Let’s all enjoy what we do.

Viber as well Ed Owens ***