Coming up to 3 years owning my home, which has always needed a few repairs and some refreshing, and still have got barely anything done. Unfortunately, it turns out both my partner and I have absolutely no knack for DIY, but we do have funds. The problem is, I just can't get anyone to take my money!

At this stage, we are wanting some wallpapering done as well as some wall treatment for salt corrosion and replastering.

Every few months, I reach out to a couple of decorators, which I find on Facebook or via their vans while I'm out and about. In the past, I've used checkatrade as well (took as a year and a half to find a plasterer).

Usually they'll give me a call back after my initial query. Sometimes we've made an appointment to get a quote, but I either keep getting bumped for other jobs until I eventually stop hearing from them, or they no-show the appointment, or they just never make contact in the first place.

I understand that there is a lot of demand for trades and that big or emergency jobs are prioritised, but there must be a way people find people to get these jobs done.

What am I missing or what do I need to be doing?

Of note, we have a lot of availability so it's not as if we're being difficult about booking anything.

(We always have a running list of multiple small jobs that need doing as well - is there a way to find an all-rounder for repeat custom like landlords seem to have - even if we have to pay, like, an annual fee or something?)