I've lived in Malta for a few years now and I am loving it – weather, culture, people – all in all a super positive experience. BUT … I am in the final stage of a building project – and I can honestly say (after having build houses in Denmark, UK and China) that Maltese builders are the most unreliable and sneaky people I've ever worked with. They generally speak less than true, break all deadlines, ignore all agreements and today the guy I eventually ended up working with, pulled all his people from my house and ask for more €€ (on top of what is agreed/paid) to continue the project, knowing we HAVE to move into the house NOW … basically putting a gun against my head. I will rather move to a hotel than accepting it … we will see how it turns out. Though, it made me think:
…Why is it like this in MT? How can they get away with it and still be in business? Is it because ALL builders are kinda agreeing to do business like this, so one is not better than the other? Is it because of the lack of public review sites (like, there is no active/fully covering trustatrader.com or trustpilot-like site for builders in MT). Is it because the market is so hot that they will always have enough to keep their pockets full, so they don't care if they piss off one client … plenty more waiting?
In Denmark or UK this kinda practice would put you out of business in no time, and in China you'd end up in jail these days … why is it not the case in MT?
by 561774
4 comments
It is a nightmare. Renovating and adding to me house has been the worst experience of my life.
Extortion is very common. What are you going to do? They know it and they fuck you.
There’s even an American here who is an outright con man. Something about the industry here brings the worst of the worst.
Not to mention it’s SO expensive for sub par work. I’d say beyond builders and most general contractors. Useless pieces of shit.
Basically what you’ve said. People are complete dicks (waaaaaaay more than anywhere else I’ve ever lived where people feel actual shame and aren’t insanely selfish and scammy as default), there’s no alternative and so people put up with it because, like you, they are held to ransom. Your story doesn’t even seem that bad compared to some l’ve heard
Every person I know who has built their home in Malta went through absolute hell exactly because of this.
>Why is it like this in MT?
In Malta, low-paid workers just don’t care about their jobs, or rather, do their job well. Can’t blame someone making 800-1.2k a month for having a hard time finding motivation.
I’m not justifying it – I guess it’s just basic human psychology. Gotta give workers motivation. Getting paid by the hour is a motivation killer in itself. Add to it a shit salary, and there’s just no way it’s going to get done well.
That’s for the workers. As for the companies – if all are shit, why do better when you still get jobs? I don’t know how that market looks at all – but every construction project seems to be like this, so I guess that’s just how it is.
It’s as you said, they’re all the same and people have no choice but to put up with it. You are probably not going to find anyone willing to finish the job someone else has started. Your builder knows this. I hate it and I really don’t know why we just sit back and take it.