nexy

Use case

Get an electrician to call when scaffold is removed

Building work often runs to unpredictable schedules, and you need the electrician to reconnect overhead cables only after the scaffolding comes down. A fixed callback date risks the electrician arriving too early or you missing the window entirely.

Use one Nexy thread for one agreement: Phone me when the scaffold company confirms they've finished taking it down. The other person receives a message in the chat they already use, without installing anything or creating an account; reminders stop for a task that is already done.

Try this in Nexy, freeStarts on the web. The other person installs nothing.

What it looks like

An example of people making one clear agreement and confirming when it is done.

How to do it

  1. Start one Nexy thread for the agreement. Explain to the person coordinating the building work that you need a phone call the same day the scaffold is removed, because the electrician must reconnect overhead cables immediately afterwards.
  2. Agree who will receive confirmation from the scaffolding company—usually the site supervisor, building owner, or someone who visits the property regularly. The other person receives a message in the chat they already use and needs no new account.
  3. Ask that person to phone you within two hours of the scaffold company reporting they have finished, so you can contact the electrician while the window is still fresh.
  4. Give the electrician a provisional heads-up that you will call them for a same-day or next-day visit once you receive word, so they can keep some flexibility in their diary. A reminder is most useful while you could still act, usually the evening before.
  5. When you receive the call confirming the scaffold is down, phone the electrician immediately and agree a time that same afternoon or the following morning. Once the task is done, there are no more reminders for that completed task.

Why it works

One clear agreementOne agreement per thread keeps this specific commitment separate from the rest of the conversation.
People choose the ownerAn unclaimed task is announced to the whole group. Nexy does not choose a person or assign it for you.
Done means no remindersA person who has already completed the task is left alone. Finishing is different from receiving another reminder.

Where it stops

Keep the agreement narrow and let the people involved make the decisions.

One agreement per threadUse this thread for the specific agreement, rather than treating it as an entire project.
No automatic assignmentNexy announces unclaimed tasks to the group; the people decide who will act.
No reminders after doneCompleted tasks are not a reason to keep reminding someone.

Questions people ask

What if the scaffold company delays by several days?

The person holding the arrangement simply waits until the scaffold company actually reports completion, then phones you at that point. You are not committed to a fixed date, so there is no wasted journey or missed appointment. When you receive the call, contact the electrician with the real timeline. If the delay is substantial, send a brief message to the electrician explaining the hold-up so they know the job is still coming and can adjust their own schedule accordingly.

How do I make sure the person remembers to phone me?

When you first agree the arrangement, ask them to repeat back what they will do and when. Write the commitment down in a message so both of you have a record: for example, "You'll phone me within two hours of the scaffold company confirming removal." A day or two before the scaffold work is due to start, send a short reminder confirming the arrangement is still in place. Keep the request simple and tied to one clear trigger event rather than multiple conditions.

Who should coordinate this if several people are involved in the building work?

Choose one person who will definitely hear from the scaffold company—usually the site supervisor, building owner, or main contractor. That person becomes the single point of contact responsible for phoning you. Avoid asking several people to share the task, because each may assume someone else will do it. Confirm the arrangement with that individual directly, and give them your preferred phone number. If they are unavailable on the expected day, agree a backup person in advance and inform both.

What if I miss the phone call when it comes?

Ask the person to leave a voicemail or send a text message stating "Scaffold down today" if you do not answer, so you receive the information even if you are briefly unavailable. Check your phone regularly during the window when scaffold removal is likely. If you do miss the call and only see the message an hour or two later, phone the electrician immediately; same-day availability may still be possible. Agree with the coordinator in advance that they will try you twice if the first call goes unanswered.

Can I ask the electrician to phone the scaffold company directly?

Most electricians prefer not to chase other tradespeople they do not know, because it adds complexity and they have no existing relationship or authority to request information. It is simpler and more reliable for someone already coordinating the building work to act as the single messenger. The electrician can then respond to your direct call with confidence that the information is accurate. If the electrician does agree to phone the scaffold company, give them the correct contact name and number, and confirm who will answer.

What if the scaffold comes down in stages over several days?

Clarify exactly which stage triggers the phone call—for example, "when the back section is clear" or "when the entire scaffold is gone and the skip has left." The electrician needs access to specific cables or wall areas, so identify that precise point with the scaffold company beforehand. Ask the coordinator to confirm that particular milestone rather than just reporting that some scaffold has been removed. This avoids the electrician arriving too early and finding the work area still blocked by remaining scaffold sections.

Should I give the electrician a rough idea of when this might happen?

Yes, tell the electrician the scaffold removal is provisionally scheduled for a particular week, but that you will phone them with exact timing once it actually happens. This allows them to keep some capacity available without blocking out a specific day. If the week changes significantly, update the electrician so they do not turn down other work unnecessarily. The goal is to give helpful context without locking anyone into a date that may move. Confirm you will call them as soon as you hear from your coordinator.

What counts as confirmation that the scaffold is actually down?

The scaffold company should tell the site supervisor or building owner that they have finished removing all sections and taken away the scaffolding lorry. Physical confirmation—someone seeing the empty space where the scaffold stood—is more reliable than a phone promise that they are "nearly done." The coordinator should wait until the scaffold company has completely left the site before phoning you. If the electrician arrives and finds scaffold still in place, their wasted visit may attract a callout charge, so accurate confirmation matters.

Do this with Nexy

Start free on the web. Tell Nexy what the two of you agreed on and it takes it from there: it asks, reminds whoever still has to act, and tells everyone when it is done.

Start free

No app needed to begin, and nothing at all for the other person.

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Arrange an electrician callback when scaffold is removed