Hiring Advice
Read these tips before employing tradesmen
Finding a decent tradesman to work on your house can be a big headache if you don’t know anyone. That horrible feeling of “will I get ripped off” or “I don’t have a clue where I’m going to find a reliable plumber, electrician, plasterer etc” is no fun. These tips will make it easier to find a decent reliable tradesman to work in your home. Less stress, no more “stabbing in the dark” and less likelihood of being “stitched up”. You’ll soon be the one who can recommend a builder to your friends!
Be clear what you want doing
Make sure you know what you want them to do. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the ins and outs of it all, but you’ll be much better off if you can clearly describe the end result you want. You’ll be doing yourself a favour too because the clearer you are, the easier it is for the builder, plumber or whoever to quote accurately.
Recommendations
Check the tradesman’s ratings on Goozzby to find out what experiences other customers have had; these are the tradesman’s online word of mouth recommendations. Professionals are rated on quality, reliability and value, meaning you can make a more informed decision on who to hire.
Depending on the size of the job, ask to view the tradesman’s portfolio, speak to previous customers and if possible, visit previous jobs.
Qualifications
By law, all tradesmen must be Gas Safe registered to carry out gas work. Registered tradesmen carry a personal ID card, so check their licence number and expiry date. When tradesmen join, Goozzby checks for Gas Safe certification. Only Gas Safe registered tradesmen are able to purchase these types of job.
Tradesmen need a Part P qualification to do most electrical work in your property. Ask to see proof of your tradesman’s Part P credentials to avoid having to contact your local building authority for certification.
Quotations
Ask for a quotation for the work described, this differs from an estimate, which is a rough price and not binding. The quote should include a detailed job specification, price, conditions and a payment schedule.
Taking a sample of at least three quotations can can help you spot any that seem unreasonably low – if this is the case, it could be the sign of a tradesman who wants to win the job, but will make up the true value by adding on extra costs during the course of the build, or is using cheaper materials that may not be up to scratch.
Find a Tradesperson with Goozzby
Finding a decent tradesman can be real headache if you or your family or friends don’t know of anyone that has done reliable work in the past. If you have just moved to a new area or you simply haven’t needed a tradesman before, finding a competent and reliable tradesman can be a bit daunting! However, there are some common sense tips that when followed will make it easier to find a decent tradesman to carry out work in your home, with less stress and a much reduced chance of being ripped off.
Follow up References
Decent tradesman will be happy to supply references, but so will cowboys! Do not take references at face value, always follow them up by giving them a call and even ask if you can come and have a look at the work if applicable. In addition if a tradesman says they are members of any professional associations, check that out too by visiting the association website. While asking for references you may as well check they carry the appropriate insurance cover at the same time. Always ask about any warranty supplied for the work, so that if anything goes wrong they’ll come back and fix it. This is another reason for choosing on recommendations, tradesman that rely on recommendations for business will be happy to correct any problems.
Never Hire Tradesman who Cold Call
Be extremely wary of tradesman that turn up at your door as “they are working in the area” and “they can do it today”! Ask yourself why a decent tradesman would need to knock on your door for business. If they’re decent and reliable, they’ll have plenty of work via recommendations without cold calling. If someone knocks and tells you they’ve spotted a problem with your home that needs fixing and offer to fix it for you, thank them politely and get a reputable tradesman to come and take a look!