As a homeowner there are a few things to think about before you hire a tradesman. We’ve listed some check points that can be valuable if you haven’t had experience in hiring help before.
It’s essential that you feel trust when you hire a tradesman. When you’re parting with (potentially) a lot of money you have to feel that you’re employing someone reliable and someone you can communicate with. Tradesmen feel the same way about homeowners as they too invest both time and money when they’re undertaking a job, they don’t want to risk losing valuable business. Managing expectations is therefore key for both parties.
Make sure they’re rated
When posting your job on RatedPeople.com, make sure you thoroughly check the tradesmen’s profiles to review previous customer ratings, qualifications, photos of their previous jobs and information about the type work they do.
At RatedPeople.com it is our homeowner community that decides whether a tradesmen is 5-star worthy or no star worthy. A vital part of our service is our ratings system, which is based on quality of work, reliability and value for money. The reviews are genuine as only homeowners who have hired a tradesman can rate them. If we receive complaints about a tradesman we undertake an investigation and suspend anyone who shouldn’t be on the site. Anyone can have a bad day and receive a bad rating, but it’s when those ratings outweigh the good ones that you should be alert.
If the tradesman doesn’t yet have any ratings make sure you ask for references from previous customers.
Take your time
Talk to the tradesman over the phone or meet them in person and get a feel for their character. If you have an extensive project, you’ll meet and deal with the tradesmen for many months to come, so make sure you have a good gut feeling.
Check certificates and qualifications
If you’re hiring a tradesman for gas or electric work, make sure they’re Gas Safe, Part P or Select (for electric work) registered. Don’t be afraid to ask to see their certificate/registered number – details on how to check the Gas Safe ID card, can be found here. Checking liability insurance is something which we also would recommend. If you’re in any doubt that your tradesman isn’t covered to do the work you’ve employed them for, ask for this document.
Communicate
Be clear and up front about budgets, start/finish dates and expectations. For instance, who will be supplying material? You or the tradesman? To avoid confusion or argument about who said what, ask for a written quote and maintain communication with your tradesman throughout the work. A written detailed description of the work to be carried out can also help.
Many homeowners expect tradesmen to clean up after themselves, make sure you put this forward to the tradesman if it’s a concern of yours.
Deposit
In some cases it may be appropriate for a tradesman to ask for an initial deposit (for materials, tools and travel), this deposit should never be more than 20% of the overall job price. Be very cautious about paying your money up front as you have no guarantee about the end result or the quality of work. Just as you wouldn’t buy a car you’ve never seen, you shouldn’t pay someone for a job that has hardly begun. This is not about mistrusting your tradesman, it’s just to be on the safe side.
Are you ready to post your job now? Go ahead, fill that form out and find 3 quality, local tradesmen.
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