Seven Questions You Must Ask When Choosing A Tradesperson by Craig Phillips

When you are planning on undertaking a project within your home, the excitement about seeing the end result can soon become overshadowed by the task of choosing the right tradesperson. Worrying about shoddy work, being ripped off or hidden costs can easily lead to anxiety and for some of us, this can even put us off getting the project started!

To help you choose the right person for your next project, check out my top seven questions to ask any prospective tradesperson…

1. Can I get a written quote?

Always get the price in writing from your prospective tradesperson, the price should be fairly accurate, though do bear in mind that it is just a quote and should the job escalate, the price will too. Have a chat with the tradesperson and agree that should costs start to change from the agreed price, you will be notified before work continues.

2. Can you supply customer recommendations?

Word of mouth is the best advertising there is and if your prospective tradesperson can’t supply customers that are happy to recommend their work, then think twice about using them.

3. What recent projects have you worked on?

Try to get a feel for the size and scale of projects the tradesperson has worked on previously. If your project is large or complex, ask how they would manage it and try to find out the approach they would take to tackling the job. The majority of tradesmen also have smart phones and take photos of examples ask to see them.

4. What will I need to do before work begins?

At the very least you will most likely need to clear the area of your stuff but check if there is anything else they are expecting you to do before work begins.

5. Will this be your only project?

Tradespeople often balance several projects at once, moving from one to the other while waiting for materials or other trades to their bit. If this is the case with your project, chat it through with your prospective tradesperson. If managed properly the process should not interfere with your work, but do find out whether there will be periods where your project will be inactive.

6. How long will the job take?

While you will need a level of flexibility (even the best planned projects can throw up surprises), try to ascertain a rough timeline for your project. This is especially important if you need to take time off work.

7. What if I am not happy with the work?

Any tradesperson worth their salt will only ever want their customers to be happy with the work they do. If, however, the work done isn’t up to scratch or doesn’t match your brief, you need to know that your tradesperson will remedy the works to both your satisfaction.

Whether it is a new bathroom or a two-storey extension, if you are inviting a tradesperson into your property, you want to be sure they can be trusted, that their work is of the highest standard and that the price quoted is accurate.

An easy way to find a trusted and vetted tradesperson is to find them using Checkatrade’s free and easy to use search facility. Simply type in the trade you are looking for, i.e. plumber or the company name if you know it, along with your postcode and hit search. A comprehensive range of reputable tradespeople local to your search will appear – helping you to easily find the right tradesperson for your project!