From time to time, things go wrong in the home – pipes need replacing, faulty or outdated wiring needs updating, the roof needs reinforcing – a litany of problems need addressing. In spite of this, you may be avoiding hiring a tradesperson to address these problems. You may be wondering how to go about finding someone who is reliable, trustworthy and who will not charge you the earth!
Here’s how you can go about finding the right person for your home improvement requirements – plumbers, builders, electricians, decorators, carpenters, landscape specialists, cleaners who will do the job well and will not destroy your budget either.
1. Ask friends and neighbours for recommendations
Your first step could be to ask around among your neighbours or others close to you about their recommendations and experiences with tradespersons they have used. You may just find the person you’re looking for.
2. Post a job
Check out your local yellow pages and commercial directories for specific tradespersons. Many websites offer these data bases for free. You can also post a job on online service websites like WhyNotCompare. Do you need a plumber, electrician, carpenter, flooring specialist, gardener, cleaning service, demolition expert, waste manager, planner or someone who specialises in roofing and guttering? Whatever your requirement, you can post a job in one or more available trades for free.
You will be informed about individuals or service providers who match your requirements. You can also read reviews of people who have used the services and compare from a community of service providers and trade specialists.
3. Check out their qualifications
Check out the qualifications of the trader, their experience with the sort of job you want done, whether they have liability insurance and if they are the member of any trade association. Pick an individual or a company depending upon the size and nature of your requirement. An individual may be able to give you better personalised service; however they may not have the resources to handle larger jobs quickly. So consider these factors before settling on the person you will hire.
4. Clarify terms
Once you have narrowed down on the individual or service provider you wish to engage, clarify the exact terms: what amount is to be paid and when? List out in detail exactly what the job entails. What is the deadline for completing the job? What if the tradesman overshoots his deadline? As far as possible, use a written contract where all the terms of the service to be provided, payment details and default details are set out.
