Use our free FIND A TRADESMAN service.
Do's and Don't's of Working with Tradesmen
Five Top Tips from our Find A Tradesman Service.
1) Always get a written quote.
2) Make sure you go over the work at the end and any relevant certificates are issued. Don't be afraid to point out problems now because the longer you leave it the more difficult it gets.
3) Never pay up front for the whole job. Sometimes on bigger jobs it is necessary to pay some cash to cover part of the materials etc but always get a receipt and make sure at least 20% of the value is held back until the job is completely finished and you are happy.
4) If the company does not have a landline number RUN FOR THE HILLS!
5) If a company claims to belong to an approved contractors scheme like Vetted Tradesmen, contact that organisation and verify their membership is still active. Most organisation's have an online checking facility.
There are many companies who offer a Find a Tradesman service on the web. However vetted a website says they have been, it is still really important to check out references. Do not rely on others to take responsibility for the trades’ people you employ.
Make sure you have a contract in place which covers all of the work. A basic building contract can be downloaded from here.
So use your common sense and listen to your instincts. If things do go wrong don't panic there are many organisation's, including ours, that will help for free.