Finding a good tradesperson for your home renovations or minor home repairs can be a bit like a lottery, unless you are careful.
You could consult the internet or phone book or advertisements in the local paper or take note of the leaflets that seem to proliferate in the letterbox. But it’s still flying blind.A better idea is to listen to people talk and ask friends or neighbors who they would recommend.
Of course if you’ve just moved into a new area, you won’t know too many people. When you move to a new area, as we did a few years back, we were in the position of not knowing anything about the tradesmen of the area.
So then you can only choose one of the above options, get a few quotes in, find out availability and go from there to make a decision. Often is a person is readily available it could imply they’re not reliable, which is why they have no work and others won’t hire them. Of course you don’t want to have to wait forever for them either. Try and find a happy medium.
Another hint is whether they turn up on time for the quote or they don’t. Some never turn up at all. No explanations, nothing. If they can’t be reliable in turning up on time for a quote, how could you trust them with the job?
However if a person rings and explains they are running late and makes another time that’s a good sign. It shows they take responsibility.
Make sure with tradesmen that they have a current builder’s or electrician’s or plumber’s license number. That way you know they are accredited and not some fly by night or do it yourself person who isn’t qualified.
Some people get caught out with shoddy work because they choose to go with the cheapest quote and end up with no claim, when work is shoddy because the person who did the job has disappeared. So check things out thoroughly before you start and don’t automatically assume the cheapest quote will be best.
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