How to Choose a Tradesman
Many years ago, the house I lived in developed a small wet patch in the dining room. We called out two plumbers to give us a quote. The first told us the drive needed digging up and that the total repair cost would run into hundreds of pounds. The second fiddled around with a pipe in the kitchen and fixed the leak in minutes for £35.
So, if you need a tap fixing, the stairs and landing decorating or the roof patching up, how do you avoid the cowboys and find an honest trader who will provide a good, reliable service at a fair price?
Personal recommendation is always the best way forward. If you have family, friends or neighbours who have recently had work done and are happy with the results, get details and give the tradesperson a call. Alternatively, ask someone you have previously used. They often know others in related trades.
But if those you know and trust can’t help, where do you look? Obviously theWire is a great starting point but Trading Standards and Stiring Council might be able to supply you with a list of trades people who have undergone vetting procedures and complied with legislation. In addition, check out businesses registered with TrustMark, a not- for-profit scheme licensed by the government and supported by consumer protection groups.
Firms displaying the TrustMark logo have had their technical skills, quality of work
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and financial status checked and have also signed up to a code of practice that includes insurance, health and safety and good customer care. Visit
trustmark.org.uk to find TrustMark approved tradespeople within 50 miles of your postcode.
There are also other websites around, designed to pair you up with suitable trades people in your local area. Businesses normally pay to have their services listed, so there’s no guarantee as to the quality of work, though the sites do include testimonials from past customers. A couple I visited were RatedPeople and
mybuilder.com. I found the latter site particularly easy to use.
When making your choice of tradesperson, ensure you adhere to the following best practice:
•
Set out a detailed, clear brief and get at least three written quotes. Make sure you are comparing like with like.
• Ask for a landline phone number as well as a mobile number.
• Ask for references and if appropriate visit previous jobs or look at photos of past work.
•
Only pay for work that has been done and not by advance payments, though it is reasonable to be asked to pay a fair percentage of any materials bought in advance.
• Check that any warranty offered is insurance-backed.
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
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