Whether you’re looking to build your own home, do some renovations, or simply need to deal with an emergency; at some point you’re going to need the expert help of a skilled tradesman.
But, how do you hire a good tradesman? The easiest way to avoid the pitfalls that happen when you hire the wrong tradesman is to follow this guide. It will show you how to get the skilled tradesman you need:
Reputation
The first step is to ask your family and friends who they have used before. They may be able to recommend a tradesman who was particularly good.
You can also take a look at social media sites to see what other customers thought of a specific tradesman. You’ll find an abundance of opinions on line, not all of which are positive. But, providing most are positive you’re heading in the right direction.
Experience/Qualifications
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice it’s a good idea to ask them what experience they have and what qualifications. Some work requires specific qualifications, for other work experience is enough.
Don’t forget that you can speak to previous customers regarding their experiences, this wil help you to authenticate the qualifications/experience.
Agency
You should also consider speaking to a local skilled labor hire agency. They will have tradesmen on their books that can be used instantly. You’ll find a variety of contract options, ensuring you can have the tradesman for as long as you need them.
The best thing about choosing this route is that you have the agency back-up. In short, if there is an issue you’re not dealing with one worker, you’ll dealing with a company who has a reputation to protect.
That makes it easier to rectify issues.
Quote
You should also get a quote and not an estimate for work you’re having done. A quote is a fixed price, the tradesman will have to honor the quote they’ve given you. In contrast, an estimate is a guide price, if extra items occur or the job takes longer, your bill will go up.
As you have little control over many of these variables, accepting an estimate is a bit like writing them an open cheque.
Contract
As well as the quote you should get a proper contract. You request this at the time you decide to accept the quote. The contract will state what they are doing, the price, when it will be done by, and any other relevant details.
It helps to give you legal rights should anything go wrong. The fact that the tradesman is happy to do a contract suggests that there won’t be any issues!
Payment Terms
Don’t forget you should also discuss payment terms. There is no reason for you to pay funds up front. However, if it is a big job you can pay in installments after each section of the job has been completed.
This will help both sides to have peace of mind.
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