It’s the time of year when thoughts turn to home improvements – putting right all those problems that have accumulated during the winter; getting cracking on that new kitchen; or finally ordering that long-wanted conservatory. Trouble is, hiring builders and trades people is a minefield nowadays – everyone has horror stories to tell about “rogues” and “cowboys”. So how do you identify a trustworthy trades person?
I don’t want to get caught up in the ongoing debate as to whether mandatory licences should be brought in for small, domestic builders and trades. There are pros and cons to such a step for both the industry and the customer. It is a fact, though, that home-owners are often left in the lurch with half-completed jobs, ripped off by unscrupulous trades people, or left with shoddy workmanship.
Over the years the Dentons sales team has built up relationships with hundreds of companies involved in all sorts of trades, who advertise their services in our annually updated printed directories and our national online directory. Most of our advertisers are long-term clients, so we have come to know them as reliable and reputable, and the majority also use our digital marketing services to good effect.
HOW TO RECOGNISE THE GOOD GUYS!
Your first port of call, therefore, when seeking a local builder, plumber, electrician, tree surgeon, glazing specialist etc. etc. should be the Dentons directory. It’s easy to pop in your postcode on Dentons.net and click the mouse for a list of the desired service specialists in your area.
That’s the easy bit – but once you have a name, have checked out the firm’s website (very important!), and think it all looks hunky dory, what do you do next to ensure your chosen service provider is going to deliver the goods professionally, honestly and on time?
- Ask around – neighbours, friends, family, colleagues. If they know of the trades person you are keen on employing, getting word of mouth recommendation is probably the most reliable way to judge the workmanship you will get.
- You can use those trader comparison and review websites if you wish of course, but don’t trust them completely. Some sites allegedly charge trades for being featured on the site, and pander to them by removing negative reviews. There have also been cases where trades people use false names to rate themselves positively on review sites, or ask friends and family to post good reviews. Twitter feeds and Facebook pages are a good way to investigate how traders are interacting with their customers, and perhaps you will find they have an Instagram account featuring pictures of their work.
- Once you’ve done some “homework”, it’s time to get in touch with the trades person or company, to explain what you want done and obtain a quotation. Initial contact over the telephone is fine, but its best never to accept a verbally delivered quote, even for a small job. You want an email at the very least for your records, and definitely a proper piece of paperwork for big projects!
- You’re entitled to ask as many questions about the company as you like before you hire them. To be thorough ask for names and testimonials from previous customers, and contact them for references. Any trades person who is reluctant to answer all your queries could be a doubtful prospect.
- Make sure the trader has an office address and landline phone number. Also ask whether they offer a money back guarantee, and have liability insurance.
- When you request a quote, be as detailed as possible about the work that needs to be done, and ideally get at least three quotes. You shouldn’t necessarily pick the cheapest – there are factors such as quality of materials, the time frame and skills to take into account.
- There’s no central database where you check trade licences, and some trades like roofing and landscapers don’t have any set standards to adhere to, but you should do your best to ensure the workers are qualified and experienced in the work you need done, and that health and safety standards are enforced.
- Once a job’s agreed, you should ask for a written contract agreed by both sides, offering protection if anything goes wrong, stating a timeline (with a penalty clause for late delivery) and agreed payment terms.
- Never make advance payments – only pay for work that has been done.
If you are unfortunate enough to have a run-in with a rogue trader, you can get help from the consumer section of the Citizens Advice Bureau, who can pass your complaint on to the appropriate local authority trading standards service. The CAB also has an excellent list of tips on how to spot a cowboy builder, or what to do if your builder is harassing you.
Dentons.net has a list of Trade Associations on the Informational Guides Section, which you may find useful. It’s always wise to check whether your chosen trades person is a member of his/her relevant association.