Potential customers locating a tradesman should always be wary when hiring a tradesman to perform jobs for you at your home or business premises.
To check if a tradesman is genuine, please verify their business credentials and business insurance, check for memberships in any relevant trade associations or government-endorsed schemes, ask for and contact recent references, and look at reviews and previous project examples. A genuine tradesman will be able to provide documentation for these and should be transparent with you about their business practices and history.
If Gas Safe, HVAC, Electrician or another trade that requires accreditation the tradesman should ALWAYS have the certificates readily available to be shown to you, if they do not, do not risk hiring them and find a tradesman with the valid accreditation for the job.
You can yourself check on the relevant website for validation ie for a gas safe engineer you can visit – Gassaferegister.co.uk to check their status.
Ask to see proof of public liability insurance, qualifications and accreditations.
If a limited company you can look them up on the government’s Companies House register to check their business standing.
Ask for 2 or 3 recent references for similar work, It is always best to speak to the references yourself rather than relying on written testimonials, ask the references about the quality of work, supplying pictures, punctuality, and overall satisfaction.
A professional online presence can be a good sign, but please don’t rely on social media posts or reviews as your sole basis for trust.
Meet the tradesman first:
Have an initial meeting to discuss the job, prices, deposits and assess their professionalism and suitability.
If you have any doubts or feel uncomfortable, it is best to look elsewhere.
Get a detailed quote and ensure you source at least three detailed quotes to compare, and make sure the quote clearly outlines what is included also making sure the tradesman adheres to all safety procedures and regulations.
