Which tradesmen recommended

Traders average ratings for - 4. Mary S on 11th November Charley Macreadie on 11th November Caroline Miles on 11th November Quality work , friendly character and decent value. Could not ask for more. Tariq Rana on 11th November Andrew Willshear on 11th November Find a Removals Firm with instant quotes from quality removal firms in your local area.

Remortgage with the UK's leading fee-free mortgage broker. Find a Planning Consultant in your local area to help you with a planning application or appealing a refusal. Find a Tradesman that you can trust from your local area with our partners at Checkatrade. Find an Estate Agent in your local area and review how successful they are at selling homes. Most tradespeople are honest, competent, and hard working.

When you are looking for a tradesperson, how can you ensure he or she is trustworthy? Recent research from our annual Homeowner Survey shows that finding a reliable tradesperson is the main obstacle that puts people off from carrying out home maintenance and improvement jobs. Here are our top tips for how to find the best tradesmen and women to help you get your project under way. One of the best ways to ensure quality service is to choose somebody who has been recommended to you by a good friend or family member, especially if you have seen their handywork first hand.

We have partnered with Checkatrade as they have an extensive nationwide network of trades which you can search for free. They run strict background checks on tradespeople before they can become members. If people knock on your door and offer you unsolicited services always turn them away. There are lots of con artists who operate in this way, and no reputable trader gets work by cold-calling on strangers.

If you ensure you get a number of quotes for every piece of work that needs doing, you can better judge the true price. You are also less likely to get ripped off. It can be astonishing how much prices vary.

Also, each time you speak to a builder about the work, you will learn more about it — and will be better able to judge if a tradesman knows what they are talking about, or is spinning a yarn. Approach at least 5 tradesmen from the off so that you have enough quotes to be able to compare. Then call up the referees and speak to them directly about the work and service of the tradesman; if it is a big job, you might want to go and see the quality of his work.

Ask for a detailed, written quotation with start and finish times and agreed payment terms. Seek references, speak to previous customers and if possible visit previous jobs.

Use established firms - make sure they have an office address and landline phone number. Be wary of firms only willing to give you a mobile number. Only pay for work that has been done and not by advance payments. But where materials need to be bought in advance, it's reasonable for the trader to ask you to pay a fair percentage of these costs as the job progresses. Always use a written contract - it offers you protection if anything does go wrong.

Agree any stage and final payments before work starts. How to find a reliable tradesman and avoid those kitchen-sink dramas. Need a job doing about the house. Worried about employing a cowboy? Child abuse - advice and support Advice for people affected by child abuse. Law and courts Legal system Claiming compensation for a personal injury Discrimination Parking tickets Civil rights. Top links Making a small claim Help for victims of rape and sexual violence.

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England This advice applies to England: England home Advice can vary depending on where you live. Find a trader and check you can trust them This advice applies to England Print. There are organisations that can give you a list of traders, including: your local council schemes that recommend traders trade associations If you need a builder, find out what other checks you should do before you ask a company to do the work. If you find a trade association, go to their website and look for a list of members.