The Gold Coast Bulletin

How to nail your search for a tradie

- CLAUDIA SLACK

Searching for a tradie can be risky business. Everyone you know will have a recommenda­tion for someone to do the work, but it’s hard to tell if they’re really the right person for the job. Whether you’re looking for someone to do anything from maintenanc­e, to large-scale renovation­s, to simple repairs, it’s important to know how to do your

experience­d tradie. Here are some simple tips to help you on your way.

Assess your tradie’s advertisin­g If your tradie is advertisin­g in newspapers and in dedicated online directorie­s like Buy Search Sell, it’s a good indicator that they have nothing to hide and that they’re a trustworth­y tradesman. Anyone can create a Facebook page, so be wary of tradies

and ensure you look into their website, reviews and other corroborat­ing sources. When you’re searching for the perfect tradie, make sure you have a good look at their advertisin­g. Ensure they provide valid license numbers or

how many years experience they have to ensure that your job isn’t anything they haven’t seen before. For most businesses, they will advertise the areas they specialise in, for example, a gardener might emphasise that they specialise in lawn maintenanc­e. Ensure that your job is suited to the tradie’s wheelhouse before proceeding. Finally, take a look at the primary location of the business and check they’re able to travel to your area.

Get multiple quotes

Once you have narrowed your search down to a few tradies, it’s time to pick up the phone and ask multiple reasons. Firstly, you can cross-reference what the tradie is proposing they’re going to do about be wise to look into it. Importantl­y, pricing, to ensure that you get the best price.

Do your own research

It’s important to educate yourself as much as possible on the work you need doing to ensure you’re able to

ensure that the planned solution is in your best interest. Look up everything you can on your particular issue so

for something you don’t need. A good tradie will explain everything and help you understand exactly why they’re doing what they’re doing. Ultimately, however, the tradie knows best - a tradie with plenty of experience may propose a cause for the issue or a solution that you weren’t expecting. While it’s important to have an understand­ing of what the tradie wants to do, you should be able to trust their

 ??  ?? From renos to repairs, it's important to know how to do your own research to find experience­d tradies. visit
From renos to repairs, it's important to know how to do your own research to find experience­d tradies. visit

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia