Trades and professionals
Four in ten British homeowners say they feel nervous about hiring a builder or tradesmen, a study has revealed. Nearly three quarters of Brits said they feel anxious when it comes to dealing with workmen they haven’t met before, and almost half feel they
Despite these fears, 70% never bother to check for professional credentials, and three quarters don’t even know the last name of the person they are hiring. Less than one in four said they took up references from previous customers. Our guide can help you find honest, hardworking professionals, and here we share tips on how to make sure you find the perfect tradesmen for your self build, from the joiners to the plumbers, from the glazers to the electricians. Get a written estimate. Write down your specifications, desired time frames and budget before calling. Never approve a job from a verbal contract. Beware the VAT-free ‘deal’. A VAT-free deal means one of two things. Either the builder does not do more than £81,000 worth of business per annum, or alternatively he is avoiding his legal tax liabilities. You need to ask yourself - Is this builder large enough to be able to complete my work, Will he be around if any of the work requires repair? How can I have a valid contract if there is no proof of payment? Always get more than one quote. Price should not always be the deciding factor, quality of materials, proven accreditations, experience and reputation should play a large part in your decision. Do they offer a skill as one of many or do they specialise? Remember, cheapest is not always best. Be cautious of employing trades who have no trading address in their advert and no landline number. Get a warranty. Some traders have deposit protection insurance or offer guarantees. Check what warranties they have in place Check their accreditations. Do not be afraid to make sure their accreditations are up to date. If your trader is a member
of a registered trade referral body, such as FMB, and do not be afraid to contact the government Trustmark www. trustmark.org.uk, to make sure they have not lapsed. Pay by credit card if you can, this gives you more protection. If they only take cash, get a receipt, if it is a door knocker – be wary, get advice. Crucially, don’t do business at the door. Paying for a job up front is also not advisable. It is much better to pay in instalments as agreed between you and your tradesperson.