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

Despitefor don’tthey tookOur professionals,make professionalguideareup evensure these referenceshiring.can you know fears,and help find Less credentials,the here fromyouthe 70% thanlast perfectfindwe previousnever nameone share honest,andin tradesmenbotherof four threetips customers.the hardworkingsaidon person quartersto how checktheyfor to your fromGet a self the written build, glazers estimate.fromto the the electricians.Write joiners downto the your plumbers, specifications,before calling. Never desired approvetime framesa job and from budgeta 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 makeIf your sure trader theiris a accreditationsmember of a are registeredup to date. 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.