When it comes to engaging tradesmen for your renovation or home improvement project you want to be sure they care just as much as you do about the process and delivery.
Creating trust is high on the agenda when it comes to renovating successfully. As most of us can’t be on site every minute of the day, how can we be sure that the tradesmen carrying out the work, won’t make a mess, annoy our neighbours or drink coffee all day? Apart from sneaking away from work every couple of hours (and potentially risking your own job), to check up on who we’ve hired, there’s not much we can do when things get going. And this has the potential to leave us out of pocket and in a mess – literally.
The majority of the time, tradesmen are qualified, polite and get the job done, but what are the red flags to look out for if someone is trying to pull a fast one? To save you worrying while you work, we have some warning signs below that will assist in telling an ordinary tradesmen from the good/great tradesmen. Looking out for these major signs, early on in your renovation journey, will save you a lot hassle.
One of the indications that you’re dealing with an ordinary tradesman could be a dirty, unsigned vehicle. This kind of tradesman doesn’t want to be recognised, as they probably have historic work that they’re not so proud of. They may change the name of the business, often, to cover up their unfinished work. Another red flag, is the state of the tradesman’s workwear and tools. If they don’t care about a neat and tidy appearance, then why would they care about doing a good job for you?
Another concern could be when they offer very cheap quotes or estimates and are unwilling to put a quote/estimate in writing, this is a major red flag. The same rules apply if they are extremely keen to start the job straight away, are unwilling to offer references and ask for money upfront – equally if they are ONLY willing to accept cash as payment.”
With the internet at your finger tips it is easy to find out how long the person has been in business and a little more history about them. Ask for their website, do they have references, can they provide numbers of previous clients? If they are unwilling to provide or assist you in this manner perhaps there is a reason for it. There are so many fantastic tradesmen in Australia who go over and above for their clients, it is simply not worth wasting your time on the questionable ones!