How to find the right tradesman in your area
Have you ever wondered what you need to know to find a tradesman in your area. We have put together a few tips to help you and hopefully guide you through a safe and pleasant experience.
Ask a friend
Ask around for recommendations on trusted craftsmen, chances are that somebody will be able to recommend a tradesman of good repute. There is a saying in many trades that you are only as good as your last job and often for skilled craftsmen one job will follow another based purely on recommendation alone. These people can often be very difficult to book as their diaries are full but even if a tradesman is very busy they will often be able to recommend others who could be of assistance. Sometimes it can worth waiting for the right builder. It is never a good idea to rush into any project in a hurry and you need to be sure that your builder of choice can be depended upon.
Ask for a reference
Craftsman should be able to produce references and it is always a good idea to ask for a written reference and possibly a phone number of a previous client. Don’t be embarrassed about this. As a potential customer you have the right to see what sort of a person or company you are dealing with. Do this before you become committed and gain your own piece of mind and if the contractor is legitimate they will be pleased of the opportunity to promote themselves. Visit their website and look at their profile page and check if they are qualified in their trade to undertake the work and how long have they been in business?
Public Liability
It is your responsibility to check that you tradesmen has Public Liability insurance in place so if anything goes wrong you need to know that your builder is covered for this eventuality. A good friend of mine recently had a problem when his neighbour employed a builder to install an RSJ unfortunately for everyone concerned he neglected to mention he did not have the neccessary experience of structural works nor was he insured. I will leave the rest to your imagination
Set a budget
Before you have found your skilled tradesman, you may have already an idea of what kind of project you are working to and there are several questions you can ask yourself in preparation:
• What can you afford
• What do you need to achieve within this budget
• How much time can you devote to keep costs down
A contingency should always be considered, in the region of 10-15% of the overall budget as costs can change, other problems arise so make sure when you first set your budget you are not at your top limit.
Always get a number of quotes and shop around for materials. If you can work with a builder he may be able to source materials cheaper and have trade contacts.
Bear in mind that the cheapest price may not always be the best. You will get what you pay for.
Is the work guaranteed?
In law, a guarantee is considered to be “an agreement to provide some benefit for a set period of time in the event of the goods or services being defective”. At their most basic a guarantee provides surety and there is a lot to be said for piece of mind. Ask if the work is guaranteed and how long for.
Working to time scales
A properly planned project in theory should come in on time but this will not always be the case so be prepared for the worst. If you plan effectivly wih your tradesman then their is no reason why a schedule of works cannot be drawn up and kept too.
This will enable you to live around any work that is carried out particularly if major work is being undertaken.
Things to be aware of:
Last minute changes
If you suddenly decide that a light switch is in the wrong place or the kitchen lay out needs to change these decisions have real knock on effects with possible financial implications
Communication
Its a good idea to familiarise yourself with the schedule of work and keep talking to your tradesmen. That way you will be able to keep pace.
Clarity
Find out what is included in in the prices you are quoted.
Its no good arguing over costs half way through your project . Both parties need to be clear from the onset exactly what is expected befor any work commences.
Contracts and agreements
This is dependent on the size of your project and is subject to variation. Generally speaking larger more established companies will have formal contracts in place however it is acceptable to ask for a form of written agreement between yourselves and smaller family run and local-based operations. It is up to you to judge if a contract is necessary.
For a significant project or in any instance where you are required to hand over a large sum of money as a deposit I would strongly advise a contract.
What should a contract contain?
• Schedule of work
Start date, Completion Date
• Labour costs
• Payment Terms
• Details of Guarantee
• Material costs
Overview
Much of what I have written is plain common sense. Inviting somebody into your home can sometimes be stressful experience however following some of the tips above can help you prepare, find the right tradesmen for the job you require and end up with a professional job done.
I hope you have found the information of interest.
Remember if you need general advice I’m always happy to help.
Email me at markj.evens@yahoo.co.uk
To download our free mini guide to finding and working with a local contractor just click the link:)
Tips on Finding a good local Tradesman
