How to pick the right tradie, according to plumber Darren Clancy

AUSTRALIANS have a love-hate relationship with tradies. We need them, often at short notice, but we don’t trust them to deal with us honestly.

A plumber soldering copper pipes. Photo from THINKSTOCK. Picture: Supplied

AUSTRALIANS have a love-hate relationship with tradies.

We need them, often at short notice — the late-night plumbing disaster, the smashed glass door — but we often don’t trust them to deal with us honestly.

But are we being unfair?

Darren Clancy, founder of Pipe Perfection Plumbers in Sydney, has been a plumber for more than 30 years. He believes Australians cling to some outdated myths about tradies.

“All too often we meet people who seem to be unsure of whether or not they can trust tradespeople to do a good job and charge them an honest fee,” Mr Clancy said.

“It’s a shame, especially nowadays, when customers can easily protect themselves by asking the right questions upfront.”

According to Mr Clancy, there are four big “myths” about tradies in Australia:

1. THEY ONLY PROVIDE ROUGH ESTIMATES SO THEY CAN PUSH THE COST OUT.

“Let’s face it, most of us know nothing about what’s required to successfully complete a task like unblocking a pipe or sanding a back deck,” he said. “And what if they take breaks every 15 minutes and charge for that time?”

2. COST OF PARTS ARE GROSSLY INFLATED.

“Typically your average person on the street has no idea what a new piece of piping will set them back, so how could we possibly tell whether or not a cost estimate seems fair?”

Is your tradie billing you for his smoke breaks?

3. THEY MAKE UP A ‘PHANTOM PROBLEM’.

“You thought you just had a blocked up toilet but now they’re telling you there are tree roots in your piping,” he said. “How do you know it’s the truth or whether or not they’re taking you for a very costly ride?”

4. TRADIES ARE OFTEN LATE AND RUDE.

“People are often afraid that tradies that come into their home will be gruff, late on arrival, messy in your home and slow in completing the job.”

So, how do you make sure a tradie is right for the job?

According to Mr Clancy, the best thing to do is check their reputation — ask friends and family if they can recommend someone from personal experience, and check reviews left online and on social media.

First impressions are also important, he added. “You can tell a lot about their work ethic from the first few minutes of having to deal with them,” he said. “A tradie should be on time, or at the very least should call if they are running late.”

To prevent sneaking cost blowouts, it’s a good idea to agree on a fixed and final price. “You should be able to agree on a fixed price, especially if they have done an inspection to get a better sense of the job.”

Darren Clancy of Pipe Perfection Plumbers says always agree on a fixed price.

Also, you should always aim to secure very strong guarantees, Mr Clancy said. “What does the company offer over and is it above statutory warranties?

“Do they only offer what they are told to by the NSW Office of Fair Trading or do they offer more? What happens if you are not satisfied? These issues are best sorted out in advance.”

While you should be trying to secure a good rate, be suspicious of a low price, he warned. “If a tradesperson gives you a price that seems too good to be true, well, it probably is. A low price is not an indicator of good work.”

A low price may indicate the company has cut important costs, they may have inadequate or no insurance, use substandard equipment or have inexperienced employees, he said.

“Get a clear understanding around the longevity of the solution that’s offered. Often, an approach that will last many years but has a higher upfront cost is better value in terms of cost per year.”

Finally, if you suspect your tradie has identified a ‘phantom problem’, the solution is simple: ask for proof.

“If a plumber tells you that your blocked drain is due to tree roots in your pipes and it will take serious work, chances are they are not lying, but ask for a few photos or a video,” Mr Clancy said.

Do you agree with the tradie ‘myths’? Leave your comments below or email the writer at [e-mail]