How to choose the right tradie for the job

HIRING tradies can feel like a real gamble, especially when you don’t know what questions to ask when searching for one. In reality, however, the more effort you put into this process, the more likely you’ll find the right one for the job.

Tradies

HIRING tradies can feel like a real gamble, especially when you don’t know what questions to ask when searching for one. In reality, however, the more effort you put into this process, the more likely you’ll find the right one for the job.

hipages, the leading trade marketplace, has streamlined the process so that you are back in control when it comes to hiring trusted local tradies to get the job done. It will save you the hassle of ringing around by instantly connecting you with trusted local tradies with quotes. Over 2.5million Aussies have already used hipages to find tradies for their homes making it the #1 place to find the right tradie for you.

Here are a few things you should think about before hiring a tradie.

What does the right tradie look like?

The right tradie should:

• Hold the appropriate qualification
• Be licensed
• Have a good reputation in the marketplace
• Be competitive on price

By doing your homework and screening your tradie thoroughly, you’ll minimise risk. The following guidelines will ensure you have the right crew working for you:

Are they legitimate?

An ABN or Australian Business Number is issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and helps identify a business. Searching the ATO database allows you to see when a business was registered and whether that registration is still valid. Be wary of anyone who has a string of different businesses in their name, as they could be trying to cover up a history of shonky ventures.

Do they have a licence?

Have you hired a tradie without so much as asking about their qualifications and training?

For many trades, it is actually compulsory for them to hold a licence, no matter the value of the work they carry out. This includes sparkies, plumbers, builders, gasfitters and anyone doing refrigeration and air conditioning work. Many other tradies also need a licence to carry out work in your home, but this does vary from state to state, so best to check with your local licensing authority before you start getting quotes. A licence gives you peace of mind that the individual or business has the right qualification and training for your job, so get into the habit of asking the question. hipages has assurance quality control put in place to ensure all businesses are legitimate and certified for their respective work.

Are they insured, just in case

Don’t ever assume your tradie has necessary insurance cover as it could turn out to be a very expensive assumption. Remember, even the best tradies make mistakes or have accidents. Before starting the job, make sure your tradie is insured and ask to see details of their insurance certificates. They should hold public liability insurance, which protects them against third party injuries and property damage and the costs of a legal claim.

When is a quote a quote?

Tradies need to be able to produce a proper quote for you. Anything jotted on the back of a cigarette pack or random slip of paper is not really going to cut it. You should be looking for headed paper with the businesses logo, ABN, contact details and the date. Otherwise look for a summary of what your job entails, an itemised list of materials and labour costs including GST. They will also often detail how long the quote is valid for. hipages would allow up to three local tradesmen contact you and offer a quote. It’s an instant connection between the client and contractor to give you an accurate quote.

What is their reputation?

Any tradie serious about marketing themselves knows they need to leave a chain of happy customers. Not only is this free advertising for them, it’s also likely to develop a steady stream of referral business - otherwise known as word of mouth. Getting feedback from former customers is an excellent way of checking their bona fides. You could ask your tradie for references or follow up online testimonials and recommendations. hipages allows you to review all our tradies to check out other homeowners recommendations and ratings for you to get a better sense of who you could potentially hire.

Do they have an online presence?

In this digital age most businesses have some sort of online presence - a website and/or social media listing - which gives you the opportunity to check them out. They could have images of their finished work to browse, reviews and testimonials from customers or a listing of the services they provide.

Do they care?

While this may seem like an obvious one, it’s important for your tradie to care about the job.

Anyone serious about their business will be dressed decently, answer their phone, turn up on time and be polite - hey, a smile is a bonus. They should also be answering all your questions and making themselves available for follow up or sending through a quote. Not a lot to ask for, but if they don’t tick those basic boxes think twice.

Be a good customer

Like any relationship, it is not all about the tradie - you also have a part to play. Reaching a successful outcome means making yourself available to meet, answering your phone, being polite and briefing them accurately on your job.

Ask the right questions...

So, remember to ask the right questions, like:

• Are you licensed for my job?
• Can you show me a certificate of insurance?
• Do you have references I can follow up?
• Can I see some examples of your workmanship?
• Can you provide an itemised quote?

This will help you weed out the bad eggs so you hire the right person for the task.

To cut the gamble out of your decisions, simply use hipages via the app or website for instant connections to trusted local professionals. hipages is the #1 place to hire tradies across Australia, because it works.

For more information or to hire your next tradie, visit hipages.com.au

Originally published as How to choose the right tradie for the job