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If you’re planning a renovation, build or long-term project then it’s important to find the right tradesperson for the job. When it comes down to it, the success of your project relies on the experience, expertise and quality of work your tradie can supply. The right tradesperson for the job will respect your project and vision, no matter how large or small, and will advise you on technicalities and small changes that might make the job better in the long run. In fact, research from hipages found that the average Australian engages seven tradies per year for all kinds of jobs around the home, both big and small, which equates to $73 billion spent each year by the nation on tradies. However, there’s a few things you need to know before you hire a tradie.
We asked Stuart Tucker, Chief Customer Officer at hipages, for his advice on doing your due diligence before making a commitment to a tradie.
1. Check how much is the job going to cost
As with any service, it’s important to shop around to understand what your job is going to cost you. You might be surprised at what price offers you receive from different tradies for the same job. Getting three quotes is a good starting point for establishing an idea of what tradies are charging in your local area and what’s going to work for your budget.
2. Check their reputation
Recent research from hipages found that 77% of consumers would like to see recommendations from other people before hiring a tradie, to help with the decision making process. Even tradies themselves understand the importance of reputation for their business, with 63 per cent agreeing that websites providing customer testimonials are a positive tool. How a tradie approaches your project, and the quality of the work they deliver should be more important than their fees. One of the simplest ways to check this is through online feedback.
“Word of mouth has been a key driver of business for tradespeople for many years, so it’s not surprising that online reviews, the digital evolution of word of mouth, are now becoming so valued by homeowners and tradies alike,” says Mr Tucker.
3. Check if they’re insured
Once you’ve sourced a tradie you’d like to work with, always check if they’re insured for both property and personal damage. Different trade industries require different insurance but your tradie should provide written proof of insurance policies at your request. Tis protects both you and your tradesperson.
4. Check if they’re licensed
You wouldn’t let an unqualified surgeon work on your body, so you shouldn’t let an unlicensed tradesperson work on your house.
“At hipages, we connect homeowners with licensed and qualified tradespeople and we use best practice verification tools, such as license and ABN checks to ensure that the 130,000 registered tradespeople meet our standards,” says Mr Tucker.
5. Check what’s included and what’s excluded
Research has shown that 45% of Australians have been left feeling frustrated about unexpected costs incurred during a job, so it’s important to understand what’s included in the cost upfront. Some may only include labour, while others detail labour and materials. It’s also important that you understand the tradie’s terms of service, such as whether there’s warranty on their work.
You might also like:
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