Essential Tips for Finding Tradesmen

Most of us at some point in time have realised that we need to call in a professional to carry out some work that we're needing done at home. For many people, this can be a potential nightmare, as continual stories of rogue traders and scam-artists still circulate when it comes to finding a good tradesman. The best thing to do is prepare yourself with a plan for finding a good tradesman and stick to it. There are some essential tips you can consider when finding a good tradesman and following these should hopefully secure you a successful relationship with the person carrying out work for you.

Always Listen to Word of Mouth

One of the most reliable forms of leaning about a prospective tradesman is to listen to what other people have to say about him or her. Many people find it difficult to get a reliable and professional tradesman and so when they do they're happy to share that with other people. First you should speak to family, friends and work colleagues to see if they're familiar with any good tradesmen. The beauty of this is that you can take their word as truth as they're unlikely to recommend anyone who has carried out work unsatisfactorily for them. You can also go online and look up local tradesmen in your area. See what other people are saying about them and whether they'd recommend them to others. If you're still not sure, why not call up your local governing body and ask them for their opinion on who is a good tradesman for your particular job in your local area.

Use as Much Local Information as Possible

For most people, the first step in finding a local trades person is to look at the Yellow Pages or a similar local directory. This can be an invaluable source of information on initially located who is available in your area, but won't unfortunately tell you much about their qualifications or skill levels. There are certain tricks to looking in the Yellow Pages that you should consider however. Firstly, look for adverts that have a dedicated landline number as well as a mobile number. Often these will be people who have been in business for some time and who probably have a local office someplace that you can visit. Also, look out for any official seals of approval, such as an official trademark from a governing body.

This again will often mean the tradesman has been in business for some time and you are unlikely to encounter a rogue trader this way. If the Yellow Pages ad is large and also contains a website link, why not go there first and check out some of their information before contacting them. Then you can be prepared with questions to ask when you speak to the tradesman. If you're not using the Yellow Pages and are relying on local newspaper adverts or adverts in shop windows, you're putting yourself more at risk of finding someone who may not be as reliable as you desire. If this is the case, try speaking to local people and find out if anyone has any information on this tradesman. If that fails, why not ask the tradesman directly for the contact details or at least some photos of previous work carried out for customers.

Avoid Warning Signs When Possible

There are some obvious warning signs that you can avoid when you're trying to find a good tradesman. Many tradesmen who are considered good won't approach you directly trying to make sales. They are usually far too busy for that, so when someone appears touting for a job, be wary and consider your decision very seriously before agreeing to work with them. If they only give you a mobile phone number and are unwilling to put anything in writing, take this as a definite warning sign and don't proceed in any further dealings with them. Many unreliable tradesmen will offer discounts for cash and will be unable to give you a full quote. This again is a sign that you should walk away and look elsewhere for a reputable tradesman. If you successfully combine the warning signs tips with the tips on where to look for a good tradesman, you should find these to be the essential aspects in securing work from a reputable and satisfactory trades person.