FINDING A TRADIE
FINDING A TRADIE
Now price isn’t everything when finding the right tradie and I have heard some horror stories from other mums at school pick-up time.
I think everyone knows to get a few quotes before choosing a tradie, but how to compare those tradies (and their quotes) is not as clear-cut … and we know how the story goes “if you pay peanuts, you get ……. “.
Based on our experience with tradies, here are some things (other than price) you should consider when comparing them:
- Communication - which tradie did you have the best conversation with? Who do you feel understands your expectations best? Good communication with your tradie is a must.
- Quality - ask what job they recently finished and if you could see photos of that work. You can also ask to call the client of that last job to get a reference.
- Credentials – it’s best to work with licensed and insured tradies. It means they have the right skills for the job and you are protected if they injure themselves while doing the work.
- Professionalism – when you ask for a written quote, they should be able to provide this for you. If they can’t, then they’re probably not the best choice. Another easy test of their professionalism is taking note if they turned up on time to quote.
- Payment – check that your tradie is happy for payment to be made at the end of the job. If they want it all paid upfront, choose someone else. Having said that, some tradies, like Landscapers, have to outlay significant money buying materials for your job so it is reasonable for you to make a part-payment during those types of tasks.
- Timing – One of the biggest problems with tradies is around timing - turning up late, delaying jobs, dragging out jobs, not finishing jobs on time and the list goes on. Spend time talking with your tradie about the strict timeline you have for this job and how they are going to manage it to ensure it’s done on time. This simple conversation might uncover a complete disconnect in expectations.
