Tradie – Which is the Right One for Your Job
Tradie – Which is the Right One for Your Job
Whatever job you are wanting to get done, choosing the right tradie to suit your needs is a daunting and often time consuming task.
Will they be prompt? Reliable? Efficient?
There are a few simple questions you can ask to put your mind at ease when engaging a tradesman?
“How long have you been doing this kind of work?”
I know this seems obvious, but in so many cases experience is a great indicator of how passionately a tradie feels about their profession. It also shows how well they will do the job. The longer they have been doing their job, the longer they have been picking up tips and tricks to make everything run smoothly. These come with time and experience and can’t be faked.
“Will you be doing the job?”
This one is a bit weird, but it can be the difference between a job well done and something you are not happy with. Small business owners, particularly those in trades, will often take the time to further their working knowledge of their profession. They know that the buck stops with them so they will ensure that their client is always happy. For larger companies, its hard to know who will be showing up and what they will be doing. This can be quite daunting as it can feel like there is nowhere to turn if something goes wrong.
“Are you insured? Can you provide me with copies of your insurances?”
Any tradesman worth his salt will tell you that job insurance is one of the most important parts of any business model. What if something were to happen whilst on they were on your job? What if one of their staff members hurt themselves? Any tradie you engage should be able to readily, and happily, produce up-to-date certificates of currency for public liability insurance at the very least. This shows that they care about their business and, by extension, your property and the job at hand.
“Can I have a written quote?”
It is very important that you know what you are spending your money on. An itemised quote will allow you to see how your money is being spent what steps will be taken. Most, if not all, tradies will be happy to provide you with this.
“What schedule will you follow? What steps are involved?”
Asking a tradesman to outline his procedures, the steps he takes from a job’s start to its completion, gives you insight to both his working knowledge of his profession, but also his organisation. The more organised your tradesman is, the more efficient he will be completing your work. When asking for a schedule, you’re also asking for completion date. Establishing a clear start and end date is important in ensuring a timely completion of your job.
“Is there a warranty on the work you do?”
You will find that the answer here is very dependent on the type of work being done and the tradesman doing the job. Most tradies will be happy to come back for minor adjustments or touch-ups within a reasonable time frame. If this is a deal breaker, always confirm before the job starts.
