It’s a pretty daunting concept, really – hiring a total stranger to demolish and reconstruct parts your beloved home – and there’s so many horror stories about terrible tradies to turn anyone off the idea of ‘renos’! But never fear, because this article will give you the tips and tricks to picking the right tradesman for the job, so you’ll never worry that he doesn’t have welding safety equipment in his toolbox on the day you need a welder, or that his dog jumps straight off the ute and digs right into your freshly sown lawn (well, you might be on your own for that one!)
Ask for a CV and a face-to-face interview before employing your tradesman.
In any other situation, any employer will undoubtedly check the references of their potential employee. You need to do the same thing with tradesmen. Check their skills, their qualifications – tradies in Australia go through extensive training to get qualified, and you can generally rest assured that most qualified tradesmen will be professional and skilled in at their work. Take note of their attitude, level of professionalism and commitment to their job. All of these things will affect the end result that you are paying for.
Go local.
Hiring a local tradesman can be more helpful than you may think. There are low travelling costs, they will have a knowledge of where to obtain supplies and materials and they will also probably have an idea of local council rules and regulations, which can come in very handy if you are planning a larger job. It’s generally pretty easy to hear of a good local tradie through word-of-mouth, so ask your friends and family if they know of anyone.
Get at least three quotes.
This will help you find the most affordable person for the job. Be wary of online quote request services, however, as you may find that the tradesmen listed on this sites are not always properly trained or qualified.
Get some samples of past work.
By looking at some pictures of work that the tradesman has done previously, you will be probably be able to determine their work style and preferences. If possible, seeing the work in person is even better. This way, you can make sure that the job will be completed to your satisfaction.
Confirm that they have public liability insurance.
Accidents happen, no matter how skilled or experienced the tradesman is. You need to know that public liability insurance in place, just in case someone gets injured or your property gets damaged during the process.
When you narrow it down to these five simple steps, choosing a tradesman for your job, whatever it may be, shouldn’t seem like such a daunting task. Last, but definitely not least, it is important to trust your gut feeling whenever choosing to employ someone to do any job. It is your home after all, and potentially thousands of dollars, so if something doesn’t feel right, that probably means that it isn’t.
Good luck!
Image Credit: Khunaspix – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net
