How do I check out a trades person

knithappens

I have gone throught ratedpeople .com and have a few people coming around to give me quotes on getting a patio paved. I have had cowboy builders in the past and dont want to get stung again, what checks can i do to make sure that the person I ask to do the work is legit.

The persn who is coming friday, has pics of past jobs on the site and also customer comments, but what else should i be asking, looking for, also is their any place i can check with, a regulator or anything that the person is legit.

Any help appreciated, this is my first home, and have put off having a lot of work done due to very bad work being done when i first moved in.

baldelectrician

Get the guys details and google them

search seperately for phone number, builders name, post code and business name

Also a call to trading standards asking if they had any complaints about this company wouldn't go amiss

MaggieBaking

If it's a patio, he might have examples from a front drive you could go and have a look at? Then you could have a quick knock on the door and quickly say "hi, did x do you drive? Were you happy with his work? Thank you for your help!"

olly300

MaggieBaking wrote: »

If it's a patio, he might have examples from a front drive you could go and have a look at? Then you could have a quick knock on the door and quickly say "hi, did x do you drive? Were you happy with his work? Thank you for your help!"

He should have examples of his work from former customers that he is happy to show you.

If he doesn't then I wouldn't let him start.


BTW there are also sites you can check to see if the guy has any CCJ against him however you have to pay to see the results.

bobhawke

Get a detailed quote of what they're planning on doing ie: what they're going to use for sub base, how big a sub base they're putting down, what they're laying the patio on etc
Cross check it with https://www.pavingexpert.com or you could just post on their forums and ask for a good pavior in your area.

knithappens

thank you all so much, will get busy on this today

macman

Don't just trust a few pictures-they could be of anyone's work! And pictures of a finished job don't tell you that much anyway. The important part of paving is the preparation and base-the parts you can't see. If this is skimped, then the finished slabs will look fine at first-then they'll begin to sink and move a few months later-by which time the cowboy is long gone.
Ask the supplier what base he is using and make sure that it is adequate for the intended purpose and soil conditions.

Aquatronixjenny

Ask to see their liability insurance certificate.

knithappens

Thanks again, I would never have thought of all this.

27col

He's probably just as worried about your possible payment history, as you are about his ability/work ethic etc.

knithappens

27col wrote: »

He's probably just as worried about your possible payment history, as you are about his ability/work ethic etc.

True, as am due to become self employed so understand this, but i know as a childminder, anyone who would think about leaving their children with me would do the necessary checks first.

Just for peace of mind I want to make sure I can do everythign on my end not to end up with a cowboy, but rather an honest reliable, skilled person who like me takes pride in what they do