How to find a trader?

tellme_why

Hello Forum,
I have to paint and decorate 3 small beds+hallways.

The job may include removal of wallpaper in one room in the event I don't do DIY.

I am new in the area / not knowing local traders so I posted my job in Rated People and other similar sites.

However my posts only attracted two offers.

For the removal it was a total different story with an "auction type site"; there I got 20+ offers and smashing good price.

Any advice regarding what's the best way to find value for money local traders?

Kind Regards

SuzieSue

It is very difficult.

The following is a useful guide but you still need to be very careful. Even if the trader has a TrustMark etc some traders can play the system although most don't, but you don't know which are the honest ones:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/finding-a-trustworthy-trader/

Also, be very careful with Rated People. Read the following thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/811327

happy35

I usually ask firends and people at work who they have used and were they happy with the job.

Would asking neighbours or colleagues be an option?

Mocha61

We recently asked for a trader to do a job at my daughters house, that was a very costly mistake, he had no idea about building regs and the local council said the work he did was dangerous and worrying and had to be done again. I had asked on a local forum type site, just happened that we picked the bad builder, so please choose carefully.

catoutthebag

Don't use mybuilder. Full of cowboys, apprentices etc. Be wary of how 'free' they seem to be and also 'you get what you pay for'. Don't trust feedback. 90% is fake. Go on personal recommendation

giraffe69

D you have a local parish magazine? That has provided 4 good contractors and no bad ones for me from the adverts. Recommendation from a neighbour also a good move.

robatwork

trustatrader, rated people and mybuilder are no better than using the yellow pages.

Better is to use your local trading standards list - my council publish one. Also Which local is much more difficult for a trader to spoof reviews.

Even better than that is a recommendation.

thebananapimp

catoutthebag wrote: »

Don't use mybuilder. Full of cowboys, apprentices etc. Be wary of how 'free' they seem to be and also 'you get what you pay for'. Don't trust feedback. 90% is fake. Go on personal recommendation

Woah, what changed from your post just a couple weeks ago https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/69192521#Comment_69192521?

catoutthebag wrote: »

Put an ad on mybuilder. Explicitly say you're on a budget and perhaps give a ball park of 1.5 working up to 2k during negotiations stage

Bad experience?

Plasterer

catoutthebag wrote: »

Don't use mybuilder. Full of cowboys, apprentices etc. Be wary of how 'free' they seem to be and also 'you get what you pay for'. Don't trust feedback. 90% is fake. Go on personal recommendation

90% fake -utter rubbish, if you use your brain and look at the feedback, how many feedback, when the feedback was left etc you will see that 99.999% are genuine. I have 56 100% positive feedback comments from customers spanning over three/four years, and quite proud of the fact. On my builder a new tradesman to the site has the chance to get three recommendations from previous customers which comes up as positive feedback but you will note that it also shows they haven't won any jobs.

Ebe_Scrooge

Asking neighbours is always the best way - word gets around.

See if your local community has a Facebook page - ask on there. In my small rural community, the decent tradesmen are finding they're getting more work than they can deal with via "word-of-mouth" recommendations on Facebook ( even though they don't actually advertise).