Trades People Wesbites

buglawton

Debran wrote: »

Do you use Facebook? I have to confess that I am not a member so I know little about it but I do know that I can look at (but not post on) the local Facebook group for my village. Members often ask who knows a good plumber, decorator, garage etc and get replies from other members who live locally suggesting people they have used and done a good job.

Perhaps you could check if there is a "group" for your neighbourhood/district.

Funnily enough I once used Facebook to find a plumber. His daughter had put up a page with some examples of his work, plus the page made it obvious he was based locally. I still call him in to do small jobs.

Nathaniel_Essex

I use checkatrade and Rated People as you can see the persons work and get a good idea about their professionalism depending on how detailed their pages are.

Found the painter and numerous others on checkatrade as I moved to an area I literally knew no one and far away from family and friends. Also found the dead cheap handyman everyone would love to know (just keep him away from the more delicate work).

The only time I got screwed over is when I ask for an recommendation and the person recommended his uncle. It was to hang the TV on the wall and the guy did such a botched job I had to pay someone else to essentially do it again.

When using sites like checkatrade, I pay close attention to the reviews and pictures they post.

Doozergirl

phill99 wrote: »

As a kitchen and bathroom fitter, I agree with what you say.
However, My van isn't sign written (mainly due to it attracting tool thieves). But I don't advertise and I am booked up until March.

No sign written vans here either

southcoastrgi

I drive a plain van as well

harryd7

I live my checkatrade.com I got my bathroom builder and painter from there. Always check real reviews before I even called them for a quote and view. Of course you need to check their work by seeing references too

trailingspouse

phill99 wrote: »

As a kitchen and bathroom fitter, I agree with what you say.
However, My van isn't sign written (mainly due to it attracting tool thieves). But I don't advertise and I am booked up until March.

Point taken phil99 - but when you're starting from zero you have to have something to work with. If someone ticked all the other boxes, the lack of livery wouldn't bother me - but if I wasn't sure then it would be another reason for not going with them.
And if they turn up with blue plastic overshoes ready to slip on as they come into the house, they've got the job!!
Our plumber (who has spent a lot of time here - one large bathroom, one shower room, and new rads throughout) has worked at pretty much every house on our street now, thanks to having his number on his van.

KateLiana27

I had a not great experience with someone we found on such a website. Was I going to leave an honest review about someone local who knew where I lived and exactly how to get around my house? Erm, no. Very different scenario to a fairly anonymous Tripadvisor review for a restaurant, and this must be taken into account when reading reviews.

I've had good luck with using established small local companies (based on seeing their shops around for a while) and gut instinct approach (largely based on people turning up reasonably promptly, and being polite and professional). When we moved into our house 7 years ago, we had a new kitchen, bathroom, electrics, central heating installed, new entrance, walls stripped and painted throughout, flooring put in, blinds fitted, all by different local companies, and had good experiences with everyone. And everything has held up well so far.