My builder or nationaltradesmen.co.uk

lazygee

Has anyone inhere used either nationaltradesmen.co.uk or my builder.com
or any of the other finding tradesmen site like check a trade and which one is best.

Thanks in advance

phill99

None of them.


Get recommendations from friends and family.

GDB2222

I've used checkatrade and the guys have been good. Not cheap, though.

garrysibbald

Which Trusted Trader.
https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/about/why-use-which-trusted-traders/
Which? thoroughly vet the company/tradesmen more thoroughly than any other organisation - we know we have been through the vetting procedure.
You also have the backing of their ombudsman dispute resolution scheme if you have any concerns or disagreements with the company and as Which? are a consumer organisation you know that they are on the side of the consumer getting a fair deal rather than just looking after the tradesmen.

garrysibbald

phill99 wrote: »

None of them.


Get recommendations from friends and family.

That's all well and good when friends and family can recommend someone but people turn to the referral sites when they are stuck for who to use.
Sites like Checkatrade have a lot of good businesses on there but there are also some rogues so get written quotes and ask for the names of customers who left reviews so you can check that they are genuine.
We find that most of the people who get caught by rogues or have problems could have avoided it by exercising a baisc level of diligence prior to employing someone.

phill99

garrysibbald wrote: »

We find that most of the people who get caught by rogues or have problems could have avoided it by exercising a baisc level of diligence prior to employing someone.

Mmmmm... Due diligence. Not executed by 98% of home owners when employing tradesmen or contractors.


Then they whinge when it all goes wrong.

BananaRepublic

phill99 wrote: »

None of them.


Get recommendations from friends and family.

I used CheckATrade for my bathroom. I had to throw them out and prepare to take them to court. CaT said they did not owe me money and the work was okay. Trading Standards agreed it was sub standard, and I was owed compensation, I eventually got some money back, but lost out. These agencies are not your friend. They charge the trades not you.

The way to get a good trade is to ask friends and neighbours. There are local pages on Facebook etc, just make sure the recommendations aren’t from the trade’s family.

Yes some trades on CheckATrade etc are okay but good trades usually have a waiting list and don’t need someone to hawk their services for them.

onomatopoeia99

BananaRepublic wrote: »

Yes some trades on CheckATrade etc are okay but good trades usually have a waiting list and don’t need someone to hawk their services for them.

Plasterer I got on one of the sites a few years ago told me after the job was done (to a very high standard btw) that he only used the site when he had a cancellation and needed to fill the time quickly.

keith969

phill99 wrote: »

Mmmmm... Due diligence. Not executed by 98% of home owners when employing tradesmen or contractors.
Then they whinge when it all goes wrong.

Exactly. Go for local tradesmen whenever possible, they have a reputation to uphold and often don't need to advertise their business. The guy that did my last two bathrooms has a 6 month waiting list - why? Because he's so good. Quality work, not over priced although not the cheapest. Those internet sites will get you sharks most of the time.