Finding a decent tradesman without getting screwed over

Flatulentoldgoat

Any suggestions on how to get a reasonable tradesman and not a shark or billy bodge? Bad experiences with Checkatrade, I've joined a local FB and asked for recommendations but it's mostly people recommending themselves / spouses / uncles / nephews. All I want is a shower enclosure replaced and better ventilation.

rob7475

what trade are you looking for and where are you based? It's a struggle finding a goods trades person these days. Many are forced to sacrifice the quality of their work so they can compete on price with the cowboys. 

Flatulentoldgoat

bump. Any advice?

Flatulentoldgoat

Okay, like should I pay up in full upfront or what? What do I need to look out for if they're trying to pull a fast one. How do I know who's reputable or not etc

JIL

Word of mouth, the best ones are usually booked up well in advance. The one fitting my kitchen and doors/skirting is booked up until November. He must be good as people are happy to wait.
Ask people you know at work or friends who they use, then get some quotes.

bob_a_builder

Flatulentoldgoat said:

Okay, like should I pay up in full upfront or what? What do I need to look out for if they're trying to pull a fast one. How do I know who's reputable or not etc

Paying large amounts up front is a definite no -no !

See this thread for some examples of what you shouldn't do   - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6173385/plumber-fraud

madlyn

If you are on FB, do you have a spotted........ wherever it is you live?
In the last year I have had a new boiler and a new bathroom and both the people who did this were recommended on my local spotted...
I looked on their FB page and contacted people who had used them asking about their experiences.

Rosa_Damascena

Flatulentoldgoat said:

Okay, like should I pay up in full upfront or what? What do I need to look out for if they're trying to pull a fast one. How do I know who's reputable or not etc

Are you nuts?

Anyone who asks for full payment upfront has spotted you a mile off. If they want material costs, that can be paid for. If its a long job - and yours isn't - stagger the payments so the contractor can afford to pay their labourers a wage. The full labour cost must only be handed over on the satisfactory completion of the job.

Mickey666

This^^^, This^^^, This^^^.  And That ^^^ 

NEVER pay for anything up front. No reputable tradesman would even ask.  I wouldn't even pay material costs because reputable tradesmen will have a credit account with suppliers.  Heck, even I've got a Jewson credit account which gives me up to 8 weeks credit and I'm just a DIYer.  The only time I pay for materials is when I already know the guy (or gal ) is good and it helps keep him below the VAT registration threshold so there is no VAT on his labour costs (usually only appropriate for sole traders).

If the job is a long one, then stage payments are fine, but NEVER for more than the value already delivered.  Imagine the builder could run off one day never to return and be sure you've only paid for work already done and delivered.  Eg, for an extension, payment when the foundations have been poured (and signed off by building control) would be appropriate.  If the builder then disappears you haven't lost anything and could get someone else to continue the work with no loss of money.

No reputable builder would ask for anything more.  If they do, then there's your warning bell ringing loud and clear that it's time to say no and find someone else.

Finding reputable tradesmen can be a nightmare, so when you do treat them fairly and squarely.  Try to work from personal recommendations and be prepared for them not to be able to start tomorrow morning because the good ones are always in demand and very busy.  If they can start tomorrow and ask for money up front . . . well, you've got the idea.

Risteard

Mickey666 said:

I wouldn't even pay material costs because reputable tradesmen will have a credit account with suppliers.

Frankly this part of your reply is a nonsense. Just because they have an account isn't a guarantee that they will be paid for the materials, and they still need to pay the supplier even if they don't get paid.

Mickey666

Well that's your opinion, but I've had loads of building works done in different houses over three decades and have never paid for materials in advance, so it's hardly nonsense.  You're right that having a credit account doesn't mean they'll be paid by their customer, but by that logic what about their labour?  Should that be paid in advance as well?

Even if I agreed to pay for materials, I would still not pay until I was in possession of them.   Thus, if they wanted me to pay them £2000 to buy bricks I would only do so when they were delivered to my site.  As I said, the golden rule is never to pay for more than you have already received value for.  That way, if they disappear over night you have lost nothing.  No reputable builder will object to this, unless perhaps the customer is a known cowboy or bankrupt.

But you carry on and pay out whatever you like, I'm only offering advice based on years of experience, you don't have to follow it.