Finding a decent tradesman without getting screwed over

twopenny

I keep a look out for trade vans or people working on a house. May watch for a day or two.

If the house is pristine and there;s someone working on it you can bet the owner picked the best but if you can have a word with the owner even better.

I've picked a good painter, a good fencer, a good tree lopper and a good plumber this way.

Also who is doing a fair bit of work around your way? If a number of people in the same streets are using a firm then it's on recommendation.

As soon as they say 'it's more work than you think' (I've heard a lot of that for a job that's taken me 40mins) or they want paying daily run a mile. Sadly review sites and such are quickly sabotaged by friends voting for a tradesman if not himself.

Mickey666

twopenny said:

Also who is doing a fair bit of work around your way? If a number of people in the same streets are using a firm then it's on recommendation.

Very good point.  I found the builder for our first extension this way and he was excellent.  His company sign kept cropping up outside houses all over the village.  We were there for about 20 years and his signs were usually somewhere to be seen.  I think he became the 'go to' builder in local vicinity and worked hard to maintain his good reputation.