Someone You Can Trust

If you need someone to work on your home and you have just moved to a new area, you may be wondering how you can find a trustworthy tradesperson. Here are some suggestions:

When requesting a quote by email or over the phone, try to get a price for the job before disclosing your address, as sometimes people who live in more affluent neighborhoods are quoted higher prices than those who live in less affluent areas.

It is a normal practice to request a small deposit for the work ahead of time but, be wary of anyone asking for the full amount upfront. You should also try to get the company to agree to a fixed price for the work before they begin and have it written down in a signed contract. This will help to protect you against those “additional costs’’ that are often added on to the end of a job.

Always ask questions. An honest worker will not mind answering your questions about previous work they have done and what type of insurance they have, etc. However, if they seem reluctant to answer you or fail to provide specific examples of their work, they may not be as trustworthy as they should be, and you may want to look for someone else. It is also good to be wary of anyone who is overly pushy and wants an immediate decision about hiring them.