Tradie-quette: What to Do When Hiring a Tradie
Whether you’re putting in a fence, installing a pool, or planning a full renovation, finding the right tradie to match your needs can be tricky. You want someone who is not only talented and thorough, but also easy to work with and able to help you achieve your vision.
We’ve put together some handy tips to help you navigate your way from finding the right tradie to ensuring a happy result!
Do your research
This is the first and most crucial step to consider when hiring a tradie: doing your research. Your friend might have told you about a contractor who did a bang-up job on their house, but it always pays to do a bit of independent research yourself before making a decision. Reading reviews on any business is a great way to find out about other customers first-hand experiences to help you determine whether a prospective business can provide the exact service you need. Consider factors such as reputation, service area, services provided and cost before making a choice.
Communicate every detail
Once you’ve decided on a tradie, it’s up to you to give them a thorough brief for the job. Whether it’s a simple fix that needs to be a done or a full renovation, make sure to clearly outline every detail about the job, including what you require and what you expect upon completion. In fact, it’s best to provide photos of the space as it is currently – show several angels and close-ups on the details that will need to be addressed. Additionally, if you have any photos that represent what you would like your end result to look like, you can submit those as well to give the tradie a better idea of what you want.
If you’re not entirely sure, most contractors will be happy to consult with you to help you both form a clear picture of the brief and expected timelines. Most importantly, make sure you and the tradie are on the same page before any work commences.
Get a quote
Whether you’re on a shoestring budget or you’ve got a bit of cash to spare, always get a detailed quote from your tradie before the job goes ahead. A written quote will help you understand exactly where your money is going, and also make recalculating costs easier if factors like materials, time spent or job complexity change down the track.
Be flexible
You might have a crystal clear picture of the job and timeline in your head when you a hire a tradie, but roadblocks like delays in delivery of materials or unforeseen obstacles (discovering asbestos during a renovation, for example) can pop up at any time. Be prepared for changes in schedule or scope of work, especially for bigger projects.
Be there when the job is done
If you can, take time off work so you can be at home when work is being done. It’ll make the tradies’ lives easier (allowing them to come and go more freely throughout the day), and it’ll allow you to make on-the-spot decisions – so you won’t have to come home to unexpected surprises.
Show your appreciation for a job well done
When the job is done and dusted and you’re happy with the result, consider leaving the business you used a great review. It’s a rat race out there, even for tradies, and positive online recommendations can have a huge impact on a small business’s reputation and success – so show your appreciation by putting in a good word.
