How to find and hire a tradie for your job

What to ask when hiring a tradie

Does the tradie have a website? 

The first stage in finding a tradie is to check out their website. 

“A professional website with transparent information, positive online reviews, and photos of their sign-written vans and tidy uniforms are all good signs," Davies says.

How hard is it to contact the tradie?

The next step is to contact potential tradies on the phone. Phone numbers should be easily obtained through an internet search and professional websites.

"Be mindful of the tradie's professionalism on the phone," Davies advises. "If you’re able to strike up a positive relationship before you hire them, it’s a good indication of how the job will run."

Is the tradie trustworthy?

While online reviews are a great indication, Davies says word-of-mouth is even better.

“If you know someone that has had a good experience with a tradie, then why wouldn’t you use them?” he says. “The tradie will also appreciate the reference and ensure that your experience is consistent."

Can you trust tradies' online reviews?

“The more online reviews a business has, the better the odds of those reviews being accurately positive or negative," Davies says.

But always take online reviews with a degree of caution. “Often tradies will have their friends post reviews online,” he says.

 

It's important to do your research when selecting a tradie.

Tradies' licenses and qualifications

Do tradies need to be registered or licensed?

Licence and registration requirements differ by trade and by state. 

"Some trades require licences, and I would always recommend using a licensed tradie," says Davies. "Other trades are not licensed and therefore there’s no real governing body."

If you’re planning any major home improvement work, always look for licensed builders, carpenters, plumbers and electricians. Depending on the value of the job, you may also be legally required to engage a registered builder.

Check out the Victorian Building Authority website for more details. 

What about membership bodies and industry associations?

A tradie having industry body membership can give you a level of confidence that a trade will be reputable, plus some support should things go wrong.

The Master Builders Association of Victoria, Master Plumbers Association, National Electrical and Communications Association and Housing Industry Association are all good places to check.

"Membership to these bodies is voluntary and there are membership costs involved," says Davies. "The general purpose of these bodies is to support and educate members to build a high-quality trade network. Trades who choose to associate with these bodies are generally motivated to provide a high-quality service and use their membership as a selling point."

What qualifications do tradies need?

While some trades don’t necessarily need to be licensed, you do want your tradie to be qualified. 

Qualifications are different for each trade, so do your research online. If in doubt, call the relevant governing body, like the Master Plumbers Association, to find out which qualifications are required.

 

If jobs aren't within your capabilities, like changing light globes in high ceilings, it's time to call the professionals.

Getting a quote from a tradie

How many quotes should you get for a job? Is three still the gold standard?

When it comes to quoting, Davies says although there is no magic number, three is a pretty good rule of thumb. 

"For a small job, two quotes might be sufficient, but for larger jobs where there’s more to lose, always get at least three," he says.

Even if you’ve had a tradie referred by friends or family, it doesn’t hurt to get a comparison.

What should be included in a quote?

The more detail in a quote, the more it can be trusted. 

"A single-dollar value at the bottom of a page is nowhere near sufficient because it leaves room for a tradie to tell you post-job that some things weren’t included – such as waste removal," says Davies.

"Insist that the written quote includes all the specific details that are important to you. This way you can refer to the quote if any questions around the scope arise once the job is complete."

What about allowing for cost variations?

Ideally cost variations should be avoided. The smaller the job, the easier they are to avoid. 

"Usually on domestic jobs, tradies will quote for a certain amount of work," says Davies. "If things change and more work is required, the quote will be revised to suit."

This revised price should always be discussed and agreed to before proceeding with the works.

 

A good rule of thumb is to contact three tradies before deciding on one.

What else should you ask?

How much detail do you need to give your tradie?

The more detail, the better. If you have photos that can help clearly illustrate what you want, show them. 

"Not only will it improve the chances of the trade providing what you want, it will strengthen your argument if you’re not happy with the final outcome," says Davies.

That said, a good tradie will understand you’re not an expert and ask questions where details are lacking.

Will the tradie guarantee the work?

Davies says it’s paramount to always ask about guarantees before agreeing to hire a tradie.

Products that are installed will be warranted by the supplier or manufacturer, though all claims should initially be channelled through the tradie.

There are also expectations set by the Australian Consumer Law that will hold a service provider accountable for certain situations. Visit the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission for details.

Does the tradie have insurance?

Insurance is one of the most important elements of finding a tradie, says Davies.

"Public liability is a non-negotiable, as that will cover any property damage that may be caused by the tradie," he says.

If in doubt, ask to see evidence of insurance cover.

Do you need to sign a contract with a tradie even if it’s only a small job?

It is always advisable to get everything in writing, advises Davies. 

"The acceptance of a documented quote should be the minimum," he says. "This protects the consumer against any dispute around what was included in the scope of works."

Should you offer to pay cash to a tradie?

Cash may attract a cheaper price, though this introduces additional risk. 

"There is then no paper trail of the transaction so, should something go wrong, there is no avenue for recourse," says Davies.