Whether building, renovating or only needing a small job done, there are a few recommended steps to follow when engaging tradespeople.
Here are some tips:
• When looking for tradespeople word of mouth is a good option to start with. Those that have had recent first hand experience are worth listening to, so ask around. Talking to the relevant trade association and visiting www.nocowboys.co.nz may also be worth considering.
• Wherever you get your referrals from, ask the tradesperson for names and contact details of previous customers so you can talk to them and find out if the work was to a high standard, done on time and within budget, if the person was pleasant to deal with and if there were any issues along the way. If possible check out examples of their work as well.
• Ensure the tradesperson is qualified to do the work and licensed or registered if appropriate, and establish what they are insured for.
• If your tradesperson intends to use sub-contractors check out their credentials and workmanship too.
• Provide a clear, detailed written brief outlining exactly what you want done, any special requirements etc and ensuring it’s clear you must be consulted before anything different or additional to the work requested is done.
• Particularly for bigger jobs it is recommended that you get three written quotes. A quote is a fixed price that shouldn’t vary unless there are unforeseen extras, whereas an estimate is a guess at the cost and the tradesperson is not bound by it.
• It is also useful to establish up front what the start and finish dates and days/time of work will be, and what the process is for handling complaints.
• It is wise to take notes each time you meet with your tradesperson.
• It is best to agree a payment schedule before work commences and never to pay all of the money in advance.
• Finally, if you are happy with the job, offer to act as referee.