Carpenter

A good tradesperson should have a few references to contact for first-hand knowledge of their skills, reliability etc. Alarm bells should ring if when you ask for references, all you get is excuses.

Avoid anyone who comes knocking on your door touting for work. Many scammers operate this way. Rogue traders who operate this way tend to prey mainly on the elderly and vulnerable but are happy ripping others off too! They often pressure you into deciding on the spot, which will lead to problems later on.

Firstly, Never pay all the money for a job upfront. A small deposit is acceptable if there is a large outlay for materials before they can start your work, but don't pay for the whole job before any work has started and made sure you get a receipt. No good tradesmen will ask for you to do this unless you've messed them around with money in the past.

The more quotes you can get, the better, which is why the online networks listed above are so handy. When you describe the work you need to be carried out, you know everything you want and, if anything, goes into too much detail, rather than too little.

Whilst we all like to trust people, verbal contracts are a disaster waiting to happen. By agreeing and confirming everything in writing, both sides know exactly what is expected of them. A reliable tradesperson with good intentions will happily sign a contract with you, outlining everything included in a fixed price or daily rate.