How to choose a trustworthy tradie?

Looking for a trustworthy tradie? Look no further! Choosing the right tradie for your project might seem daunting at first, but there are some quick and easy ways to pick the right tradesperson for the job each and every time. That way you can relax knowing your tradie will get the job done without any issues.

Let's start with some basics:

1. What sort of tradie do you need?
 

In Australia there are a wide range of trade professions and each type of tradie has different skills in different areas. There are licensed builders for residential building projects or renovation jobs, licensed tradies for plumbing, electrical or gas-fitting jobs, technical tradies for air conditioning, solar panel, and gas heating installation and repairs, and consultants like building certifiers.

If you have multiple components to your project it can be a good idea to break the project down and work out what sort of tradie you'll need for each part. If you find a tradie who can complete more than one task, you can always group them together again.

If you're still unsure about the sort of tradie you need, you always check out the different categories available on BorisDoes and see if there's a category that accurately describes what you're looking for. Or you can post a task and wait for experts to tell you what they can do to help with your project.

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2. How urgently do you need a tradie?

If you have a long-planned renovation that needs to be completed, chances are you're not in a rush. You might not want a tradie to spend months and months completing the task, but they probably have a few days to get the equipment and supplies they need and complete the task at a steady pace.

If you need a tradie in a hurry, that's a different story. If you have dangerous broken tiles or loose electrical wiring, you'll want a tradie to show up as soon as possible. Many tradies that complete emergency work (like plumbers and electricians) have a call-out fee. That means they're happy to come and help you at 3:00am on a Sunday, but you'll have to pay a bit extra to get the work completed urgently and at a strange time.

If you can wait, you should. Call your tradie during the day and have a chat with them about the next time they'll be available to come and have a look at the work you need done.

If you want the reassurance of a tasker platform like BorisDoes, you can still specify that you need work completed urgently, but the normal process would be to post a task or request a quote and then give tradies an opportunity to provide a detailed quote.

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3. How much do you want to pay?

We often think of tradies as costing whatever the market rate is for someone in their field. In many cases, that's reasonably accurate. In the past, people have managed this process by getting 2-3 quotes and then picking the most accurate quote or the lowest quote, while ignoring expensive quotes.

While this traditional method might work in some instances, there's no way to know whether or not you're paying a higher market rate in your area than you would in other locations. Some tradies charge more in some areas (typically "wealthy" suburbs) because they know they are less likely to get 'push-back' from clients for slightly higher prices.

However, if you live in a nice area you can end up paying a premium because other people around you can afford it. The best way to ensure you pay a reasonable price is to do your research (congratulations, this article is a great start!) and then approach tradies with what you know is a fair price.

BorisDoes is a great way to do this. You can specify how much you want to pay and only those tradies who agree that you have set a reasonable price will respond. Alternatively, you can post a general task and let nearby Taskers and tradies provide you with quotes. You might not necessarily end up with the cheapest price, but hopefully that combination of a reasonable price and a competent tradie will make all the difference.
 

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Comparing tradies to pick the best one

So how do you actually compare different tradies? Sometimes the choice is a simple one; one tradie says they can complete your project for $x, and another says they can complete the same job for half the amount. Easy, right? Not necessarily. There are a few factors you should consider:

1. Price

Traditionally, finding a tradie was a matter of getting 2-3 quotes and then picking the lowest quote. The other factors in picking a tradie (detailed below) mean that we've generally moved on from that price-focused method for choosing a tradie. However, while it might not be the only consideration, it's still an important one. Setting a budget for your project and sticking to it is vital and a cost blow-out can mean your project takes longer to finish or is never finished because you simply run out of funds. Equally, choosing the bargain basement price means you might not get the quality or workmanship you want and so your project will never really feel finished. If you have a project budget, stick to it and discuss it with your potential tradie. How can they help you to get what you want while still providing their service at a reasonable price? At BorisDoes we have a really simple system for quoting; as a Customer you can start a task and Taskers or Business Taskers can approach you with quotes and estimates. Otherwise, you can simply request a quote, outline exactly what you're looking for and get quotes from tradies near you
 

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2. Location

These days, many services can be provided online. From tutoring to marketing and everything in between, online services are more popular than ever. But practical trades services need to be provided in person, on site. That means finding a great tradie near you. On BorisDoes you can set your location and find tradies in your local area. That means cutting down on travel time, and potentially reducing call-out fees. It also makes getting quotes easier as tradies are usually more inclined to quote for jobs that allow them to work closer to home. You can check out the BorisDoes Tasker List right now and find exceptional tradies near you.

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3. Experience

Generally when we think of "experience" in the context of a tradie, we think of the number of years a particular tradie has worked in a particular industry. But experience is much more than just a few lines on LinkedIn. Experience makes the difference in a wide range of contexts including workmanship, quality, and site control. A professional building practitioner, for example, knows exactly what is needed on site including supplies and subcontractors, and can organise those in advance so that they can complete your job on time.

An experienced tradie also understands Australian building standards and building industry best practice, which means your completed project will stand the test of time. Whether you need a wall painted, a retaining wall built, or a shed installed, extensive experience means exceptional service. Find the tradie with the experience that's right for your project right here on BorisDoes.
 

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4. The X factor

What makes a good tradie? A wide range of things. From communicating in a timely manner to their understanding of your vision for your project. You want to find a tradie who "gets it" and that can be difficult. Sometimes the cheapest price isn't always the best option if a tradie has that certain something that you feel will make your project work. It could be a shared sense of style or an enthusiasm for using particular materials (like sustainably-sourced timber). Whatever your "x factor" is, there's nothing wrong with taking it into consideration when choosing a tradie. You have to live with the results of your project, sometimes for decades, and a positive experience can be a key factor for some.
 

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Conclusion

Ultimately, picking a trustworthy tradie comes down to multiple factors. While one thing might make the difference, no one thing alone is enough if you have concerns about other things. The entire process of picking a trustworthy tradie should involve consideration of all of those factors. BorisDoes can help you find tradies, get quotes, and manage your project through to conclusion and that's why tradies are so enthusiastic about offering their services here. What's next? Start a task or request a quote and find your ideal tradie today.
 

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Frequently asked questions

Do tradies hire other tradies?

Yes, absolutely. It's a common misconception that most tradies are "jacks of all trades" or have skills as a general handyman. Often, a tradesperson has studied for years and has completed an apprenticeship in their particular discipline. So while they might know how to rewire a down-light or install a new power point, they are qualified to fit a new gas pipe or install bathroom appliances. But unlike other people, tradies know what to look for when hiring other tradies. They have often worked together on a multidisciplinary project and so there is an existing level of trust. If you're looking for a tradie for one type of work and you know a tradie that does a different type of work, they can often refer someone they know so that you get a tradie you can trust.

Do tradies need to be licensed?

For some trades, yes, for others, no. The great part about BorisDoes is that tradies can include their licence details in their Tasker or Business profiles. That means you can see exactly what your potential tradie Tasker is qualified to do. Whether you're in Sydney looking for credentials from NSW Fair Trading or in Melbourne checking out someone's accreditation from Consumer Affairs Victoria, it's easy to see exactly what your tradie has. Make sure to check out the State or Territory consumer protection and consumer advocacy provisions where you are and then check out the profiles of Taskers near you. If you're looking for a specific licensed tradesperson (eg. someone with a building license) you can look at whether a tradie has accreditations with trade associations or the peak organisation for their trade (ie. Master Builders Association).

Should I read reviews from previous Customers?

Absolutely. Customer reviews are a great way to see what your prospective tradies can do and the sorts of projects they have successfully completed for others. Here at BorisDoes, we actively encourage Customers to leave positive reviews for their Taskers and Business Taskers who have completed work for them. We also allow reviews to be imported from other platforms which means that as a Customer, you benefit from being able to see a much wider range of reviews to get the full picture.

What about insurance?

In Australia construction insurance - or home warranty insurance - is an important consumer protection and is associated with the construction of new homes. Effectively, you can't build a house without HWI. For other projects, like major renovations, it's important that your potential tradie has public liability insurance. We've all heard the horror stories and we hope they don't happen but occasionally something goes wrong and even the most experienced tradies make mistakes. That's where liability insurance comes in. On BorisDoes we include badges on Tasker and Business Tasker profiles so you can check that someone is fully insured before you engage them.

What sort of consumer laws exist to protect me?

It depends which state or territory you live in, but generally each jurisdiction has a range of consumer organisations and a government consumer protection authority (Fair Trading, Consumer Affairs, etc). Australian state and territory governments have a pretty good track record when it comes to protecting consumer rights, though they do work in collaboration with private consumer advocacy groups to steer people clear of shady operators and dodgy tradies. If you do have any concerns about work that has been completed for you, you can access your state or territory's dispute resolution service which usually covers a range of common trades, in addition to traditional construction trades. If your project includes work that requires licensed contractors, don't pick an unlicensed contractor. Discerning clients means means a better understanding of basic process and fewer common complaints. You can get more tips and tricks right here on BorisDoes.