How to find a tradesperson you can trust
A practical checklist for hiring a good tradesperson. How to get useful quotes, check real work, avoid the common traps and judge a reputation that has been earned rather than bought. Written by a bricklayer with 22 years on the tools.
Hiring a trade is one of those things most people only do a handful of times, and it can feel like a gamble every time. It doesn’t have to. After 22 years on the tools, here’s the honest, practical way to find someone who’ll do the job properly.
Get more than one quote, but don’t just chase the cheapest
Always get a few quotes so you know what fair looks like for your job. But here’s the bit people get wrong: the cheapest quote is rarely the best value. A price that’s miles below the others usually means corners will be cut somewhere. Cheaper materials, less time, or a job that needs redoing. Look for the quote that’s fair and detailed, not just the lowest number.
Ask to see their actual work
A good tradesperson is proud of what they do and happy to show it. Ask for photos of recent jobs like yours. Not stock images, their real work. Better still, ask if you can see a job in person or speak to a recent customer. The quality of their past work tells you far more than any advert.
Check their reputation, and know which reputations are real
This is where most people come unstuck. Star reviews are easy to fake, buy or write yourself, so a wall of five stars doesn’t mean much on its own. What you actually want is a reputation that has been earned from other trades on real jobs. People who know a proper job from a bodged one.
That’s why Hard Hat Way works differently. There are no star reviews. Trades rate trades. A bricklayer’s work is rated by other bricklayers who spot what you can’t, on real jobs they’ve posted. When you post a job, you see where each trade genuinely stands among their peers before you choose.
Get it in writing
Before any work starts, get a written quote that spells out what’s included: the work itself, materials, roughly how long it’ll take and the total price. A clear written quote protects both of you and is the mark of someone who runs their trade professionally. Be wary of anyone who won’t put it in writing.
Be careful with money up front
For jobs that need materials bought up front, a reasonable deposit can be normal. But be cautious of anyone demanding a large sum before they’ve done anything, or pushing for cash only with no paperwork. A trustworthy tradesperson won’t pressure you to hand over big money before the work’s underway.
Trust how they communicate
Do they turn up when they said they would to quote? Do they answer your questions clearly? Someone who’s reliable and straight before you’ve hired them is far more likely to be reliable and straight on the job. First impressions on site matter.
The short version
- Get a few quotes, but pick fair over cheapest
- See their real, recent work, not adverts
- Judge reputation by what’s earned, not star ratings
- Get everything in writing before work starts
- Be wary of big upfront payments or cash-only pressure
- Notice how they communicate. It tells you a lot