Dealing With Tradies - A Bargain Is Good but It’s Better to Verify

 

Who can resist a good bargain? It’s the thrifter’s kryptonite.  But when it comes to hiring traders to do a service whether it’s plumbing, electrical or building decks at home, a trader on bargain is not always a good thing. If you skip the essentials like verifying facts, you wind up paying for more than when you do things right at the first time at regular rates.

Good Deals are even better with Credentials

The reason why licenses are required by Australian states is to ensure that you protect your interests. Licenses are given to tradies with proper insurance and experience and that translates to better and smooth service.  When someone offers a certain service at half the price, it’s usually to lure you on the savings you may get and away from the fact that the trader is not legitimate.

Beware of Scammers

Yes, there are wolves out there. And forget about the wolf in sheep’s clothing, it’s more like the wolf in your Grandmother’s clothes.  They will try to gain your trust so you will part with your hard earned money in their favor and leave without doing the job. Legitimate businessmen do not need to entice their clients incessantly.  Tradies with a good track record usually build their client base through recommendations - lack thereof means they are not trustworthy.

A Business with No Sign Is a Sign of No Business

There was a time when advertisement starts and ends with a wooden sign right above the front door of business, nowadays, that sign has expanded to websites complete with profiles and contact numbers.  Tradies who advertise their business or trading profile along with their phone number and office address is an indication that they are willing to accommodate you anytime whether you seek service or complain.

Business Checker Verified Businesses

The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) website provides Australians with a list of registered business names.  Finding the business name of the trader you have in mind in the National Names Index is a good start.  What the list does not give you is if they have insurance, proper trade licenses and if the contact number and addresses are correct.  If you are looking for a legitimate trader with proper qualifications, check out the Business Checker list of business with good or high rating. 

BusinessChecker is an independent business credential checking service that rates businesses based on their qualifications.