5 Tips for Spotting a Dodgy Tradie

Finding a reliable tradie can sometimes feel like hard work. They sometime don’t turn up for prearranged appointments, struggle to provide a written quote and get evasive when you try pin them down on a start date for your job. And let’s face it – if you are a homeowner, every job is a priority! Then there are the tradies who are downright dodgy, plying their trade without the appropriate licence, assuring you that their sub-standard workmanship is up to standard (theirs, not Australian Standards) and disappearing with your deposit!

Not All Tradies are Dodgy

It is important not to damm all tradies – we are less likely to shout about jobs that get done to budget, on time and with a high level of workmanship. I believe the vast majority of jobs fall into this category.

Tradies also have a unique perspective on the customers they serve. A cursory trawl of the popular Whirlpool online forum yields a number of pertinent observations by tradies - including that homeowners also don’t keep appointments. Another major annoyance is that some of us are guilty of chasing the cheapest quote - expecting quality work for the smallest possible outlay.

Spotting a Dodgy Tradie

Spotting a dodgy tradesperson is more difficult than you might imagine. Many have the gift of the gab and are also likely to look the part. So what signals do you need to look for?

These 5 tips are designed to help you flush out the chancers from the real deal:

• The key is to do your research and know what is required of the job and the local regulations pertaining to it.This protects you from being hoodwinked by a dodgy tradie.
• Ask if they have the appropriate trade licence and what specific class of licence they need for your job.
• Follow up references – if they are dodgy they won’t have any!
• Insist on a written quote – if they are dodgy chances are they won’t provide one.
• Ask tradies you trust for recommendations – chances are if they are professional they are likely to know others with the same ethics as themselves.

The bottom line is that you really need to do your legwork when hiring a tradesperson. Finding that diamond in the rough is not a fantasy – honestly.