How to avoid untrustworthy tradespeople

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When you are looking for a tradesperson, like a builder, the last thing you want is to hire a scam artist or someone with a poor track record of unreliability. There are signs to watch out for to help you avoid making this mistake:

Look for accreditation or association

If you can’t find any accreditation, then stay away. Some nationally recognised ones to look out for include the Federation of Master Builders, the National Federation of Builders, GasSafe and Trustmark.

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Are they insured?

Although having public liability insurance isn’t mandatory, knowing that your tradesperson is fully insured should the worst occur, provides great peace of mind. For a trusted Builders Bristol, consider mogfordprescott.co.uk/builders-bristol/

Have a contract

Before starting work, it’s always wise to have a written contract in place. It should detail time and cost estimates and be signed. Without this, all you have is your word against theirs if issues arise during the project.

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Know their contact details

Make sure you have their registered address and telephone number. If a tradesperson is reluctant to give you this or doesn’t have a registered address, be very wary. A great site is Checkatrade.com which allows you to check addresses and other information such as insurance and customer reviews.

Beware bargain basement prices

A tradesperson who comes in lower than all others might later exploit loopholes or discover ‘issues’ that keep pushing up the cost. Also avoid anyone who asks for payment in advance. A trusted tradesperson won’t ask for money before any work is undertaken.