How to find trustworthy tradies

If you’re like most people, unfortunately, you would have encountered dodgy tradies at one time or another. How do you find trustworthy tradies?

These days, homeowners need to be more vigilant when looking for tradespeople, particularly when doing so online marketplaces and social media. Anyone can advertise services on the internet and social media platforms even though they don’t have the necessary qualifications and licences.

The Office of Fair Trading in 2023 prosecuted 14 tradies for accepting money but failing to provide services or refunds. All 14 tradies used online marketplaces to get customers, which is why anyone looking online for tradespeople need to be more vigilant.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid shady tradies:

1. Do your research.
   Don’t be fooled by a website. Look up their business name, check out reviews from other customers, and see if they have a good reputation.
2. Check for licensing.
   Make sure the tradesperson you’re considering has the necessary licences which show they have met specific standards. They must be legally allowed to do the work they’re offering.
3. Ask about insurance.
   Verify that they have insurance to protect you in case anything goes wrong during the job.
4. Get everything in writing.
   Before agreeing to anything, make sure you get written quotes or contracts detailing all the work, timeframe, cost, and payment terms.
5. Meet in person.
   Meet the tradie in person so you can discuss the work you need done and assess their professionalism.
6. Pay smart.
   Use a secure payment method like a credit card, which provides extra protection in case of disputes. Beware if the tradie asks for a large upfront payment or the full amount before the work starts. According to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, generally, the maximum deposit a contractor is allowed to request is 5% deposit for building work that costs $20,000 or more, 10% deposit for building work where the contract price is between $3,300 and $19,999, and a maximum 20% deposit for work priced at $3,300 or less except where more than 50% of the value of work is to be performed offsite (for example, where materials are custom made in a factory).
7. Keep records.
   Always keep records of all communication, quotes, contracts, and receipts in case you need to check anything in future.

Following these tips and staying vigilant can help you find reliable and trustworthy tradies for any work you require for your home or investment property.

When it comes to finding trustworthy tradies, Fallon Solutions are your one-call trade specialists. We cover most of the trades you’ll need, including electrical, air-conditioning, plumbing, solar, and carpentry.

Our experienced electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, data cabling, appliance repair technicians, antenna installers and air-conditioner technicians are fully licensed and qualified. They undergo regular training according to their areas of specialisation to ensure they are up to date with the latest industry trends and best practice.

We have all required insurances, and all our workmanship is 100% guaranteed in writing to give you peace of mind.

Our technicians proudly wear their Fallon Solutions uniform, and our staff undergo pre-employment drug testing and police checks. We do all we can to be at your home when we say we will. We’ll also call when we’re on our way – if we’re late, we’ll pay you up to $100 for the inconvenience.

We have upfront, fixed pricing so there are no hidden costs or surprises for you. We accept cash payments, as well as credit and debit cards. We have also partnered with Brighte to provide our customers with a convenient and seamless financing experience to transform your home improvement vision to reality.

We keep complete customer records to ensure that when you deal with us, we know the history of your property and any work that we have done for you.