One of the key responsibilities of owning your own home is simply staying on top of your property’s maintenance needs. Granted, this is a feat that’s easier said than done – especially for those of us who don’t have a working understanding of residential plumbing systems. Which is probably most of us. That’s precisely why it’s vital for Aussie homeowners to hire tradespeople (or tradies, as they’re lovingly referred to here in Australia).
Sadly, even hiring a tradie can be more difficult than you may expect it to be. This is mainly because many homeowners don’t know what questions to ask when screening prospective tradies. And knowing what questions you need answers to is crucial, just to ensure that your shortlisted tradesperson is the right fit for the job. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful article, which will share 6 key questions to ask when you’re looking to hire a tradie.
Whether you’re looking to hire a plumber, electrician, builder, landscaper or reblocker, read on to learn the top questions to ask whenever you’re seeking to hire a tradie in Australia.
1. Can you offer a free quote?
The first question you should ask when scoping out a residential repair or maintenance job, from plumbing upgrades to extensions, is to see if your shortlisted tradie can provide you with a free quote on the works. It’s pretty common for tradies and contractors to offer a free measure, quote and estimate for potential works to be completed. And alongside providing plenty of direction and establishing transparency between tradies and their clients, free quotes can also demonstrate to you (the homeowner) that you’re working with a tradesperson who has a strong understanding of the value of their own services.
Gathering up multiple quotes also allows you to compare free quotes in order to pick the tradesperson that best suits your needs. Although a caveat is worth mentioning here – the lowest quote isn’t always the best option, as sometimes you have to pay for higher quality results. So think critically before blindly opting for the lowest quote. And if pricing isn’t enough of a deciding factor for you, simply move on to question #2!
2. Are you fully qualified and licensed?
Depending on the trade, you should ask them if they’re fully qualified and licensed. This will mean that they have the appropriate qualifications and tickets to work at your property.
The trade licensing system is designed to protect homeowners like you from unqualified or dodgy tradies. Each state or territory has various authorities that issue trade licenses, so be sure to read up on the licensing requirements and regulations for your state or territory before hiring any tradies.
Keep in mind too that a tradie can get in serious strife if they carry out work without the appropriate license. So this question is worth asking before you spend thousands on a job at home, as oversight here may result in you hiring a professional that’s not actually fully qualified or certified. And whilst there is legal infrastructure in place for you to get your money back, this process itself can still be lengthy, costly, and is just so avoidable that you may as well take steps to do just that.
A licensed tradie should be able to show you a copy of their license, which will contain their name, registered business address, license number and expiry date, and what works they’re qualified to carry out. And you should expect all licensed tradies to be amenable to providing these details. If any shortlisted tradespeople react negatively to this question, then we say move on to the many other contractors who will have no qualms with showing their licensing as they’ll have nothing to hide. For information about builder licences head over to Builder Registration.
3. Is an upfront deposit required?
A tradie might require a down payment upfront for some more extensive jobs, such as extensions, pergola or decking builds, landscape gardening or significant electrical or plumbing works. With that, it’s certainly worth asking if a deposit is required for the job you’re engaging them to undertake.
You can usually expect your upfront deposit to be between 10-20% of the total job cost. The reason why most tradespeople will ask for a deposit is simply because these funds can be used to purchase any materials that are required for the completion of your job.
Keep in mind that tradies also ask for an upfront deposit to safeguard themselves in the event that a customer is late to pay or refuses to pay after the completion of a job. So in this regard, tradies who ask for an upfront deposit are also just more likely to be well-experienced and aware of their own value.
4. Can you issue compliance and electrical safety certificates?
The next question, especially if undertaking major plumbing and electrical work, should be whether your shortlisted tradie can issue a compliance or electrical safety certificate. These legal documents state that the works comply with relevant regional building codes, industry legislation, and Australian safety requirements.
Of course, you shouldn’t have to be an expert in regulatory compliance to hire the right tradei for your next home repair or maintenance job. But trust us when we say that knowing just a little can still go a long way.
With that, we highly recommend doing a little independent research by jumping on the websites for the local bodies that are tasked with developing and publishing building and other industry regulations. And once again, if a tradie is reluctant to issue compliance certification, or if they dodge this question, you should look elsewhere when narrowing down your search.
5. Are you insured?
The next question that you should ask all shortlisted tradies prior to hiring them for your next residential job, is simply if they’re insured to carry out the works that you’re looking to secure. If your shortlisted tradie carries all relevant insurance policies that underwrite their work, you can rest easy knowing that there’s security and support available to you in the event of any possible contingencies.
All responsible tradies in Australia should carry public and personal liability insurance. These policies should cover them if they are found responsible for personal injury to anyone at your property or damage to your property.
Accidents can and do happen, and the last thing you want is significant damage to your property that is not covered by a tradies liability insurance. And you can always expect a legitimate tradie to have secured the relevant policies required for their responsible operation, and that they will be able to provide proof that these policies have been secured if needed.
6. Are your works covered by a warranty?
The final question you should ask is if the works they’ll undertake are covered by a warranty period, and how long this warranty period may be. A warranty means that if any faults are discovered after the works are complete, the tradie will return and rectify them for free.
For instance, an extension to your home should usually be covered by warranty for five or six years. A similar warranty should apply to installing appliances such as water heaters, heating and cooling systems and other home improvement jobs.
Be sure to ask all of your shortlisted tradies what sort of warranties they offer, and what exactly it covers. Doing so will provide you total peace of mind that you can enjoy the benefits of improvements or repairs made to your property for years to come.
This helpful article has shared the six key questions you should ask when hiring a tradie in Australia. From free quotes to licenses and insurance, make sure that you ask all of these questions the next time you’re preparing for a renovation, repair, or any other home improvement project that’ll see you partnering with a true blue tradie.
