Finding the right person for the job can be a challenge. We’ve all heard horror stories of tradies that haven’t turned up, or when they’ve arrived, haven’t done a good job. How about the tradie that has a couple of things left to do but once you pay them disappears off the face of the earth? Getting recommendations is a key to success but how do you know that the person recommending a business isn’t a family member or friend with a vested interest? What can you do to make sure your work will be done on time, on budget, and with the finish you want? Here’s some tips on hiring a tradie.
Comparing tradies quotes
‘The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.’ – Benjamin Franklin
Three quotes are enough. If you can’t find the job you want to be completed for the price you want, then you’re probably shopping for a dream that doesn’t match your budget. You can either reset your expectations or continue saving. You’ll get there in the end.
If you’re only comparing dollar value between quotes you need to make sure you compare apples with apples. One quote could include way more than the other. The workmanship may be higher or the quote may include better quality materials. The cheapest isn’t always the best. Neither is the most expensive. Do your homework and ask questions. There’s no reason you should be going in blind with all the information we now have at hand. If you’re going to invest dollars in your project, take the time to do some research first.
Value for money
‘Pay peanuts, get monkeys.’ – James Goldsmith
If you’re looking to do a kitchen renovation for a rental property you own, you may be happy to put in a low-end product. For your own home, maybe you’d like to spend more and install a high-end kitchen with quality finishes. If you decide to choose purely on price and are unhappy with what they delivered, it’s easy to feel dissatisfied with who you’ve chosen. While your budget will impact your choice, be realistic. You’ll get what you pay for.
Calculate your budget
Don’t be afraid to tell the businesses quoting your work, what your budget is. When you go to a car yard you don’t let the sales team show you all the cars and then say, “Oh, they’re a bit more than what I wanted to spend.” The first thing discussed is how much you can afford. This is the same when you buy a new TV or even an oven. The salesperson will always ask you for a price first. Then they can show you the items in that price range.
Once they know your budget tell them what you’re looking for. Make sure you’ve done a little research first and you’ve got some ideas on products, materials, and finishes. If you’re getting 3 quotes you’ll soon see which business is spending every penny of your budget because they know you can afford it, and who is trying to give you everything they can for the budget you have.
Paying tradies
Under the NSW home building law, the maximum deposit you can be asked to pay is 10%. After that progress payments can be applicable and then a final payment on completion. Sort out a payment schedule before work starts so both parties know at what stage payment is expected and for how much. Make sure that the payment schedule is relative to the job. If you’re asked to pay 10% before work starts, then 70% before any real work has been completed you should be questioning this. Your tradesperson has no incentive once they’ve been paid to do a good job or deliver on time. Their incentive is your money. Your tradie has a family to feed and bills to pay just like you, so be fair in payment, just don’t overpay early.
If your tradie finishes a job but there’s a couple of things left to do, don’t pay them in full. Some will tell you they’ll come back to finish but what can often happen is they get caught up in their next job and 4 weeks later, coming out to do half a days work at your home for no pay is not so attractive. It’s best to only make that final payment once you’re happy everything is finished.
A good referral is GOLD
Tradies rely on repeat work and referrals. You’ll be hard-pressed to find one that is getting out early and retiring to a private island! If you’re happy then you’ll refer them to your friends and family. If they’re happy they’ll get another referral and another job and on it goes. Don’t forget that if you use any of the businesses in our Lake Mac Family Life directory and you want to share your positive experience, you can write a review for them. This really helps other people in our community find reliable businesses they can trust. Check out our Trades & Home Maintenace Category for hiring a tradie in Lake Mac.
