Tag: tradesmen

How to check your tradie’s credentials before hiring them

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date January 7, 2016
No Comments on How to check your tradie’s credentials before hiring them

Image source: Jet Force Plumbing Services

If you’re looking to hire a tradesman, whether it be a plumber, electrician or just a handyman to repair something broken, it’s important that you choose carefully.

The best tradie for the job will be appropriately qualified, licensed, professional and have a reputation for producing great work. Being discerning in your choice will help you get work done on time, well and at a good price.

To help you hire the right tradie for the job, you need to ask the right questions. Here are four key factors to consider.

Are they legitimate?

An ABN or Australian Business Number is issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and helps businesses to identify one another. While it’s not mandatory for a tradie to have an ABN, it makes it easy for anyone to verify their business. The ATO database will enable you to see when the business was registered and whether that registration is still valid.

Are they licensed?

Most tradesmen in the building sector require a license to perform work in your customer’s home and have to hold a qualification to be awarded the license in the first place.

Trade licences are not as black and white as they might seem though, so be careful. Licensing of trades is done on a state-by-state basis, with each state having slightly different requirements. Some licences for builders, plumbers, electricians and gas fitters are licensed nationwide. Other tradesmen such as painters, are not required to hold a licence in every state.

To navigate through the confusion, searching online will quickly tell you whether your potential electrician/carpenter/tiler/landscaper needs a licence where you live. To check if theirs is valid you can look online or simply just ask to see it with your own eyes. If they push back on providing documentation then your alarm bells should really be ringing.

Are they covered?

It’s absolutely vital that the tradie you choose is covered by the correct insurance policy. Public liability insurance is compulsory and will protect you against third party injuries and property damage caused by the contractor. Without public liability insurance, they may not be able to pay for the damage, replacement or repair.

So it’s of the utmost importance that you check their insurance is current and valid, before allowing them to commence work in your home.

What’s the word on the street?

One of the best ways so check a tradie’s reputation, workmanship and professionalism, is to see what their past clients have said about them. Search their business online and look for testimonials or online recommendations. This will give you an idea of how they operate, and if you notice an alarming number of negative reviews, it would be best advised to steer clear!

Carefully considering all of these factors and asking the right questions upfront can ensure that you choose the right tradie for your home improvement needs, while avoiding any possible disappointment or disputes.

–Johanna Seton is a home improvement expert from hipages.com.au, Australia’s largest online marketplace for hiring home improvement professionals

Tags abn, electrician, handyman, insured, legitimate, licensed, painter, plumber, professional, public liability, trades, tradesman, tradesmen, tradespeople, tradie, tradies

Bathrooms DIY RENO ADDICT

Which tradies do what in a bathroom reno?

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date July 27, 2015
No Comments on Which tradies do what in a bathroom reno?

Not quite sure who does what in a bathroom reno? As one of the most renovated rooms in Australian homes (the kitchen is the other), everyone gets round to revamping their bathroom sooner or later.

But if you are a first timer, you really need to know what tradies you are going to need. Here is our overview of all the essential personnel you will need, depending on the scale of your project:

Plumber

Perhaps the most important tradie in this list, a licensed plumber is critical to any bathroom reno, no matter the size of the project. He can take care of little jobs, like installing new tapware, to larger tasks such as installing a toilet, sink or that awesome freestanding bath!

Bathroom designer

If you are renovating a bathroom from top to bottom, a bathroom designer can help you decide where everything goes. This is not only important from a practical point of view – everything needs to be in the right place – but you would be surprised what can be squeezed into the smallest of spaces.

Cabinetmaker

A cabinetmaker can help you get organised with custom storage or whip up your dream vanity. One thing you don’t want is clutter. Sensible storage helps you stay organised and sane!

Electrician

You might think a sparkie and water don’t mix, but every bathroom needs lighting – task, general & mood. How else are you going to make sure you look just right? Other electrical elements you might need include powerpoints, heated towel rails and any other fancy smancy gadgets that require hook up to power.

Tiler

Don’t underestimate the value of a good tiler, they can make or break the look of your bathroom. Just imagine your shower recess doesn’t drain properly – small details that a quality tiler will take care of.

Waterproofer

A trade that is often overlooked, a waterproofer will use a variety of membranes to make sure your bathroom is properly sealed. This is especially critical around your shower and bath, but also for your floor. Who wants leaks sprouting up all over the place?

Dedicated bathroom builder

A dedicated bathroom builder is a one-stop shop for your project. They will take care of all aspects of the job, from plumbing to waterproofing and everything in between, including the design. They will have all the necessary tradies on staff or at the very least manage any subbies for you. The great thing about this option is it minimises the hassle – they project manage it all on your behalf. Expect to pay for the privilege though.

Ready to get started? Don’t forget to check that the tradie you hire is licensed for the work they carry out. It is also a good idea to check references, especially for larger projects with a big budget.

– Craig Gibson is the online editor of hipages.com.au, Australia’s largest network of trade professionals and the perfect place to find a bathroom specialist in your local area.

Tags bathroom, cabinetmaker, craig gibson, design, designer, electrician, hipages, interiors, plumber, quote, renovating, tiler, trade, tradesman, tradesmen, tradespeople, tradie, wareproofer

Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

How to find good tradies. And keep them!

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date February 23, 2015
No Comments on How to find good tradies. And keep them!

Hands down I owe a huge part of my renovation and house flipping success to a fantastic team of trades. The team has everything from builders, plumber and electricians to surveyors, town planners, property developers, estate agents, stone masons and great suppliers.

There are loads of mainstream ways to find trades — the net, new apps, advertising etc — and there is naturally an important due diligence process that you must always follow that involves checking licences and insurance before you engage anyone. But today I am going to share with you my more common sense secrets to finding and keeping good trades; the human element, you could say. Unfortunately, people sometimes overlook these points when looking for and working with trades.

Marty the builder, one of Naomi’s dream team!

Finding them

Ask other trades. If you are already working with a good team and want to add to it, ask the trades you are working with for their recommendations. Like attracts like, so if you like the trades you have, more than likely you will like the trades they enjoy working with too.

Meet with the tradies before you get them on site, offer to meet them on one of their job sites. This will allow you to get a feel for them and also get an idea of how they work. For me it is very simple: if they look me in the eye, shake my hand firmly and can hold a respectful conversation with me about the work they do, then we are off to a good start.

I generally ask them about what jobs they have on at the moment, who is in their team, what their lead times are and specifics about the task that I am keen to have them work on. I also find out who they know in the industry, as cross checking them with other trades is a great way to get honest feedback.

Then… give them a shot. Using a trade once does not mean they are yours forever. On the first job, make sure you communicate extremely well, in multiple mediums. Call them to tell them what you want done, meet them on site to show them and have the instructions and diagrams of what you want done written and stuck on the walls of the job. Then leave them to it. Don’t micromanage them or watch them work! That shows no trust.

Keeping them

This is all about respect, respect for their skill, their trade and most importantly them as people. How you do this really comes down to simple things that apply everywhere in life.

When I go on site I great every trade with a handshake and a big hello.
If I see someone on site I don’t know, I always introduce myself.
If I arrive to site with a coffee, I will always bring drinks for the tradespeople too.
Every day I tell them how happy I am with the job (as long as I am).
If I am not happy about something, I seek to understand before I seek to be understood.
I pay very quickly! Inspect the job as soon as it is complete and then you will be ready to pay as soon as that invoice comes in. I never leave a trade to wait for pay.
I get dirty! When required, I join my trades to demo and to clean up.
I show and interest in what they do and ask why. Most trades are so keen to share their knowledge they are just waiting for someone to ask.
I involve the trades in the project. Feeling part of a team can make all the difference.
I plan well. Trades are constantly being asked to do things at the drop of a hat. Be the standout client and book them in as much in advance as you can.

Enjoy your trades! It is so great to be part of a great team of tradespeople and it can be such a joy to be on site with a great team!

Got a question for Naomi or one of our other resident experts? Submit it for consideration here.

What advice would you add to the above?