Whether you’re hiring a plumber or someone to carry out damp proofing in Kent, you need to make sure that they know what they’re doing if you’ve never used them before.
But it can be difficult to know where to turn to when you’re looking to hire a tradesperson and you don’t have any personal recommendations to go on. The Liverpool Echo recently highlighted the importance of checking people’s credentials, even if you’ve found them on a website that lists tradespeople looking for work.
The newspaper shared the story of David Ball from Prescot, who paid someone he found on Rated People to carry out damp proofing work in his home, only for the builder in question to simply replaster without fixing the underlying issue.
Mr Ball handed over £1,500 and the builder left without tackling the damp issue that he’d been paid to sort out.
This is just one example where a homeowner has lost out, but a BBC investigation found that some websites aren’t as thorough as they should be when it comes to checking people’s credentials.
As a result, you should always make sure that you ask to see ID for any tradesperson you are hiring, as well as proof of their public liability insurance.
Checking up on references - including reading any reviews left by previous customers online - is also advisable. We not only share testimonials on our website, but are happy to provide you with details of previous customers so that you can contact them yourself and ask them for an unbiased opinion of our services.
Which? advises that the cost of damp proofing can run into thousands of pounds, so you need to ensure you trust your tradesperson before they start work.
But it can be difficult to know where to turn to when you’re looking to hire a tradesperson and you don’t have any personal recommendations to go on. The Liverpool Echo recently highlighted the importance of checking people’s credentials, even if you’ve found them on a website that lists tradespeople looking for work.
The newspaper shared the story of David Ball from Prescot, who paid someone he found on Rated People to carry out damp proofing work in his home, only for the builder in question to simply replaster without fixing the underlying issue.
Mr Ball handed over £1,500 and the builder left without tackling the damp issue that he’d been paid to sort out.
This is just one example where a homeowner has lost out, but a BBC investigation found that some websites aren’t as thorough as they should be when it comes to checking people’s credentials.
As a result, you should always make sure that you ask to see ID for any tradesperson you are hiring, as well as proof of their public liability insurance.
Checking up on references - including reading any reviews left by previous customers online - is also advisable. We not only share testimonials on our website, but are happy to provide you with details of previous customers so that you can contact them yourself and ask them for an unbiased opinion of our services.
Which? advises that the cost of damp proofing can run into thousands of pounds, so you need to ensure you trust your tradesperson before they start work.