A few good questions before booking can save you from a delayed, overpriced, or poorly finished job. Here's what's worth asking every time, regardless of the trade.
1. "Are you insured, and can I see proof?"
Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong on your property during the job — damage, injury, or accidents. Any legitimate tradesperson should be able to provide proof without hesitation. If they can't, or seem reluctant, treat it as a serious warning sign.
2. "What certifications do you hold for this specific job?"
Different trades require different credentials — Gas Safe for gas work, NICEIC (or equivalent) for electrical work, FENSA for window installation. Ask specifically about the certification relevant to your job, not just general trade experience, and check the registration number on the relevant official register if you're unsure.
3. "Can I see examples of similar work you've done recently?"
Photos of a finished kitchen don't tell you much if the job you need is a bathroom retile. Ask for examples that closely match your specific job, and ideally recent ones — trades and standards change, and older photos may not reflect current work quality.
4. "What's included in this price, and what isn't?"
Get clarity on materials, waste removal, VAT, and whether the price assumes standard access and conditions. This is the single most common source of "surprise" costs later — a vague verbal answer here is worth pushing back on.
5. "What happens if you find something unexpected once you start?"
Older properties especially can hide problems — damp, rot, outdated wiring, or structural issues not visible until work begins. A good tradesperson will explain how they handle this (e.g. stopping to discuss additional cost with you before proceeding) rather than just quietly adding charges afterward.
6. "What's the payment structure, and can I get everything in writing?"
Be wary of requests for a large deposit (more than 25–30%) before any work has started. A reasonable structure usually involves a smaller deposit, staged payments tied to progress, and a final payment on completion. Always get the agreed price and scope of work in writing — a proper quote, not just a verbal agreement.
7. "Do you have recent reviews I can check?"
Ask for reviews from real customers, ideally with enough detail to seem genuine — a string of five-star ratings with no comments is far less useful than a handful of detailed reviews describing the actual work. If a tradesperson has no reviews at all and is newer to the trade, that's not automatically a dealbreaker, but it's worth factoring into your decision alongside everything else.
Bonus: Trust Your Gut
Beyond the practical questions, pay attention to how they communicate. Do they answer questions directly, or deflect? Are they patient explaining things, or dismissive? A tradesperson who's confident, transparent, and happy to answer questions thoroughly is usually a good sign of how the whole job will go.
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