When hiring tradesmen for your small business, you don’t have any room for error – so every tiny detail counts. It can be daunting and time-consuming sorting through the hoards of qualified tradespeople if you don’t know where to start looking or what you need to be looking for, so we’ve created a checklist to help make it a little easier.
Oneflare is the go-to marketplace for you to find qualified and trustworthy tradespeople that meet the following criteria.
Check our their qualifications
We’ve all fallen into the trap of trusting your friend when they say “I know a guy”, only to find out once the job has been completed that, perhaps you should have stuck to doing your own research to get the job done right the first time around. When hiring a tradesman it’s crucial that you know what qualifications and experience they have, such as trade licences, courses and any other certificates relevant to the job they’re performing. Most tradespeople will have these proudly displayed on their website or annotated on their business card, but don’t be afraid to request to see them if you wish. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Depending on the state you’re in and what type of work you’re having done, it may need to be carried out by a tradesperson with a specific licence, as the job will need to be certified to ensure it meets regulations. So, it’s a wise idea to do your own research before hiring to find out exactly what qualifications are legally required.
Don’t forget to check the businesses ABN (Australian Business Number) to make sure it’s active and registered correctly. You can also take a quick look into the business’ ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) register, which will tell you if the business has had any previous issues or been deregistered at any point.
Make sure they’re insured
This is an important one! Knowing that the person you’ve hired for your small business is insured in the event of an accident, or damage to your property will give you that essential peace of mind when it comes to having the job done. Depending on what kind of tradesperson you’re hiring, there are two different types of insurance to look out for.
Public Liability Insurance
This is the most common and essential form of insurance for tradespeople. It covers the business and their employees against property damage or personal injury that is caused due to their business activities.
Essentially, that means, if anything goes wrong, for example, the tradesperson you hire accidentally bursts a water pipe and floods your house, they can make a claim on their insurance to cover the costs of the damage they have caused.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Professional Indemnity insurance is not commonly required for your average trade person, as it covers against negligence for services or advice that is provided. It’s the type of cover that is essential to professionals such as architects and engineers.
However, if you are seeking specific advice from, say, an electrician, carpenter or plumber, then it may be worth checking if they are insured for the advice they are providing.
Reviews are crucial
Many businesses have great reviews plastered all over their website showcasing their flawless reputation. However, it often pays to do a little extra digging to see if you can find any independent reviews, such as Product Review or Google reviews. This will ensure you can get an unbiased opinion.
If you do come across one or two negative reviews it’s wise to bear in mind that customers are more likely to go out of their way to vent a negative experience as opposed to offering positive feedback. So if you come across a business with a heap of great reviews and one or two sour ones, don’t judge them solely based on those. And always feel free to ask the business exactly what happened, as you may find there’s more to the situation than meets the eye.
Get the right price
As a small-to-medium business owner, you may have a very specific budget that you’ll need to stick to, so finding the right price for any type of trade or service is essential. Doing some research online before requesting quotes can give you a great insight into how much your job should cost to complete and what kind of quote is reasonable or realistic. Don’t be afraid to shop around. There are many sites where you can post your job request and receive quotes back from quality tradesmen. This will ensure minimal calling around and maximum options for you to choose from. Plus, all the information about the businesses will be sent directly to you!
By working together with the tradesmen who are interested in your job and communicating exactly what you need, you will be able to negotiate the best price possible and compare it with the others you’ve received. Then it’s all up to you to research each of the business’ and make your selection.
No matter what job you’re having done, do not rush the selection process. It’s crucial that you make the correct decision for you and your business because it will inevitably affect you in the long run. Make sure the effects are positive!
Adele Taylor is the home improvement content specialist from Oneflare. Australia’s fastest growing online marketplace connecting you instantly with the top licensed builders and other 50+ trades and services on the platform.
