Most tradespeople do good, honest work. But before you hand over any money or let someone into your home, it is worth taking a few minutes to check who you are actually dealing with. This guide covers the practical checks worth doing, the warning signs to watch for, and how to keep a job on track once it has started.
Be cautious of anyone who turns up unannounced offering to fix a roof, driveway or gutter "while they're in the area," especially if they claim it is urgent or offer a discount for deciding on the spot. Genuine tradespeople are rarely short of work and do not usually need to pressure you into an immediate decision.
If someone cold-calls, it is reasonable to say you will think about it, ask for something in writing, and check them out before agreeing to anything. A trustworthy tradesperson will not mind you taking that time.
Some signs are worth paying close attention to:
None of these on their own automatically means something is wrong, but more than one together is a reason to slow down and ask more questions.
It is common for tradespeople to ask for a deposit on larger jobs, particularly if materials need to be ordered in advance. What matters is that the amount is reasonable relative to the size of the job, and that you understand what it covers.
Be wary of anyone asking for full payment before any work has started, or a deposit that seems disproportionately large. Where possible, agree a payment structure tied to progress — for example, a deposit to start, a stage payment partway through, and the balance once the work is finished and you are happy with it.
It is reasonable to ask a tradesperson directly about public liability insurance, and for certain trades, relevant qualifications or registrations — for example, a Gas Safe registration for gas work. A genuine tradesperson should be able to answer this without hesitation.
For notifiable or higher-risk work, ask what certification you will receive once the job is complete, and confirm this is included in the price before work begins.
Even for smaller jobs, a written quote helps avoid misunderstandings later. Ideally this should cover the scope of work, materials, an estimated timeframe, and the total price or how it will be calculated.
If the price changes significantly once work has started, ask why before agreeing to pay more — legitimate reasons do come up (for example, discovering additional damage once work begins), but you should always be told and given the chance to agree before extra costs are added.
Checking reviews, ratings, or examples of previous work can give a useful sense of how a tradesperson operates, though no single review should be treated as the full picture. Look for patterns across several reviews rather than judging on just one or two.
If a job has already gone wrong — poor workmanship, a disappearing tradesperson, or a serious dispute over payment — Consumerline and Trading Standards can advise on your options. For anything that feels like fraud or intimidation rather than a standard dispute, contact PSNI.
Keeping records of quotes, messages, and payments throughout the job makes it much easier to resolve a problem if one comes up.
