Whether you are planning a home renovation or in need of an emergency repair, there will come a time in every homeowner’s life when they must turn to a professional. For many people, hiring a professional serviceperson can be a daunting task in terms of both time and money. This is especially true if this is your first time and if you are unsure of whom to call. Here are some important tips and strategies that you can follow to make the process much easier on yourself and much more successful for your home:

Finding the Right Serviceperson

Unless you are in the middle of an emergency, taking the time to find the right serviceperson is the best strategy. Here are some ways that you can prepare yourself and evaluate the service people that you call:

• Start by writing down a full and detailed description of what needs to be done. This will help you understand your own expectations, which will make them easier to explain to the serviceperson. You can also include how much you expect to spend or at least, how much your budget will allow.
• Ask friends and neighbours for references if possible. If not, conduct some research online.
• Call at least two firms and obtain at least two written quotations for the work
• Note how carefully the serviceperson creates the quote. If they attend your home in person, watch how they inspect or survey the work required. If the quote is created over the phone, pay attention to the questions that they ask. Do you feel comfortable with this person? Do they seem interested in your project?
• Check whether or not VAT is included in your quotation
• Check whether the serviceperson is qualified and capable of carrying out the entire job, or find out whom else will have to be hired.
• Ask about guarantees – and whether the guarantees are insurance underwritten to remedy defects in the event that they go out of business
• Do not become discouraged if the quote is too high. Instead, speak honestly with the serviceperson about your budget – they may have suggestions on how you can cut costs.
• Check the memberships of the builders and their connected organizations: ‘Gas Safe’ (CORGI) for gas work and IEE for electrical work
• If you are hiring a builder, ask for examples of previous work. Take the time to go to those job sites and look around

Making the Business Happen

When you are finally ready to make the decision to use a qualified serviceperson, you can further protect yourself by remembering these tips:

• Agree and sign a written contact, do not accept a verbal agreement. The details included in this contract will depend on the size of the job – some common items that should be covered are the price, extent of the work, working conditions, completion dates, guarantees, quality, payment arrangements, building insurance, and what happens in the event of an unforeseen difficulty
• Be clear about who will be conducting the work and how that person will identify them. Unfortunately, a home that is under visible construction can become a target for thieves impersonating service people

By making sure that you will be treated with respect and courtesy, you can insure that your home repair will be completed to the best quality and satisfaction available.