Questions to ask before you let a tradesman start

Most people feel awkward asking. Don't — a good trade would rather you did, because it means fewer misunderstandings later and they've usually got nothing to hide.

Every question here is one a decent tradesman answers without hesitating.

1. "Is this a quote or an estimate?"

They're different. A quote is a fixed price you've both agreed. An estimate is a best guess that can move.

Neither is wrong, but you should know which you've got. If it's an estimate, ask what would make it change.

2. "What's not included?"

The most useful question on the list.

Making good, taking the old one away, plastering, painting, certificates. A trade who's done the job before will rattle these off. One who pauses hasn't thought about it, and you'll be having the conversation later at a worse moment.

3. "What happens if you find something unexpected?"

Old houses hide things. You want to hear a version of: "We stop, show you, and price it with you before carrying on."

What you don't want is "we'll sort it out". That means you'll find out what it cost afterwards.

4. "Are you insured?"

Public liability insurance covers damage to your property. Ask, and don't feel rude — it's a completely normal question and any established trade has it.

5. "Who's actually doing the work?"

Sometimes the person quoting isn't the person turning up. That's fine, but you should know, especially if you've chosen them on the strength of a recommendation.

6. "Does this need certifying or signing off?"

Electrical work, gas work and some building work does. Ask who's doing that and whether it's in the price.

This matters when you sell the house. Missing paperwork for work done years ago has held up more sales than almost anything else.

7. "When can you start, and how long will it take?"

Both parts. A price without a timescale isn't a plan.

Also ask what would delay it — most honest answers involve materials.

8. "How do you want paying, and when?"

Deposit? Stage payments? Balance on completion?

A deposit for materials on a decent-sized job is entirely normal. A large deposit before anything has happened is worth asking more about.

9. "What if something goes wrong afterwards?"

Not a trick question. You're asking whether they'll come back.

Local, established trades almost always say yes and mean it — their name is worth more than the callout. It's one of the strongest arguments for using somebody nearby.

What the answers tell you

You're not really testing knowledge. You're testing whether they've thought about the job and whether they're straight with you.

The best sign is a trade who volunteers a problem before you find it: "that floor's not level, so I've allowed a day for it." That's someone who's actually looked, and it's worth paying more for.

And a word for the trades reading this

If somebody asks you all nine of these, they're not being difficult. They've been let down before, or they're nervous about spending a lot of money.

Answer them properly and you'll have won the job before you've quoted, because most of your competition won't have.

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Worth saving before you get anyone out. Screenshot it and take it to the door.