Tradies: How to Not Get Ripped Off
It’s 2024 everywhere except in the trades industries, where it’s still 1950. As any woman working in a trade and you’ll be treated to tales of blatant sexism in the workforce. The old jokes about mechanics over-charging women, still aren’t funny. So, how do you choose a tradesperson in this day and age, without resorting to playing the “my boyfriend” card?
Look beyond friends and Facebook recommendations
Just because your friend felt she’d had a great experience with a tradie, doesn’t mean they’re kosher. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get the same tradie, or the same response. Your friend may have simply had “Karen” vibes and the tradie thought better of ripping her off – or maybe they did and your friend didn’t realise. It happens. Also remember that for every helpful mum in your local Facebook group, there’s a marketing team pushing their clients. Fake reviews are more common than authentic ones. Look for tradespeople who are members in good standing of industry bodies or community leaders in the trade community. They have more to lose from unfair charging practices.
“After thirty years in the trades industry, I still get calls from my staff daily, saying that the lady they’re working for has been ripped off by a previous plumber and how can we help her to correct shoddy work that she’s paid top dollar for. It’s still a thing. Everywhere. Across all trades. It’s disgusting.” Said John from Salmon Plumbers Brisbane, and council member of the Master Plumbers Association.
Don’t try to fake it, but know enough to spot red flags
Most tradies will detect a quick Google search if you try to fake being knowledgeable about their trade. Don’t bother trying to learn the ins and outs of electrical problems. But, do search up the problem you’re experiencing. If the mechanic tells you straight up your whole radiator and water pump needs replacing, you should know enough to ask if perhaps it could be a simple hose or thermostat problem. Just a hint of “Karen” will dissuade a dodgy tradie, because the last thing they want is drama!
Think forward
Locking down a single tradesperson you can trust in each trade prevents you having to go hunting every single time you need service. There’s nothing like a plumbing emergency to see how much a tradie is planning to price gouge. The first time you need that particular trade, invest time in finding a good option as your go to. Think ahead, to what you may need them for in the future. Do they offer all the services you’ll need?
Do they do emergency call outs?
Choose a plumber who comes out 24/7. Choose a mechanic that offers a courtesy car.
Do they have the right skills to deal with all your ongoing needs?
Can they do all domestic electrical work or do they just do air-conditioning? Do they do small painting jobs like renovations or only whole house paint jobs?
Are they the boss?
Are they invested in giving excellent service or do they just “work for a giant company”. Are they a franchise trying to maximise profits to offset fees?
Have they got their act together?
Are they going to show up when they say they will? Do they have someone who will answer the phone if there’s a problem? Opting for one guy in a truck can mean opting for slow service.
Are they professional?
Will they leave your house in a better state than when you hired them or are you looking at hours of clean up? Do they outline everything in the quote and stick to it?
Finally, did they deliver?
Once you’ve made the choice, assess every stage of the process and decide if these are your “go to” tradies going forward. If they were OK but not great, ask them about the issues you had. If they act on it, and provide excellent service, then you’ve found your go-to tradies. If not, keep shopping. If you can find a tradie for life, life will be much simpler.
