Your interactive pre-hire checklist
Before you commit to any tradesperson, work through these seven checks. Click each item to mark it complete. We recommend saving or printing this before any significant home improvement project.
Pre-hire checklist
1. Read reviews from multiple, varied jobs
Don't just read the top three reviews — look for patterns across different types of work. One bad review in 50 is noise; the same complaint appearing repeatedly signals a genuine problem.
2. Confirm they carry public liability insurance
Ask to see the certificate — not just their word for it. Public liability insurance of at least £1 million protects your property if something goes wrong. Without it, you could be liable for damage or injury on site.
3. Check mandatory trade registrations
Gas Safe for any gas work. NICEIC, NAPIT or ELECSA for electrical work. These are legal requirements — not optional qualifications. Check them directly with the scheme, not just the tradesperson's word.
4. Insist on a detailed written quote
The quote must itemise scope, materials by specification, labour cost, VAT treatment, payment terms, and start and completion dates. Verbal quotes and vague written ones are a common source of disputes.
5. Agree a payment schedule — not full upfront
A deposit of 10–20% is standard to cover material costs. Larger projects should use milestone-based payment schedules. Paying the full amount before work begins is one of the clearest warning signs of a rogue trader.
6. Ask about waste removal and site protection
Who is responsible for disposing of waste materials? How will your floors, furniture and surrounding areas be protected? Good tradespeople plan this from day one — don't assume it's included.
7. Keep records of everything
Quotes, invoices, receipts, emails and WhatsApp messages are all evidence if things go wrong. Create a folder for every project, including photos of the work in progress and at completion.
🎉 All checks complete!
You're well prepared. Get your quote and find your ideal tradesperson through Trades Merchant.
Understanding and comparing quotes
A quote is not just a number — it's a legal document that defines the scope of your project. A well-written quote protects both you and the tradesperson. Here's exactly what it should contain.
Scope of works
Every task the tradesperson will carry out, listed in detail. "Supply and fit bathroom" is not a scope — "supply and fit Vitra S20 1700mm bath, Hansgrohe Crometta thermostatic bar shower, full tiling to half wall" is.
Materials specification
Brand names, model numbers and grades where relevant. This prevents substitution of cheaper materials without your knowledge once work has started.
Labour cost (separate)
Labour should be itemised separately from materials. This lets you compare like-for-like if getting our best-priced quote and makes VAT position transparent.
VAT position
Clearly states whether quoted prices are inclusive or exclusive of VAT, and whether the business is VAT-registered. Never assume — ask explicitly.
Payment schedule
When each payment is due and how much. Should never require full payment upfront. Milestone-based payments for projects over £5,000 are the norm.
Start and completion dates
Confirmed dates, not estimates. If a tradesperson won't commit to start dates in writing, that's a warning sign of poor scheduling or overcommitment.
Why Trades Merchant quotes are different: We deliver one pre-vetted, best-priced quote from a screened local tradesperson — not a flood of unsolicited calls. Our quote format requires all six elements above, which means you're comparing a complete proposal rather than a headline number.
Accreditation schemes explained
The UK has dozens of trade accreditation schemes, but not all carry the same weight. Here are the most important ones to look for — and what they actually guarantee.
Gas Safe Register
Legal requirement for all gas work in the UK. Check the engineer's registration card and verify the registration number at gassaferegister.co.uk. Never accept "CORGI" — that scheme ended in 2009.
NICEIC
National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting. One of the most recognised electrical competency schemes. Allows engineers to self-certify work against Part P of Building Regulations.
NAPIT
National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers. Equivalent status to NICEIC. Covers electrical, heating, plumbing and building work. Also allows Part P self-certification.
TrustMark
Government-endorsed quality scheme covering a wide range of trades. TrustMark businesses have been assessed on their technical standards, customer service and trading practices.
Federation of Master Builders
The UK's largest trade association for the building industry. FMB members are independently inspected and must maintain standards to retain membership. Particularly relevant for builders and renovations.
NHBC
National House Building Council. Primarily relevant for new builds and major structural work. NHBC Buildmark warranty covers defects for 10 years on registered new homes.
All businesses listed on Trades Merchant are screened for relevant registrations before they appear on our platform. We verify Gas Safe, NICEIC, and NAPIT registrations directly — you don't have to take the tradesperson's word for it.
Warning signs you're dealing with a rogue trader
Rogue traders are unfortunately common in the UK — Trading Standards receives thousands of complaints every year. These six warning signs are consistent across almost all documented cases of cowboy contracting.
Cold-call or doorstep approach
They knock on your door claiming they've "noticed damage while passing". Legitimate tradespeople don't source work this way. This is a hallmark of distraction burglary and opportunistic fraud.
Pressure to decide immediately
"This offer is only valid today" or "I can start tomorrow but only if you decide now." Creating artificial urgency is a classic manipulation tactic to prevent you from doing proper due diligence.
Reluctance to provide a written quote
Any tradesperson who resists putting a quote in writing is protecting themselves, not you. A proper written quote is standard practice for any legitimate job over a few hundred pounds.
Demanding full payment upfront
No legitimate tradesperson requires full payment before work begins. A deposit of up to 20% for materials is reasonable. Full upfront payment nearly always precedes an unfinished job or disappearing contractor.
Cash only, no invoice
Insisting on cash with no paper trail means no comeback for you and likely tax evasion on their part. Always pay by bank transfer or card and insist on a VAT receipt or invoice.
Can't produce insurance documentation
Stalling, making excuses or providing certificates you cannot verify are all red flags. Call the insurer listed on any certificate to confirm it's genuine before work starts.
If you think you've been defrauded: Report it to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk / 0300 123 2040) and Trading Standards via Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk). If you paid by credit card for amounts over £100, you may have a Section 75 claim against your card provider.
Trade-specific hiring guides
Every trade has its own licensing requirements, common pitfalls and things to check. We've written specific guides for each of our main trades — click through for the detail that matters.
Hiring a Plumber
What qualifications matter, when you need a Gas Safe engineer, and how to scope a plumbing job properly.
Hiring an Electrician
NICEIC vs NAPIT, Part P explained, when you need Building Regulations sign-off, and what an EICR covers.
Hiring a Builder
FMB membership, party wall agreements, structural engineer requirements, and how to manage a large build project.
Hiring a Roofer
Why scaffolding costs are often excluded, when to replace vs repair, and how to spot roofing scams.
Hiring a Heating Engineer
Gas Safe registration, what a boiler service covers, heat pump installers and MCS certification explained.
Hiring a Decorator
How to specify paint quality, prep standards that make or break the finish, and how day rates work for decorating.
Seasonal home maintenance checklist
Reactive maintenance costs three to five times more than preventive maintenance. Working through a simple seasonal checklist keeps small problems from becoming expensive ones. Click each season to see what to check.
- Inspect roof for winter damage — missing tiles, cracked flashing, sagging sections
- Clear gutters of autumn leaves and winter debris; check for sagging or leaking joints
- Check exterior paintwork and render for cracking or peeling; re-point brickwork if needed
- Service your boiler ahead of next heating season (book early — summer slots are cheaper)
- Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries
- Check window seals and sills — replace silicone sealant where it has shrunk or cracked
- Inspect fence panels and gate posts for rot or storm damage
- Check loft insulation levels — top up to 270mm if below that
- Check flat roofs after the heat — GRP and felt can expand and crack in sustained heat
- Deep clean bathrooms and kitchens; re-seal silicone around bath and shower tray
- Inspect damp-prone areas (under sinks, around windows) while the weather is dry
- Plan and book major works for autumn — tradespeople are easier to schedule now
- Check soil movement around foundations if you have clay-heavy soil (dry periods cause shrinkage)
- Clean and re-seal block paving or patio slabs; treat decking against weathering
- Check loft ventilation — overheating in summer can damage roofing felt from inside
- Clear gutters again — fallen leaves block downpipes and cause damp and structural damage
- Lag exposed pipes in loft, garage and under floors before first frost
- Service boiler if not done in spring — demand peaks in October, so book early
- Bleed radiators before switching on central heating for the winter
- Check chimney and flue if you have an open fire or wood-burning stove — sweep annually
- Inspect roof and flashings before rain season; patch any pointing around chimney stacks
- Check that outdoor taps are frost-protected or have an internal isolation valve
- Test your stopcock to ensure it can be turned off quickly in a pipe emergency
- Know where your stopcock is — if a pipe bursts, you need to turn water off in seconds
- Keep the heating ticking over (minimum 12°C) even when away — frozen pipes are catastrophic
- Check loft hatch insulation — heat loss through an uninsulated loft hatch is significant
- Monitor for condensation on windows and walls — persistent condensation signals ventilation issues
- Check draft excluders on external doors and letterboxes — significant heat loss comes from here
- Test GFCI/RCD sockets in bathrooms and kitchens — these are life-safety devices
- Plan spring and summer projects now — booking in January often gets you priority slots and lower rates
Emergency guide: water leak at home
A serious water leak can cause tens of thousands of pounds of damage in under an hour. Follow these steps in order — every minute counts.
⚠️ If you see sparks, smell burning or water is near electrical sockets — evacuate immediately and call 999.
Turn off the water supply immediately
Find your stopcock — it's usually under the kitchen sink or near the front door. Turn it clockwise until it stops. If you can't turn the mains off, call your water company's emergency line (on your bill or their website).
Turn off your boiler and heating
If the leak is from a radiator pipe or near the boiler, turn off the system at the boiler itself. Don't attempt to disconnect radiators unless you know how — you'll make it worse.
Open taps to drain the system
Turn on taps throughout the property to drain water from the pipes. This reduces the water that will continue flowing from the leak site after the mains are isolated.
Move valuables and contain the water
Move furniture, electronics, documents and irreplaceable items away from the water. Use towels, buckets and plastic sheeting to contain damage. Take photos at every stage for your insurance claim.
Call your insurer before the plumber
Most home insurers have emergency helplines and may be able to get a plumber to you faster through their contractor network. Call them first — they'll also log the claim, which matters for drying-out costs later.
Call an emergency plumber
If you're insured and your insurer is sending someone, wait. If not, use Trades Merchant to find a local emergency plumber. Confirm their emergency call-out rate before they arrive — rates vary from £80 to £200+ depending on time of day.
How to plan a home renovation
The most expensive renovation mistakes happen before any work starts — poor planning, unrealistic budgets, and the wrong order of trades. This section covers the planning fundamentals that separate successful renovations from disaster stories.
1. Define the scope before costs
Write down exactly what you want to achieve — not in budget terms, but in outcome terms. "A warm, open-plan kitchen-diner that seats eight" is a scope. "A £30,000 kitchen" is a budget. Build scope first, then budget.
2. Budget for 15–20% contingency
Every renovation uncovers surprises — old wiring, structural issues, damp hidden behind plaster. 15% contingency is the minimum; 20% is safer for older properties. If you don't spend it, it's a bonus. If you need it and don't have it, the project stalls.
3. Get planning permission early
Some projects fall within Permitted Development — but checking takes two weeks and appeals can take months. Apply early, factor in the 8-week determination period for full applications, and never start work before consent is granted.
4. Sequence your trades correctly
The right order is: structural/groundworks → first-fix plumbing and electrics → plastering → second-fix plumbing and electrics → flooring → decoration. Doing things out of order forces expensive rework.
5. Document everything with photos
Photograph behind every wall before it's plastered. Photograph where every cable and pipe runs. This is invaluable for future work and essential for insurance claims if something goes wrong.
6. Carry out a thorough snagging inspection
Before final payment, inspect everything methodically — try every light switch, run every tap, open every window and door. Create a written snagging list and agree resolution timescales before releasing the final payment.
Test your knowledge
Answer these five questions to check how confident you are about hiring tradespeople safely. The answers are explained so you learn even if you get them wrong.
🧠 Tradesperson hiring quiz
1. A roofer knocks on your door and says he spotted some missing tiles while passing. What should you do?
2. A gas engineer wants to service your boiler. What is the single most important thing to check before letting them in?
3. A builder asks for 60% of the total project cost upfront before starting. What do you do?
4. An electrician completes some wiring work and says he'll "sort the certificate later". What should you do?
5. Your quote from a tradesperson does not mention VAT. What's the best approach?