Whether you’ve got a simple job or a multi-stage renovation, working with the right tradies can make or break a project. In this blog, we go through what to look for when hiring tradies and how to know if your licensed electrician has the characteristics that will make the job run smoothly, safely, and reliably.
Recognising the tradies you DON’T want to work with
You may have experienced calling a tradie only to get a gruff voicemail and waiting days for a return call. Or that one tradie who promises the world but never even shows up.
So, how do you sort the good from the bad? Do you just have to put up with it to get the job done? NO!
Here are some tips on what to look out for to AVOID bad tradies:
Poor communication
This type of tradie doesn’t answer the phone, and there are long delays in calling or emailing you back. Even after the job, you might be left waiting for a follow-up or an invoice that doesn’t itemise the work completed. This leaves you guessing and means you can’t tick the job off your to-do list.
Poor time management
They might leave you waiting around all day for a visit that never comes or arrives on your doorstep with no warning. Part of this comes down to the electrical systems they have in place, like whether they use an online job management software or are still relying on an old paper diary. Poor time management is ultimately disrespectful to the customer. You have things to do and places to be, and a good tradie will recognise that.
Dirty and untidy
Muddy boots, grubby outfits, bad body odour. There’s no reason a tradie can’t bring a spare change of clothes, leave their boots at the door or put on some fresh deodorant. Tradies that don’t clean up after themselves or leave things lying around show a lack of respect for your home.
Bad manners
There are some tradies that are outright rude, but others might be harder to spot. They’re the ones that you can tell aren’t listening while you’re trying to explain the job, or talk over you in a rush to explain the problem and get onto the next job. Although tradies can get a bad rap when it comes to manners, poor etiquette is NOT something you have to put up with.
Makes you feel uncomfortable in your own home
When you have tradies in your home, you want to feel comfortable having them around. Always listen to your gut. If someone has no regard for personal space or privacy, show them the door!
No accountability
This might take the form of poor workmanship, not owning up to a mistake, not having insurance, or showing up without a uniform or branded work vehicle. Accountability is central to building trust, and you want to be able to trust the people working in and around your home.
This is especially true for electrical work, where safety and precision are paramount. Hiring the right electrician ensures not only quality workmanship but also adherence to electrical compliance, which is essential for the safety of your property.
Trustworthy professionals, such as registered electrical contractors from a reputable electrical contracting business, will always have the right credentials and a professional approach to their work.
For commercial electrical services, it's even more critical to hire a professional electrician. Whether it's a small retail space or a large office building, experienced electrical contractors will ensure that all systems comply with your territory's applicable electrical legislation and are functioning efficiently.
Related Posts:
- Are Ceiling Fans Safe To Leave On Overnight?
- Electrical Safety Inspection for a Safe Home in 2022
- Top 10 Reasons to Choose Kenner Electrics - Eastern Melbourne Electrician
How to pick the RIGHT tradie for the job
Alright, so we know what type of tradie we DON’T want, but how do we find the right type of tradie before we start the job? There’s a few questions you can ask yourself before the job even starts…
How do they answer the phone?
Do they answer the first time you call? Do they sound professional and friendly, or are they annoyed you interrupted them? Just this simple question can tell you a lot about the processes they have in place for customer service.
Are they friendly and polite?
This one’s easy to get a vibe straight away, over the phone or via email. Do they listen to your concerns without cutting you off?
Do they have an online presence?
Whether they have a website is a great starting point, and it is even better if that website is informative and gives you an idea of what to expect when they show up at your door.
Do they have good reviews?
Always check out the Google reviews of a trade company before you hire them. Reviews can tell you a lot about the experiences of previous customers and whether the company is reliable and trustworthy.
Do they have the appropriate licenses and qualifications?
You might even want to check that they are fully licensed. Good tradies will have their license number clearly stated (on their website or vehicle, etc.) and will show you their license upon request.
How do they present themselves?
A good tradie will show up in a branded work vehicle and uniform, so you instantly know where they’re from. They’ll be clean (as much as you can expect from a tradie!) and offer to take off their boots (or put boot covers on) at the door.
Do they offer upfront and transparent quotes?
Ask how they run their jobs and whether they will give you a quote upfront. A good tradie will be able to give you a quote (or at least an estimate) for your peace of mind.
Do they deliver on their promises?
If they promise to come at 10 am, do they? If they promise to call you to follow up after the job is complete, does it happen?
There are many other questions you could ask, but the main thing is to make sure the tradie is trustworthy, friendly and reliable.
Why choose Kenner Electrics?
We’ve thought long and hard about the things that make great tradies stand out from the pack. And we’ve built our business on it!
If you asked all the questions above about our company, we hope that you’d give us a big tick on each one!
Here’s a summary of the Top 10 Reasons to Choose Kenner Electrics. Click through to the blog to read more about how we strive to be the best choice electrician for your job.
- We’re a local, family-run, community-oriented small business
- We communicate!
- Our team are friendly and trustworthy.
- We’re there when you need us, for whatever you need
- Our tradies are tidy and well presented
- We’re the experts (but we’re continually learning!)
- We quote upfront before we start the job
- We share our knowledge of electrical safety
- We are sustainability-focused
- We are highly recommended
We hope that this blog has given you confidence in choosing the right tradie for your next job. And if that job involves electrical, security or data, we hope that you choose Kenner Electrics!
