Tips on finding a tradesperson

The best thing you can do when undergoing a renovation project is plan! And that includes finding the best tradesperson for the job. Follow our tips to help smooth the journey to finding the right expert for your project.

• Read up on your project. Gathering all the trustworthy advice you can find about the DIY project you are going to undertake will put you in the best position to begin planning your project.
• Make a plan. It’s not the most thrilling part of the project, but planning will ensure you know how much time you’ll need, which tools you’ll need, and are clear about the order in which to do things and the results you want. Let your available budget guide your planning – it’s better to do smaller projects you’ll definitely be able to afford to finish, than starting off with grand plans you have to discard when you run out of budget.
• Go sample hunting. Before you make any decisions about colours, patterns or fabrics, gather up samples so you can see how each one works in the space you are decorating. The lighting, other colours and existing furniture or fixtures in the room can all change your opinion, so having samples could save you a costly mistake. Try magazines for colour combinations, DIY shops for paint samples, and markets or haberdasheries for fabric swatches. If you’re browsing online, check if the stockist provides samples: at Topps Tiles, we’ll send out tile samples with no postage charge, and let you return full (not cut) samples to any store for a full refund.
• When engaging a trader, it's always a good idea to have a clear idea of what you want for the space, giving them a solid brief to work from to ensure they understand your wants and needs.

Finding a tradesperson

• If you are hiring a tradesperson, ask them for references from previous customers and, if you can, speak to these customers. Asking for imagery of the finished project is always a good idea.
• See if they're on social media and take a look at their profile. See lots of imagery of their work is a good indicator or style and quality but also take a look at the comments, are other tradespeople celebrating their work?
• Ask around: in a survey we recently carried out, 80% of respondents said they seek out recommendations from family or friends before hiring a tradesperson, and we agree that this is a great way to ensure you find someone who’ll do a good job. If you've spotted a company van outside a neighbours home whilst they're renovating, pop over and ask them their thoughts on their contractor, they might even let you take a look at the finished project to see if it meets your standards!
• Seek online sources such as Checkatrade and TrustATrader for reviews. You can even contact your county council, looking for 'approved traders' or 'trading standards' on their website. Another tip is to ask if they belong to an association like TTA (The Tile Association) and then check with that organisation.
• Make sure you are getting a competitive price by asking a few different tradesperson for a quote and then comparing them for the best deal – something our survey found almost three-quarters of respondents do.
• Finally, ask them a few questions about specific parts of your project, a great example is tiling an interesting laying pattern like herringbone. If they refuse to do it then you can surmise that they're not the right tiler for you - either they aren't skilled enough at their profession, or they don't care enough about what you want and could be tricky to work with.