10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Tradesperson

The first phone call tells you more than almost anything else. Long before any work begins, the questions to ask a tradesman before hiring will reveal whether you are dealing with someone organised, honest and properly set up, or someone you should quietly move on from. You do not need to be confrontational. You simply need to ask, and then listen to how the answers come back.

Below is a practical first-call script: ten questions, what each one is really checking, and what a reassuring answer sounds like. Keep it to hand when you make your enquiries.

Why the First Conversation Matters

A good tradesperson expects to be asked these things. They run a real business, they carry the right cover, and they would rather work with a customer who is clear about what they want. The questions are not a test designed to catch people out. They are a way for both sides to understand each other before money and time are committed.

The 10 Questions

1. Are you fully insured, and can I see your public liability certificate?

Why it matters: Public liability insurance protects you if your property is damaged or someone is hurt during the work.

A good answer sounds like: "Yes, I will send you a copy of my certificate." Hesitation, or a promise to "sort it later", is a warning sign.

2. Can you give me references from recent, similar jobs?

Why it matters: Recent references for work like yours are the closest thing to seeing the result before you commit.

A good answer sounds like: "Of course, here are two customers from the last few months you can call." Vagueness or reluctance is telling.

3. Will I get a written, itemised quote?

Why it matters: A written quote breaks the job into labour, materials and scope, so there are no surprises and you can compare fairly.

A good answer sounds like: "Yes, I will put everything in writing before we start." If everything stays verbal, nothing is pinned down. Our guide on how to compare tradesperson quotes shows what a fair quote should contain.

4. Does the price include VAT?

Why it matters: A figure that excludes VAT can be twenty per cent higher than it first appears, which distorts any comparison.

A good answer sounds like: A clear statement either way. "The total includes VAT" or "I am not VAT registered, so there is none to add" are both fine. Ambiguity is not.

5. How long do you expect the work to take?

Why it matters: A realistic timescale shows the person has thought the job through and can plan around their other work.

A good answer sounds like: A sensible window with reasons, for example "around three days, depending on what we find behind the wall." Beware both wild optimism and a refusal to commit to anything at all.

6. What are your payment terms?

Why it matters: Payment terms reveal a great deal. A reasonable deposit for materials on a larger job can be normal; demanding most of the cost up front is not.

A good answer sounds like: "A small deposit for materials, then the balance on completion once you are happy." Be cautious of cash-only demands or large advance payments. Remember that you should always pay the provider directly. A trustworthy platform never sits between you and your money.

7. Who will actually be doing the work?

Why it matters: Sometimes the person who quotes is not the person who turns up. You are entitled to know who will be in your home.

A good answer sounds like: "I will be doing it myself" or "my colleague Sam, who is also fully insured, will carry it out." You want to know they are vetted too.

8. Do you offer a guarantee on the work?

Why it matters: A guarantee shows the tradesperson stands behind what they do and expects it to last.

A good answer sounds like: A clear period and a clear scope, ideally in writing. "Twelve months on the labour" is a real commitment. "It will be fine, do not worry" is not.

9. Do you hold the right qualifications or registrations for this job?

Why it matters: Some work is regulated for safety. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and electrical work is commonly carried out by electricians registered with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT.

A good answer sounds like: A specific registration you can check on the official register, not a general "I have been doing this for years." Experience is welcome, but it does not replace the legally required registration.

10. Have you done this exact type of job before?

Why it matters: A skilled plumber is not automatically the right person to retile a bathroom. You want relevant, not merely general, experience.

A good answer sounds like: A confident yes with a couple of recent examples, or an honest "that is not my area, but I can recommend someone." Honesty here is itself a good sign.

Several of These Worries Fall Away When Someone Is Already Verified

Notice how many of these questions are really one question in disguise: can I trust who I am dealing with? On a platform where providers are identity checked and insurance verified before they ever appear, and where reviews come only from real, completed work, several of these concerns are answered before you even make contact. You can spend the call on the job itself rather than on proving the basics.

That is the idea behind DomusVesta. The groundwork of checking identity, confirming insurance and ensuring reviews are genuine is done in advance, so the conversation can move straight to your project, with clear pricing and direct contact throughout.

Put It All Together

These ten questions take only a few minutes, yet they filter out a large share of poor experiences. Combine them with a wider sense of who you are hiring, and you are on firm ground. Our guide on how to find a trusted tradesperson in the UK sets out the full vetting routine that surrounds this first call.

Ready When You Are

Asking good questions is the simplest protection you have, and any tradesperson worth hiring will respect you for it. If you would like that reassurance built in from the start, DomusVesta is creating a place where every provider is identity checked and insurance verified before they appear, with clear pricing and direct communication, and no commission taken from their work. We are signing up members now, ahead of a town-by-town launch. Create your free account so trusted help is ready when you need it.