Thinking of bringing in a professional to do your home improvements? A new survey warns that half of the UK’s homeowners have been ripped off by a rogue trader.*
The survey, by Checkatrade.com, says that Londoners are most at risk and people in Northern Ireland are safest.
It’s easy to panic in a home emergency and pick up the phone to the nearest handyman without seeking a recommendation. If you have a good Home Insurance policy, your provider may give you the option of a 24-hour Home Emergency helpline, and they’ll send someone reputable out to help you.
Of course, you don’t have to be in a panic to fall prey to the charms of a “cowboy builder”. Here are a few things to check before you agree to let them work on your home:
Avoid cold callers. If a tradesman is reputable, it’s unlikely that they’ll have time to tout for business door-to-door. They’ll be so busy that you need to hunt them out. Beware if anyone comes to your door and suggests jobs that need doing, or tells you they’ve been working in the area and just happens to have some materials left over that they could use on your house. Also beware the builder who can start tomorrow!
If a tradesman tries to give you the hard sell, or quotes a price and then quickly reduces it to try and get you to agree to having work done, walk away.
Ask for recommendations from friends and family who’ve already had work done, and use a website such as Checkatrade.com to see if they’ve already been recommended. Don’t be afraid to ask for references – if they become evasive or vague when you ask them about work they’ve done in the past, they’re best avoided.
Get contact details before they start the job – and make sure you have more than a mobile number. You’ll need a landline number and trading address, which might be their home address, but at least you’ll know where they’re based if anything goes wrong.
Keep an eye on progress every day and if at any point you’re unhappy with the work, say so. A good tradesman will want to do the best job possible, and should be happy to change things or compromise if you tell them you’re not happy with how things are going.
# – www.checkatrade.com
Company Profile:
John Lewis Insurance offers a range of insurance services selected by the John Lewis Partnership. These include car, life, travel, wedding, event, pet and home insurance products.
For more information about John Lewis Home Insurance please visit the website here – www.johnlewis-insurance.com/homepage/home-insurance.html.
John Lewis Insurance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and eligibility criteria apply. A full copy of the policy wording and the insurance complaints procedure are available on request.
