The Best Place To Find Reputable Local Tradesmen

Reputable Workmen Directory UK features the most popular and highly reviewed service providers in your area. Our featured service pages also feature helpful tips and information on identifying cowboy tradespeople and the online resources available to check if a service provider is genuine.

How to Find a Trusted Tradesperson

When it comes to finding a trusted electrician, auto electrician, auto locksmith or locksmith, there are a few different ways you can go about it. You can look online, check the various websites that review and rate contractors like us or even use a phone directory. Whichever option you choose, you should take your time to find a suitable tradesperson and remember, if one quote seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Who Should Use MyBuilder?

MyBuilder is one of the most popular tradesperson search engines in the UK, enabling customers to find great local builders. It also promotes high-quality work. The service is easy to navigate and offers flexibility, and you can use the search engine to filter results according to your location. When you find a tradesperson you like, you can choose them based on their profile and price quotes. If you are happy with the trader, you can pay a nominal fee to add them to your shortlist. Depending on the job size, the shortlisting cost can be as little as £2 a month.

Although you can get excellent quality leads from MyBuilder, you need to be aware that there are disadvantages to this type of platform. For one, it does not remove bad reviews, which can lead to a poor appraisal of their skills, which may spread to word-of-mouth appraisals. MyBuilder also does not offer a membership fee or an annual listing fee; instead, you pay a nominal shortlisting fee when you are ready to exchange contact details. If you are a first-time builder, this site might be helpful to get started, but it is not the best choice for all tradespeople. While MyBuilder will help you find a good tradesperson, there is no way to know how well they will do the job.

TrustATrader, on the other hand, is an online vetting service that runs advertisements for tradespeople on radio and television. It also offers text-a-trader, allowing customers to send a tradesperson a message. However, although it is a convenient tool for consumers, it is more expensive than MyBuilder. Traders on TrustATrader are required to sign up for an ADR scheme, meaning they must have relevant certificates and a healthy financial position. In addition, traders must undergo a rigorous vetting process.

Who Should Use RatedPeople?

Rated People is a tradesperson search engine that resembles a reverse Yellow Pages. It provides tradespeople with a lead-generation platform to help them fill in gaps in their calendars. The website features several vital advantages for traders, including a streamlined signup process and a robust customer support system. Tradespeople can choose to register with Rated People as a paid member or as a free member. In either case, they must pass a vetting process. As a member, they are also required to undergo a background check, which means that only reputable traders can join the site.

Rated People are a relatively large website with a membership base of around 30,000 tradespeople. However, there are plenty of competing services out there. Regardless, you will have to decide if the benefits of using Rated People outweigh the risks. Rated People use a closed rating system, unlike other tradesperson websites, which means you only get feedback from customers willing to provide it. Although Rated People is a credible source of tradesperson information, the company has been subject to criticism in the past. Another issue was that some of the site tradespeople did not answer their phone calls.

Advantages Of Using Checkatrade

If you are looking to hire a tradesperson locally for a job around the house or to fix your vehicle, Checkatrade is a great online resource find one. Unlike other directories, Checkatrade allows customers to read verified reviews on local tradespeople. Checkatrade also provides a platform for customers to contact a tradesperson directly. While Checkatrade is free for customers, tradespeople who wish to advertise their services pay a subscription fee. The services offered by a tradesperson are listed on the site, along with their contact details. To ensure they are qualified, Checkatrade runs a strict background check on each tradesperson, which includes checking references and face-to-face consultation.

Tradespeople in the UK such as electricians and builders use websites such as Checkatrade to establish themselves as a trusted local tradesperson where they are able to showcase their qualifications and experience. Eventually customers will post reviews of their work which improves their credibility within the local community and attract new customers. Additionally, Checkatrade provides a platform for customers to easily find and research local tradespeople, which can help tradespeople increase their visibility and reach new customers.

Checkatrade was launched in 1998 by a plumber named Kevin Byrne.  Kevin wanted to create a online platform which enabled consumers to find reliable tradespeople locally. One of the fundamental reasons why Checkatrade is so popular is because every tradespeople have been vetted and screened, which means customers are less likely to become a victim of a rogue trader.

Advantages Of Using TrustMark

In the UK, the TrustMark scheme is the only national find a tradesperson website, giving consumers a quality and reassurance service that they can depend on, and the scheme is available to homeowners all across the UK tradespeople that are listed on the site are vetted to ensure they meet a set of standards and carry the proper insurance. This means consumers are assured that their tradesperson is committed to exemplary customer service and high professional standards. Aside from offering a reputable and unbiased service, the scheme also provides a range of remedies to homeowners who a tradesperson may have harmed. These include a free warranty for work valued between £500 and £50,000 and a complaints process, allowing customers to resolve their problems. The Government, consumer help groups, and the building industry have supported the scheme, aiming to improve workmanship quality by providing a database of quality-assured traders.

Currently, there are around 14,000 businesses in the TrustMark database and traders who participate in the scheme will receive additional business support. Consumers can find reliable tradespeople by searching the TrustMark website or downloading the app, which enables consumers to save telephone conversations and photographs and ask the right questions. The app is user-friendly and quick to use. Customers can also read reviews left by other users. Negative feedback is published within five days of being received, and the reviewer has the right to contact the tradesperson.

Consumers can also review work done by tradespeople on the Checkatrade website. This service is also non-profit and aims to improve standards among tradespeople. Some firms pay to feature on the website. There are also trade associations that can indicate the expertise and professionalism of a tradesperson. To join these schemes, a firm must be a trade association member. Firms joining the TrustMark scheme must be registered, have trading records checked, and agree to comply with Government-endorsed fair trading standards.