Why this matters
Whether it's a plumber, a builder, a painter or a renovator, the difference between a great job and a nightmare usually comes down to who you hired, not what you paid. The good news: a handful of checks filters out almost every bad actor. Here's the checklist we'd use ourselves.
1. Get at least three written quotes
One quote tells you nothing. Three lets you spot the outlier — the suspiciously cheap one (cutting corners or under-scoping) and the inflated one. Insist each quote itemises materials and labour separately so you're comparing like for like, not a single lump sum.
2. Verify the credential for the trade
"Vetted" means different things by trade. Check the one that applies:
- Plumbing: PIRB / IPSASA registration or a QCTO Trade Test Certificate; a Certificate of Compliance on geyser work.
- Electrical: a registered wireman's licence and a COC for new installations — required by law.
- Solar: SAPVIA registration and indemnity insurance.
- Security: PSiRA registration.
- Building & renovations: trade references, recent project photos, and (for new builds) NHBRC registration.
3. Call a real reference and see recent work
Ask for the contact details of a customer from the last three months and actually phone them. Ask the only two questions that matter: "Would you use them again?" and "Did the final price match the quote?" Photos of finished jobs help, but a live reference is worth more.
4. Never pay the full amount upfront
This is the single biggest scam-avoider. A reasonable structure is a deposit for materials (often 30–50%) and the balance in stages against visible progress, with a final payment only once you've snagged the work. Walk away from anyone demanding 100% before starting.
5. Get it in writing
A simple written agreement should cover the scope, the price, the payment stages, the start and finish dates, and what happens if something goes wrong. It protects both sides and weeds out anyone who won't commit on paper.
6. Watch for the red flags
- Pressure to decide today or pay cash upfront for "materials".
- No physical address, no written quote, or a reluctance to give references.
- A price far below everyone else's — it usually reappears as "extras" later.
- No mention of compliance certificates where the law requires them.
How FlowLeads helps
We match you with up to 3 vetted local pros — never spammed by a dozen — so you start from a shortlist that's already been checked for ratings, reviews and contactability. You still run the checklist above, but you skip the part where you're cold-calling strangers from a directory. Tell us what you need and get free quotes →