As the internet grows, more and more homeowners use it as a resource to source contractors to carry out work on their property. It can be easier to search for a local builder or plumber during your lunch break at work, however a bit of advice to all homeowners is to exercise caution. There are numerous “agencies” and “directories” in assistance that claim to have “recommended” contractors on their books who are available to take out your work.

It is not just important that you take the time to establish what exactly you are paying for but also whether the “company” you are using has your best interests in mind. Many agencies exist purely to make a profit, they register as many local contractors as they can…take their money and use that to plough back into aggressive advertising campaigns to drive customers their way. You will find the word “recommended” all over their advertising literature and website, but little reference as to how they monitor, screen or indeed recommend any of the contractors they put forward.

Many of these agencies and directories take a “fee” for passing your details on to the contractors who advertise with them or even a fixed percentage of the contract…so you could end up paying 10-20% more than you should to cover the costs of the agency. If you want to avoid this then look for services where you find contact details free of charge, without having to register your details or give specifics on the job you require. It is not uncommon for an agency to ask you to register your job with them first of all, this allows them to use this lead to ring around contractors in your area and effectively “sell” the lead to them. In this scenario the agency would take the cash from the first contractor to agree to their fee, hardly an ethical system for recommendation.

SafeTrade is an organisation which continually monitors the performance of its registered contractors to ensure that they work to the highest standards. SafeTrade also provides you with direct access to local contractors contact details and remains totally independent from the contract, ensuring that best practice is employed.

SafeTrade, Genuine Approved and Recommended Builders, Plumbers, Electricians, Plasterers, Joiners, Painters and Decorators etc