Checkatrade, Rated people etc.
Discussion
Hi I don't post much but could do with a bit of Ph market research.
I'm a cabinet maker just starting out self employed, mainly just fitting kitchens for a start.
Anyway I've been using mybuilder.com to get some leads but it is expensive, got checkatrade coming to give me an interview and obviously there are other sites doing the same thing.
What I would like to know is how you would go about finding tradesmen if you didn't have a personal recommendation?
Anyone used checkatrade from a tradesman point of view, is it worth it?
I'm a cabinet maker just starting out self employed, mainly just fitting kitchens for a start.
Anyway I've been using mybuilder.com to get some leads but it is expensive, got checkatrade coming to give me an interview and obviously there are other sites doing the same thing.
What I would like to know is how you would go about finding tradesmen if you didn't have a personal recommendation?
Anyone used checkatrade from a tradesman point of view, is it worth it?
Yes, I do. I believe it gives a certain level of comfort and is not just a stab in the dark as it used to be with Yellow Pages etc. I used Checkatrade last month to find a central heating plumber and it worked out OK. I did rate them well but getting them back when there was a problem was the usual wait/no show routine.
I do commercial work, the only websites like these that are any good are check a trade or which trust a trader. They vet you, yr company and work properly They'll ring customers and get feedback.
Every other such site is a scam. Basically all you do is pay to be listed and then try and buy leads for work.
I had staff research this method of advertising for quite some time. Yes it all costs to advertise but the medium of newspapers and print has had its day
Every other such site is a scam. Basically all you do is pay to be listed and then try and buy leads for work.
I had staff research this method of advertising for quite some time. Yes it all costs to advertise but the medium of newspapers and print has had its day
If I want a local tradesman I'd ask friends for recommendations first. If that doesn't give an answer, I'd google and add my town for location - then checkout their websites and/or facebook page for examples of completed work/reviews.
Local social media sites www.streetlife.com and local facebook group are useful as people often ask for recommendations on those sites.
Local social media sites www.streetlife.com and local facebook group are useful as people often ask for recommendations on those sites.
Tried rated people a few times when I had a lull and it's poor value TBH - was okay when they focussed advertising on middle class papers but went useless when they put ads on itv. Probably okay if you're the cheapest and ready to start work there and then and still able to absorb their charges. And don't mind paying quite high charges to waste your time giving idiots a 2nd opinion on the price of the guy they were going to use all along, or stuff they simply cant afford etc etc etc.
YoungOne said:
What I would like to know is how you would go about finding tradesmen if you didn't have a personal recommendation?
From a customer viewpoint, most of the people I know who need someone to do work will use checkatrade. There's the other website, too, but I can't remember what it's called despite regular and funny ads on the radio. Sorry, Paddy!Most of the check a trade type sites are very expensive for membership, plus they also filter the reviews a bit (which may or may not be benificial to you).
However, I have known other trades to join and they have said the phone never stops ringing.
Having said that, they also say that they get all the idiots calling as well.
However, I have known other trades to join and they have said the phone never stops ringing.
Having said that, they also say that they get all the idiots calling as well.
YoungOne said:
Looks like a consensus towards checkatrade then, I've got an interview next Friday so hopefully I'll go with them. £700 a year though.
Just under £60 a month; I'd like to think it will bring you more business than the £60 a month it would cost.And I didn't know they interviewed. That gives me even more reason to go via checkatrade.
im not sure i believe some of the reviews on checkatrade.
Ive had a look on there before and i was surprised how many (all?) of the companies were 9.7 9.8. 9.4 9.6 etc etc. I thought to myself 'well i know him and he's an animal, i know him and he's work is terrible, i know him and i know he tries to charge extra'
From my pov as a tradesman, i wonder if i went on it why would anyone initially pick me? i'd have no reviews until i got some jobs, i'd then be competing with people who have lets say 150 reviews which all dubiously say 9.7 out of 10. i can't see how i'd win any work.
The interviews these people conduct aren't a lot either. I was harassed into going on which trust a trader which initially sounded quite good to me. They came down and interviewed me. All they all want is stuff like
address, phone number, do you give an invoice, whats your warranty stance, how long have you been going, vat no, some example invoices and some recommendations. well its not hard for anyone to give details of the good jobs so to speak.
I didn't bother with the which one, i was harassed for weeks/months.
i once tried rated people and it was a race to the bottom. The other prices i heard were less than cost in some cases with no labour
i know how it works but sadly a lot of the public don't.
I think its very difficult for the general public to know what they are getting. Local Facebook groups can be ok but our local one has relentless recommendations for their mates making them look good, when infact they aren't.
Theres even a few people who relentlessly recommend themselves, claiming they are the best and people believe it! i don't shout about myself but sometimes i think i should.
Ive had a look on there before and i was surprised how many (all?) of the companies were 9.7 9.8. 9.4 9.6 etc etc. I thought to myself 'well i know him and he's an animal, i know him and he's work is terrible, i know him and i know he tries to charge extra'
From my pov as a tradesman, i wonder if i went on it why would anyone initially pick me? i'd have no reviews until i got some jobs, i'd then be competing with people who have lets say 150 reviews which all dubiously say 9.7 out of 10. i can't see how i'd win any work.
The interviews these people conduct aren't a lot either. I was harassed into going on which trust a trader which initially sounded quite good to me. They came down and interviewed me. All they all want is stuff like
address, phone number, do you give an invoice, whats your warranty stance, how long have you been going, vat no, some example invoices and some recommendations. well its not hard for anyone to give details of the good jobs so to speak.
I didn't bother with the which one, i was harassed for weeks/months.
i once tried rated people and it was a race to the bottom. The other prices i heard were less than cost in some cases with no labour
i know how it works but sadly a lot of the public don't.I think its very difficult for the general public to know what they are getting. Local Facebook groups can be ok but our local one has relentless recommendations for their mates making them look good, when infact they aren't.
Theres even a few people who relentlessly recommend themselves, claiming they are the best and people believe it! i don't shout about myself but sometimes i think i should.
When I have been desperate to find a Trade in the past I've tried:
My Builder, Rated People and another one - all were useless - full of chancers
I then used Checkatrade to find an Oil Plumber - not exactly scientific as he's the only Trade I've used but he was very picky (good when setting up a boiler) but slow - I'd use him again for technical jobs.
My Builder, Rated People and another one - all were useless - full of chancers
I then used Checkatrade to find an Oil Plumber - not exactly scientific as he's the only Trade I've used but he was very picky (good when setting up a boiler) but slow - I'd use him again for technical jobs.
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