A couple of years ago we had to change the driveway on our house as a delivery truck caused the original one to sink and crack a concrete path. So I had the unenjoyable task of searching for reliable block paving contractors and bricklayers as I wanted to get a partition wall built at the same time.

After getting 5 salesmen to come in and show me flashy brochures, I weighed up their costs and the impression I got from them about the company they represented and made my decision, the final result was a pretty good block paving replacement but a brick wall that started to literally fall apart after 3 months due to the fact the mortar was not well mixed and the coping stones were coming off the top and a row of bricks had partly collapsed.

So how can the internet help us to avoid cowboy builders and plumbers?, well I was looking for spare parts for an old car of mine once upon a time and came across a website that you could specify what you were looking for, supply your contact details, and shortly after that I had several quick and friendly phonecalls from breakers yards offering the exact part (an electric window motor for my Nissan Primera) all at least 75% cheaper than a brand new one from Nissan and they would all post it to me. I picked one and the next day had the part installed… fantastic!.

But back to cowboys and how to avoid them, I found recently a website where people who have hired a tradesman write up a review of how it went so you could instantly get references for previous jobs that a local tradesman had already carried out recently they seem to get 1000′s of jobs every week so it must be really working.

All you do is sign up – which is free and takes 30 seconds, then you post details of the job. e.g. “My tap won’t stop dripping!” and then literally within around 10 minutes you can have 3 calls from highly rated local tradesmen asking if they can come round and quote for the job. Best of all, it’s free to use as a customer (they make money from the tradesmen) and none of the tradesmen who rang when I tried the service wanted to charge me for coming out to quote.

It’s free for you to get quotes from tradesmen so get that job done with someone reliable!

Bookmark: http://www.bradmcallister.com/go/ratedpeople/