Choosing A Tradesperson With Confidence

Hiring a tradesperson is something most of us only do occasionally, so it’s normal to feel unsure about where to start. You might know what work needs doing, but not how to choose the right person or how to make sure the project runs smoothly once it begins.

We get asked about this a lot, as homeowners regularly contact us asking if we know a good tradesperson or ask whether they’re asking the right questions before agreeing to a job.

We can’t recommend individual tradespeople, but we didn’t want to stop there. So we looked at it properly, pulling the latest complaints data from Citizens Advice to see where issues tend to come up most often and where things seem to be improving. We’ve also leaned on what we see day to day from working with trades and homeowners across the UK.

This guide is designed to help you feel more confident at every stage, from finding a tradesperson you can trust to setting the project up properly through clear communication and shared expectations. A few simple steps at the beginning can make a big difference to how the work turns out.

Our research

If you’re planning work on your home, it’s useful to have a bit of context before you start.

Different types of work come with different levels of complexity and that can shape how projects tend to play out.

Looking at where complaints crop up most often and how those numbers are changing helps give that wider picture. That’s why we requested the latest home maintenance and improvement complaints data from Citizens Advice, showing which trades see more complaints overall and which are seeing fewer than before.

In total, just under 40,000 complaints were recorded by Citizens Advice in England during 2025 across home maintenance and improvement work.

When you look at where those complaints sit, they tend to be linked to more involved jobs.

Roofing comes out highest, followed by major renovations and work on windows and doors. These are all projects with more stages, more decisions and more room for things to be misunderstood if details aren’t clear.

Further down the list, complaints are spread across lots of different types of work, each making up a smaller share.

The year-on-year changes also show that these numbers don’t stay the same. Some areas saw more complaints, while others saw fewer than before. For homeowners, this shows that complaints aren’t unavoidable and that projects can run more smoothly or more poorly depending on how the work is planned, carried out and finished.

Exterior masonry paint and wall protection

As a masonry paint specialist, we’re naturally interested in where decorating, wall coatings and damp-related work sits, where paint has to do more than look good.

All three of these areas were among the top five for the biggest reduction in complaints, each seeing falls of more than 23% compared to the previous year, which for us is genuinely encouraging to see.

When issues do arise in these areas, it’s often because products are misunderstood, expected to do too much or used to try to solve problems they weren’t designed to fix.

Part of the drop in complaints could be linked to a wider shift towards better products, clearer information and a stronger focus on independently tested performance. When products are chosen based on evidence rather than claims and when their limitations are properly understood, expectations tend to be set more accurately from the start.

That matters for trades as much as it does for homeowners. When product performance is clear and transparent, there’s less risk of projects being compromised by the products used, with better information helping everyone judge the work on the right terms, which in turn can lead to fewer complaints being raised.

How to choose the right tradesperson

Choosing the right tradesperson isn’t about catching someone out or knowing the technical detail yourself.

It’s about whether the person you’re speaking to is comfortable explaining what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and what you should realistically expect.

This applies across most types of home improvement work, whether you’re speaking to a decorator, builder or specialist, clear communication and realistic expectations make a big difference to how a project feels once it’s underway.

Here are a few simple things to look out for and a few things to be wary of.

What to look for:

• Clear quotes that outline scope, materials and timescales
• Someone who asks detailed questions about the job before offering solutions
• Clear explanations around what work is needed and why
• Willingness to explain what materials or products will be used
• Openness about what the work will and won’t achieve
• Comfort answering questions without rushing or brushing them off
• Clear agreement on scope, timing and expectations

What to be cautious of:

• Jumping straight to solutions without looking properly
• Vague answers about materials, products or methods
• Treating all jobs as the same regardless of conditions
• No references
• Suspiciously low quotes
• Not setting out what is included in the quote
• Asking for cash payment upfront
• No written contract
• No registered business address
• Disregard for health and safety

Our three tips for success:

1. Take a bit of time to understand the products – More homeowners are now doing a bit of their own research into products, thinking about what suits their home and then talking that through with their chosen tradesperson.

2. Agree what success looks like – Before anything starts, make sure you and the tradesperson are on the same page about the outcome. That includes how the finish should look, how it should perform over time and what factors could affect the result. Clear agreement here helps avoid misunderstandings later on.

3. Don’t rush decisions – Whether it’s choosing a tradesperson, agreeing on a product or setting a start date, taking a bit more time upfront often pays off. Rushed decisions are where most issues creep in.

Most people don’t hire tradespeople often, so feeling unsure is completely normal. The aim isn’t to get everything perfect – it’s to have clear conversations and make sure everyone is working towards the same outcome.

From what we see, projects tend to go best when people understand what the work is meant to do, how long it should last and what factors can affect it. You don’t need technical knowledge, just someone who’s happy to explain their approach and be honest about the limits of the work.

If you take one thing away, ask questions, take your time and choose someone who values doing the job properly rather than quickly. That mindset helps support good tradespeople and gives your project the best chance of holding up well long after the work is finished.

Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Trends

Filtered:

Date: 01/01/2025-31/12/2025

Client Region: ‘All’ ‘Wales’ and ‘Scotland’ deselected so England is remaining

Goods/Service Subheader: AB, AC and AF selected (This is ‘Home Maintenance & Improvements, Glazing products and installations and Floor coverings).