A third of homeowners are put off home renovations for fear of rogue traders

21/06/2022

New UK research reveals that one third of homeowners are put off home renovations for fear of hiring a rogue trader. It’s an alarming statistic – but a sign of our times. Unfortunately, the recent renovation boom across the country has created the ideal environment for rogue traders to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners who are desperate to find contractors to carry out their projects.

What to look out for?

According to statistics, electricians, roofers and plumbers are main professions attracting rogue traders and altogether some 13% of Britons have been victims of botched jobs in the past year. Rogue traders are renowned for a poor standard of workmanship, over-charging for the work they do and putting homeowners under pressure to pay them for unnecessary work.

How can you spot a rogue trader?

Be wary of a contractor who is ready to take on the work immediately – in the current climate, a good builder is a very busy builder
Beware of people who turn up on your doorstep having spotted a problem with your home from outside and offer to do the work straight away
A qualified experienced tradesperson will not ask you to pay the entire cost of the job up front
Remember, if a quote sounds too good to be true, it probably is

Finding a professional: where to look

A personal recommendation is the key way British homeowners find tradespeople for their projects, with a recent survey showing that 59% found a tradesperson through a family recommendation and 66% through a friend’s.

Online social sites such as Facebook and Nextdoor can also be good sources of recommendations - 19% found a tradesperson through Facebook, 11% through Nextdoor.

38% of people use price comparison sites such as Checkatrade, Rated People and MyBuilder, but it’s always wise to do your own checks on traders you find through these platforms.

Finding a professional: what you need to do

1. Start planning the work early because good builders are busy months ahead and get several quotes for the work you are planning to have carried out – three is ideal.

2. Ask the contractor if they are licensed and insured, how long have they been trading and how long will the job take. You can also check their company details at Companies House.

3. Find out if they are members of a national trade body and check online to verify – most trade associations will have a directory of their members on their website or you can give them a call to check.

4. Find out if they’ve had previous experience with a project like yours and if so, ask for references or testimonials.

5. Check what guarantees, warranties or other protections are included. Ask about contingency plans for any unforeseen events, such as bad weather stopping work, and ask how they will deal with any disputes that may arise.

6. Hire somebody who comes with a recommendation if possible – ask friends, family or neighbours if they’ve had work done recently.

7. If personal recommendations are not available, use a trusted online source which rates and recommends the most qualified professionals for the job – but always do your own checks too.

8. Use a written contract, detailing the cost and timescale of the project, as it will give you protection if anything goes wrong.

How Cedral can help

When it comes to installing Cedral products in your home, you can trust both the quality of our materials and the people we recommend to carry out the job. All of our installers are certified for their work and receive regular training on our products.

Find out more about our installation process and finding an installer.

Don’t just take our word for it – read testimonials from our satisfied customers.

And find out more about the projects that made them so happy – browse our cladding and roofing case studies.

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