Are those trade sites any good .... Trustatrader/rated people etc?

[SleepFreeZone]

I'm having such a hard time finding someone, anyone!! to come and do some work in our house. We need the bathroom and ensuite refurbished and a painter and decorator to do various rooms. We have had a few people come round but then they seem to disappear. We had one painter put in a quote that was crazy money and now we are back to square one.

I'm wondering if we might be better getting a general building company to just come and take on the whole job. I'm also thinking of using one of those trade sites and seek v if we get anyone come forward who actually wants any work as it seems like the guys I've contacted so far are very very busy and thus I guess, are cherry picking bigger and maybe more lucrative jobs than us.

Anyone have any advice or in the same predicament?

[PigletJohn]

There is a view that any local builder or tradesman who is any good, will get work though being recommended by word of mouth to friends and neighbours of his past clients.

there is also a view that anybody who has to pay to be listed on an advertising recommendation site does not fit into the group in my first paragraph.

If you do a google search, you may find some sites are mentioned as not accepting negative reviews, or letting the trader edit or reject them.

You may also find reference to an advertising recommendation site which uses predatory lawyers to bully websites (such as this one) into deleting posts which mention them by name in anything other than favourable terms.

[SleepFreeZone]

Gawd 😁

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Totally agree with PJ !!
Go with a recommendation every time !!!

Or at the very least look at a site that's not just a 'pro recommendation' listing site - but one that has loads of inspirational photos and chat/dilemmas etc too - that way you can see the reviews are from people who use the site regularly, so you can see they are true reviews from true people /clients ...

Also look for the input from the pros you are considering, for example, helping answer questions, for free, in 'design dilemmas' etc . Gives you an insight into their personality a bit too !