Finding tradesmen

[SpicyTomatos]

Any recommendations on how to find some tradesmen?

I don't have any local connections and I am a bit cynical about all the perfect online reviews for some of the trade websites. Everyone has unhappy customers!

It is for the Camden area in London and I'm looking for a builder for some internal walls and a wood flooring fitter.

I know nothing about DIY.

I have done pretty well with checkatrade. Some people are cynical about the review system, but I found several different trades through them and had no problems. I don't think there is a foolproof way. Recommendations from friends are all well and good but the jobs/spec/budget/client expectations will all vary. Just make sure you get several quotes and always check whether VAT is included!

Facebook? Then you will see true reviews on their business pages.

This has been a nightmare for us! We found someone through Checkatrade a couple of years ago who seemed to have good reviews, but ended up not being that great. Our main problem though was getting anyone interested in quoting at all! So I suppose at least we were able to get the work done...

Someone suggested MyBuilder the other day and we've just booked someone who seems to be very good from our meeting with him. It was a good system in that I could put the job up and only people who were interested in it responded, rather than me having to send out loads of enquiries only to be ignored. But he doesn't start work until Monday so I guess time will tell.