Which workman

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Job: fitting a howdens kitchen, tilling, adding spot lights, plastering, painting and creating a door arch:

Workman A:
Found on Check a Trade
Ltd company founded in 2011- great reviews
£4400
10 days to do the job only during weekdays/ working hrs
Everything on email- including forms to sign re: GDPR and T&Cs including 20% upfront, a fee if you delay the start date, clauses on if things are found that aren’t agreed, ensuring access to a toilet and water (extensive list- never had such a list from a workman ever)

Workman B:
A friend of my husbands friend
Sole trader
£3900
10days to do the job, would prob work wkends
Verbal contract no paper work

I would always go on personal recommendations and not just online reviews (after finding someone in the which? trade directory who turned out to be shit) so if you have had a recommendation from a former client, go with that one.

Failing that I think the email communications and making terms clear is very reassuring so I would go with them even though they cost a bit more.

Otherwise you could ask Option B to sign a simple contract and see if they agree, if they agree you go with them, if they don't agree you go with Option A.

I've had too many vague/verbal agreements go slightly wrong!

Template contract here (£25 but can be reused)
www.contractstore.com/construction/self-builders/trade-contract/

My worry about A is will I get screwed if everything is on paper ie. if anything slightly unusual turns up during the works can he demand a huge fee to fix it knowing that we signed an agreement and he has a deposit?

B isn’t referred by someone who’s had work done by them, just a friend of

A contract is supposed to protect both parties, although their terms and conditions might be more focused on protecting them than you, you'll just have to read them carefully. If you have concerns about extra costs for unforeseen things you could ask if they have a fixed daily/hourly rate or if they could explain the likely extras and how much they would charge for them if required.

I wouldn't use a friend of a friend without a recommendation (too risky it could go wrong and create awkwardness with the mutual friend) so I would definitely ask that person for one or two client references and would ask for a simple contract to be signed.

I'd use a friend-of-a-friend only IF your mutual friends had work done by them and you could view it.

Otherwise, I'd lean towards someone professional and whose previous work you could see.

I would want a personal recommendation.
I wouldn’t trust a checka trade type website. They’re notorious for being dodgy. Could you ask around?

Both check a trade and friend of a friend are unreliable. Check a Trade make it hard to leave negative reviews, and friends may not give you the most balanced view as they want their friend to get the work. I think finding a reliable tradesperson has a big element of luck. However I would always go with someone providing the paperwork.

For workman A i'd include a fee for if he doesn't finish to time.

Workman B - there's no reason you shouldn't have a contract. Even if it's a written agreement on email, that will suffice. Don't even base anything off of a verbal agreement.

Ask them both for examples (pics) of previous work plus references

I wouldn't go with anyone who can't provide you both of those easily

Neither. I don't like 'friends' for jobs - it's backfired too often

Other one - too much on his terms. A contract is fine if it works for both people. What if he goes over time, damages something, doesn't turn up etc etc.

Thanks for the responses- my husband is very much B (solely looking at the cost) and I’m more A- I am wary of a one man band trying to do it all or rope in other skill sets compared to a company. I would be more comfortable with A though if it wasn’t for the deposit request- I’ve never given money to workmen before a job, maybe for materials but that’s been on receipt of them arriving at my house with an invoice.
I bloody hate workmen!

Who ever I go with I would put my terms in writing too- thanks for the contract template !!!

If your husband is pushing for B, ask B for two references and talk to them. (Also see if you can find google or Facebook reviews.) If the references (and any reviews) are positive, and he agrees to sign a contract, that would reassure me enough to give him a go. Provided your DH is happy to risk awkwardness with the mutual friend if it doesn't go well!

Does your husband know the friend of friend? You can still keep it professional even if you have friends in common.

Why does A need a deposit? A builder we’re using didn’t ask for a deposit and I asked him why when many do, he said he has 28 days credit with his suppliers so he’s not out of pocket when he starts work even if he orders materials.
Is it possible to ask B if you can see some recent similar work?

No idea why A wants a deposit as I’m supplying the goods etc, it’s just in his t&cs unless agreed otherwise.
I will ask more about B- I’m worried a sole trader will drag things out, already dreading this as pregnant with a toddler, paying a little more for a quick, well done job doesn’t bother me. But I guess there is little indication on paper on who to trust. I knew who not to trust, the guys the quoted £1400 and the guys that quoted £10k.

£10k 😱