12 questions to ask before hiring a tradie
The questions that separate a smooth job from a dispute — licence, insurance, timing, payment, warranty and clean-up — for any Australian trade job.
Key takeaways
- Ask about licence class and insurance before you ask about price.
- Get timing, payment and warranty answers in writing.
- A good tradie will be comfortable answering all of these.
Before they quote
These questions make sure you are talking to the right business.
- What licence do you hold, and does it cover this exact work in this state?
- Can you send a current certificate of currency for public liability insurance?
- Will you do the work yourself, or will employees or subcontractors attend?
- Have you done this type of job on a similar property recently?
About the quote
These questions make quotes comparable.
- Is this a fixed quote or an estimate, and how long is it valid?
- What is excluded, and what is most likely to change the price?
- How are variations agreed and priced before work starts?
- What deposit and payment schedule do you need?
About the job itself
These questions set expectations for the day.
- When can you start, and how long will the work take?
- What do you need from me — access, parking, power, water or clear space?
- Will you remove waste and clean up at the end?
- What warranty applies, and what paperwork or certificate will I receive?
Red flags
Be cautious of cash-only pressure with no written quote, large up-front payments before materials are ordered, reluctance to give a licence number, door-knocking offers after storms, and "today only" pricing. None of these prove a problem on their own, but together they are worth a second opinion.
General information only, reviewed for Australian conditions. Rules differ between states and territories and change over time, so confirm details with the relevant regulator. Call 000 in an emergency. Editorial policy
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