A fair price starts with a clear job. When a tradesperson has to guess what is involved, they either price high to cover the unknowns or find surprises once they arrive. Neither is good for you.
The good news is that a few minutes of detail at the start makes a big difference.
Describe the job, not just the problem
"Bathroom needs sorting" could mean anything. "Replace the shower tray, retile the area around the shower and refit the toilet and sink" tells someone what they are pricing. If you are not sure what the fix is, describe what you can see instead: where the water appears, when it started and what you have tried.
Include the details that change the price
- Size or quantity: how many rooms, doors, metres of fence or items of furniture.
- Condition: peeling paint, rotten wood, cracked tiles or anything that needs preparing first.
- Materials: whether you have bought them already or want the tradesperson to supply them.
- Access: stairs, parking, narrow doorways, a steep garden or a loft hatch.
- Timing: any deadline, and whether you are flexible. Flexibility can help.
Add photos
Two or three clear photos often answer the questions a tradesperson would otherwise need a visit for. Take one wide shot that shows the area, and one or two close-ups of the problem.
Be honest about your budget
You do not have to give a budget, and on WeeJobs you can choose "Need Quotation" instead. If you do have a figure in mind, it helps tradespeople decide quickly whether the job suits them. A realistic budget is not a promise to pay that amount. It is a starting point for the conversation.
Ask what is not included
A good quote says what is included, but it is just as useful to know what is not. Ask about:
- removing old fittings, rubbish or garden waste
- making good afterwards, such as filling and painting around new fittings
- any parts that might be needed once the job is opened up
Fixed price or hourly?
On WeeJobs you choose how the job is priced when you pick your tradesperson:
- Fixed price: they send a quote for the whole job. Review it before accepting. Some bookings use a deposit; others save your card without charging at booking. Payment is due when the job is done, with any deposit taken into account.
- Hourly: they send an estimate first, sometimes after visiting, then a bill for the actual work once the job is done. Any deposit already paid is taken into account. Check the payment flow and accepted estimate in the app.
Fixed prices suit jobs that are easy to define. Hourly suits jobs where nobody can know how long it will take until it is opened up.
Compare like with like
If more than one person is interested, make sure you are comparing the same thing. Check whether each price includes materials, VAT where it applies, and removing waste. The cheapest price is not always the best value if it leaves things out.
Ready to post?
Post your job free in the WeeJobs app with the details above. For ideas on what to include, see how to write a good small job post or browse trades in your area.
For local examples, browse plumbers in Coleraine and painters and decorators in Ballymoney.
Ready to get a local job sorted?
Download WeeJobs for iPhone and Android and get started in our launch area.