You do not need to be an expert to hire a good tradie. You just need to ask the questions a good tradie is happy to answer — and notice when someone gets evasive.
The ten questions
- Are you licensed for this work, and what is your licence number? Verify it on your state authority's public register.
- Do you have public liability and home warranty insurance? Ask for proof, not just a yes.
- Can I get the scope in writing? A written quote with inclusions and exclusions protects both sides.
- What deposit do you require, and what are the progress payments? Around 10 per cent deposit, balance on milestones, is normal.
- When can you start and how long will it take? Get a realistic start date and duration in writing.
- How are variations priced? Agree upfront how changes mid-job are costed so there are no surprises.
- What warranty do you offer on the work? Good trades stand behind their workmanship.
- Can I see recent examples or references? Photos of similar jobs and a couple of contactable referees.
- Who actually does the work — you or subcontractors? Know who will be on site and whether they are licensed too.
- What is not included in this price? The exclusions are where cheap quotes hide.
What a good answer sounds like
A professional answers these without hesitation, puts the important ones in writing, and is not offended that you asked. Evasiveness, “trust me”, or pressure to skip the paperwork are the warning signs.
Once you have a few quotes back, our guide on how to compare tradie quotes helps you read them side by side, and how much deposit to pay a tradie covers the money.
Walk in with your own number
Before you call a single tradie, get an instant itemised quote with Quotefor.au from a quick camera walkthrough — so you know the fair price and can hand every tradie the same scope.