Are you going to outsource a project in or around the house to a professional? Whether you are having your doors painted or a whole dormer installed, you want it done right. Hiring a specialist can sometimes be quite a search. How do you know you have a good specialist in front of you? Read how to find a professional specialist in this article.
1. Pay attention to hallmarks
An important indicator of a professional company in the home and garden industry is its hallmark. Usually, a hallmark checks member companies for professionalism, quality and safety. Each industry has different hallmarks that are important and what you should look out for. See an overview of the most important quality marks below.
| Project | Most important quality marks |
|---|---|
| Contractor | – Bouwgarant – KOMO |
| Cv-ketel | – Uneto-VNI – OK CV |
| Roofing contractor | – KOMO – Dakmeester – Dakmerk |
| Dormer | – KOMO – VKG (in the case of a plastic dormer) – FSC (in case of a wooden dormer) |
| Glass | – KIWA – GBO |
| Isolation | – Insulation Guarantee – IKOB-BKB – Venin |
| Painting | – De Betere Schilder – AF |
| Plasterwork | – NOA |
| Gardener | – Groenkeur – Gardenkeur |
| Solar panels | – Solarkeur |
2. Read reviews
One of the advantages of the internet, is that there are many reviews to be found. Therefore, take the time to read reviews of different professionals to see how the cooperation with the company is generally going. Often, searching on the company name in a search engine is enough to find reviews. Pay attention to the subject specialist’s punctuality, keeping appointments and quality of work. Also look for experiences in resolving a conflict with the specialist.
3. Compare quotes
Requesting free quotes is a good way to compare professionals. Comparing quotes may seem like a time-consuming task, but this gives you the opportunity to make a thoughtful choice. Perhaps one of the specialists you have in mind will give you a very high quote, while another specialist will do your project for a more reasonable price. When comparing quotes, it is a good idea to pay attention to the following points:
- Full description of the work (possibly with references to drawings) with references to drawings)
- Skilled employees
- Clear specification of costs (is everything included in the total price, such as vat, call-out charges)
- Start and completion date
- Binding conditions (should you still be waiting for a permit, for example)
- Specification of payment terms (how much % down payment)
- General conditions (e.g. warranty)
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More tips for quality
Below are the three most important tips for finding the best specialist, but there is more.
4. Go for a specialist who is affiliated with a trade association
If the specialist is affiliated with a trade association, then the specialist will have consumer terms and conditions and this will give you more security. A common sector organisation is Stichting Bouwgarant. So you know that the company employs people with qualifications, has insurance, is creditworthy, has good conditions and there is an independent dispute resolution committee.
5. Check the website
Nowadays, almost every specialist has a website where you can find out a lot about the company. Look for an ‘about us’ page and see how long a company has been around, how many employees they have, what the business form is, how they work and what they consider important as a company.
6. Review the general terms and conditions
Every professional company has general terms and conditions. Sometimes these are on the website, otherwise you can ask for them at the time of the offer. The general terms and conditions contain important information in writing, for example:
- the method of payment;
- li>liability;
- property reservation;
- guarantees;
- dispute arrangements.
General terms and conditions thus provide a piece of clarity and certainty.
7. Ask for warranty terms
Guarantee applies to materials (e.g. wooden window frames) and to service (e.g. installation of window frames). These years vary between materials and service but also between companies. In short, warranty is a good point to look out for in case something unexpected has gone wrong.
8. View portfolio
Many professionals create a portfolio of previous projects completed. Check out the portfolio on the website or ask for it. This way you can quickly see what a specialist can do and whether the specialist has experience with the project you want to have done. If the specialist does not have a portfolio, you can also ask for a reference from an address where they have previously carried out a project.
9. Ask how much the down payment is
Agreements around payments are always very important. Many trade specialists ask for a down payment, which is nothing crazy as they often have to buy the material in advance. To limit financial risks, it is advisable not to pay the whole amount in advance. Pay a maximum of 50% in advance. Pay the rest of the bill afterwards when everything is to your liking to pay in stages where you will pay the last 10% when everything is to your liking. Ask the specialist what their procedure is in this.
10. See if there are any known complaints
The Consumers’ Association has set up the Complaints Compass, where consumers post their complaints about a company. Should there be complaints about a specialist you want to hire, you can read more about the specific complaints here.
11. Check whether the company is registered with the Chamber of Commerce
Check whether the specialist is registered with the Chamber of Commerce. That way you can be sure you are dealing with an official company.
12. Check whether the company is creditworthy
Check the creditworthiness of your specialist at, for example, Graydon. This way, you reduce the chances of the company you hire going bankrupt.
13. Draw up a list of requirements
Create a list of your requirements. This will give the subject specialist a good idea of whether he or she can realise this for you. Indicate that the specialist completes them based on his expertise. This will give you and the specialist a good idea of what needs to be done and what is involved.
14. When in doubt, do a contract review
Are you embarking on a really big renovation and there is so much involved that you do not know whether or not you are dealing with a good contract? There are several parties that can do a contract assessment for you. Vereniging Eigen Huis, for example, offers a contract review for £149 per hour. Online, you send the contract and then schedule a call-back appointment where you discuss the contract.
15. Put all agreements in black and white
Finally, make sure you have all the agreements you make in black and white. Even if you make new agreements after signing the offer. That way everyone knows exactly where they stand and who is responsible for what. There can be no misunderstandings about this if you record everything properly and both of you sign for the agreements made.
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