How to avoid 'rogue traders'

Find your tradesman by using a suitable resource. Although you might assume that anyone who can afford to buy an advertisement in a local directory must be ok to start with, you are better off using resources such as Rated Tradesmen in the UK (http://www.ratedtradesmen.com/link) or Service Magic in the US (http://www.servicemagic.com).

Rated Tradesmen, for example, is a community of local professionals in the UK where clients rate every job they do, ensuring they perform well on site and allowing you to choose the right person for the job.

Get quotations from two or three different traders to ensure you're getting the best value for money, and to get a feel for how they initially look after you.

Ask some good questions of each tradesman who is quoting for your business:

How long have you been in business?
Do you have insurance which covers damage to property?
Is your work guaranteed?
Are you a member of a trade scheme?
Can you provide me with local references?

If your tradesman is a member of a trade scheme then note down details including any reference numbers. Follow up with a phone call to the scheme provider to check that the details are up to date.

Make sure you write up and sign an agreement with your tradesman regarding what they will do for you, what they won't do, how long they will take, when they will start and the agreed price.

A good legal contract may help the job run smoothly. It should always contain a job description, start date, duration and an agreed price, as well as details of any guarantee or insurance cover. Remember, you have the right to be told, in plain language, all standard contract terms before you sign and you are not bound by terms that are 'unfair'.

Never pay the whole amount in advance, and avoid paying large deposits up front. On longer jobs, agree a schedule of payments and make sure that your payment at each stage reflects the progress made.