Local Tradesmen and Services
Reviews and ratings of quality, hand-picked, UK websites
Don't f
orget to first check the credentials of any trademan (individual or a company) you are thinking of hiring.
Obtain estimates, ask for the contact details of former customers and check with any regulatory body to make sure that your trademan is registered. If you have any further doubts you can also check on the financial status of companies and individuals.
Holland Plastering
•www.hollandplastering.co.uk
Headers: Stroud, Gloucesterhire, South West of England, Colour Rendering, Plastering, External Rendering, Parex, K-Rend, Weber and Marmorit
Colour Rendering Specialists: Holland Plastering deal in external render systems for both old and new constructions. They operate in the south west of England. Approved applicators for Parex, K-Rend, Weber and Marmorit.
Fix My Property
• www.fixmyproperty.com
Headers: Building, Carpentry, Double Glazing, Electrical, Exterior, Pick'n'mix, Plastering, Plumbing, Roofing, Estimator, Chat Forum, Classified Ads, Fitters
With Fix My Property, all the prices are transparent, prefixed and VAT inclusive. Select a job you need doing from the website, pay 20% up front and the balance to the trader. If you can't see the specific job you want listed, contact them for a quote. Fitters can apply to register on the website. Quotes are available from contractors throughout the UK.
My Local Services
•
mylocalservices.co.uk
Headers: Local Tradesmen and Service Providers
My Local Services have over 2 million local tradesmen and services listed currently with more signing up. Some of the listings come with reviews from customers and you are free to add your own review. If you are a business it is free to get your business listed. Subscribe to get an enhanced listing.
MyWorkman
• www.myworkman.co.uk
Headers: Online Building Quotes, Articles
My Workman will contact a tradesman in your area for a building quote. Leave details online and you will be contacted by email with quotes. There is also a comprehensive range of articles on the website that will guide you through the do's and don'ts, and the legal implications of such things as building an extension, loft conversions etc., as well as less exciting projects such as replacing a central heating boiler!
Thompson Directories
• www.thomsondirectories.com
Thomsons local online with dozens of local merchants to choose from. Please note the site doesn't work with Firefox.
Top Tradesmen
• www.toptradesman.com
Search for Northern Ireland tradesmen by post code or city.
Touch
• www.touch.co.uk
If you want to find a business in your area, then touch will do the searching for you. I typed plumbers and my local area into the search box and touch were able to produce quite a respectable list of plumbers near to me. If you prefer you can use their map to locate businesses in your area. If you would like to advertise your business with touch, there are free and paid for listings available.
WhoToUse
• www.whotouse.co.uk
Search by area for local builders, electricians, garages, plumbers, removal firms, roofing specialists and solicitors. All companies listed must be recommended by at least three of their customers.
Yell
• www.yell.com
Probably easier to use online than trying to heft the Yellow Pages these days! Seriously large number of local tradesmen listed.
If you want to check on the financial status of companies or individuals, here are a couple of websites you might like to look at.
Registry Trust Ltd
• www.registry-trust.org.uk
Non for profit company that operates the Registry of Judgements, Orders and Fines for England and Wales. All information in the registry is public information and so anyone may have access to it. You do have to pay for each search, however.
Insolvency Register
• www.insolvency.gov.uk
For England and Wales. The register contains details of bankruptcies that are either current or have ended in the last 3 months, current individual voluntary arrangements and fast track voluntary arrangements, current bankruptcy restrictions orders and undertakings.
You can search by name to find out if if a person has at any time been declared bankrupt or has been the subject of an IVA (individual voluntary arrangements). The service is free.
Trades Regulatory Bodies
Builders
National Federation of Builders
Regulatory bodies for Electicians:
BRE Certification
British Standards Institution (BSI)
National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT)
National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)
Plumbers
Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (IPHE)
For further advice visit www.direct.gov.uk
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Try our search engines, price comparison and online auction pages.
