ServiceHub Blog
How to Choose a Reliable Service Provider in 2025: A 9-Step Checklist
Whether you're hiring a plumber, electrician, cleaner, or builder, the stakes are the same: you want quality work, on time, for a fair price—without surprises. This practical checklist shows you how to shortlist, verify, and confidently hire the right professional in 2025.
Table of Contents
Your 9-Step Checklist
Use this checklist to guide your hiring process from start to finish. Each step is designed to protect you and ensure you get quality work.
Write down exactly what needs doing. Be specific about materials, timeline, and what "done" looks like. This prevents scope creep later.
Check Gas Safe registration for gas work, NICEIC/NAPIT for electricians, and relevant trade memberships. Ask to see ID and proof of qualifications.
Public liability insurance (minimum £2M) is essential. Request a copy of their insurance certificate and check it's current.
Get at least 3 written quotes covering the exact same scope. Ensure all include VAT, materials, labour, and waste removal.
Ask to see photos of similar completed jobs. Contact at least 2 recent customers (within last 6 months) to ask about their experience.
Look at reviews over time on multiple platforms. Pay attention to how they respond to negative feedback—this shows professionalism.
How they communicate before the job is how they'll communicate during it. Slow responses or vague answers are red flags.
Never accept a handshake deal. Get a written contract with scope, price, timeline, payment terms, and warranty clearly stated.
Agree on what happens after completion: warranty period, how to report issues, expected response times for callbacks.
Red Flags to Avoid
Watch out for these common warning signs during the quoting and hiring process. If you spot multiple red flags, walk away.
Legitimate tradespeople accept bank transfers or card payments. Large upfront deposits are unusual unless for custom materials.
Any professional should be proud to show credentials. Reluctance suggests they may not be properly qualified or insured.
High-pressure sales tactics are a major red flag. Good tradespeople give you time to compare quotes and make an informed decision.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Very low quotes often mean corners will be cut or hidden costs will appear later.
Verbal agreements are worthless if something goes wrong. A proper contract protects both parties and shows professionalism.
How to Verify Credentials in the UK
For Gas Engineers:
- Check Gas Safe Register: gassaferegister.co.uk
- Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card
- Verify their photo matches
- Check expiry date and categories of work
For Electricians:
- NICEIC: niceic.com
- NAPIT: napit.org.uk
- ECA: eca.co.uk
For General Builders:
- TrustMark: trustmark.org.uk
- Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
- Checkatrade, Rated People (review platforms)
10 Essential Questions to Ask Every Tradesperson
- Are you Gas Safe registered / NICEIC approved? (For gas/electrical work)
- Do you have public liability insurance? (Minimum £2M coverage)
- Can I see recent examples of similar work?
- Can you provide 2-3 recent customer references?
- What's included in your quote? (Materials, labour, waste removal, VAT)
- How long will the job take?
- What warranty do you offer? (12 months is standard for workmanship)
- What's your payment schedule? (Avoid paying more than 30% upfront)
- Who will be doing the actual work? (You or subcontractors?)
- What happens if there are delays or issues?
How ServiceHub Fits In
Use this checklist alongside your search on ServiceHub to:
- Shortlist providers by category and location
- Compare profiles and verified reviews
- Message providers to clarify scope
- Keep quotes and agreements organised in one place
Frequently Asked Questions
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three is usually enough to spot outliers without slowing you down. Ensure each quote covers the same scope so they're comparable. Getting 5+ quotes often wastes time without adding value.
Fixed price or hourly—what's safer?
For well-defined work, fixed price reduces risk and prevents surprise costs. For open-ended tasks (like diagnosing a problem), use hourly with a cap and milestone reviews. Always agree on the pricing model upfront.
What deposit is reasonable?
Many projects work with 10–30% upfront, then milestone-based payments. Avoid paying 100% before completion. For custom materials, a higher deposit (40-50%) may be justified—ensure this is documented.
Are online reviews trustworthy?
Look for patterns over time on multiple platforms, not just one-off reviews. Check verified jobs where possible. See how providers respond to negative reviews—professional responses to criticism are a good sign. One review (positive or negative) is never conclusive.
How do I prevent scope creep?
Write a detailed scope document listing exactly what's included and excluded. Set a simple change request process—any additions must be quoted and approved before work continues. Link payments to milestones to maintain control. Document everything in writing.