The only Website that ALLOWS you to see who is vetted and verified and who is NOT!!

The idea of yourlocaltrades Ltd is to vet and verify your local trades, but as you maybe aware, a lot of trades people choose not to be vetted and verified for whatever reason, and also like to register on as many websites as possible!

A lot of directory listings are actually UNKNOWN registrations for the company in question, this is due to bulk buying of databases by directory owners to artificially "fill" their site. Yourlocaltrades Ltd has NO intention of following these actions.

All companies listed here have registered themselves, but we feel that it is appropriate to keep any registration that has declined our vetting so you can visibly see EXACTLY what we KNOW!! This in turn allows you to make a much better judgement when needing a local service. You will see a score out of nine in the results, so you can compare all scores in your own time on yourlocaltrades.co.uk. If it states "No" then we have not vetted the company in question, Alternatively, you can save time and use our quotation service to get the tradespeople to call you, available through one simple hassle free online form

You are advised to follow our vetting procedure on any un-vetted/verified company you plan to use before handing over any monies to them. If you wish to use a non pre-vetted member on yourlocaltrades or from a different source then this is a MUST!

Allowing you to rate tradespeople and recommend tradespeople you have used is also an honest and fair way for others to see your true impartial feedback. Giving our members an internet based word of mouth!

Yourlocaltrades Ltd is owned by two active tradespeople allowing tradespeople and businesses to promote their services to a local audience at a significant saving to other advertising mediums.

Banner advertising is £20.00 per week (minimum of four weeks) per post code area, made specific to your Post Code advertising requirements, multiple banner advertising is available at a reduced price of £10.00 per area, minimimum of five area's, our homepage banner is £50.00 per week.

You can contact us on 0844 56 76 958 between 10am & 2pm OR 07533 320803 at anytime.

Our vetting is as follows:

Advice from yourlocaltrades, for your benefit.

The DO'S and DON'Ts when using a tradesperson

Builders have had rotten press recently. With TV shows and celebrities giving them a bad name, the truth is, for every cowboy, there are plenty of professional builders who offer great service. And it's up to you as 'project manager' - for in most cases, that's what you are - to ensure that you get the results you want. Here's some do's and don'ts to guide you:
DO...
....Check them out
Before you begin, ask potential builders for references from previous customers, ask to visit a previous job and see his workmanship.
A good builder will provide you with credentials and references, so try to visit previous jobs similar to your own. If the builder is a member of a trade association, what does this mean? If they claim to be a member, check to ensure that they really are member. An impressive-looking logo won't repair a leaking new roof! Find out more about their credentials before going ahead.
....Get it in writing
Clarity is the key and a contract drawn up before work begins is essential.
Agree on the timetable, any changes agreed throughout the job should be put in writing
....Know your regulations
Be aware of any legal requirements you must fulfil when having major improvements done. Remember, this is not up to the builder and you should seek the advice of a qualified surveyor or architect. Planning permission is sometimes a lengthy and complicated process, but a surveyor or your local Planning Office will point you in the right direction.
....Communicate
Keep talking! If you're not sure what is being done, ask. Make sure you fully understand every step and don't let jargon put you off. A professional builder should explain things clearly to ensure that there are no unpleasant surprises!
....Be realistic
Builders aren't mind-readers, so if you have a particular idea of a finished project, show them visuals - magazine cuttings, books, brochures - anything that will ensure you and they are thinking along the same lines.
....Be honest
If your financial situation changes mid-works, talk to your builder, he can suggest ways of trimming the expense without cutting on quality.
DON'T...
....Pay cash up-front
Be wary of the cash cowboys. A reputable builder will work on a contractual basis, and you should avoid anyone who offers you a 'cheap' deal for cash-in-hand. Don't try and dodge paying VAT, that'll probably put you in the hands of the rogues.
....Go above their heads
Talk to the 'main man' only. Telling sub-contractors to change things mid-construction will not only cause problems within the team but confuse everyone as to what it is you really want.
....Dither!
Decide on what you want from the outset and try to stick to it. Changing plans mid-flowis sometimes necessary, but if you keep changing your mind about what you want, you'll confuse everyone; it'll lead to extra unbudgeted costs and probably cause a delay in getting the job finished.
....Stay silent.
If you're unhappy about any area of work, talk to your builder about it. Most things can be amended before they are finished, so don't wait until it's done, then sulk!
....Ignore your budget.
Be realistic about what you can afford and tell your builder at the start। He can then help you fulfil your home-improvement needs and fit in with your financial constraints too.
Anyone who is looking for a builder will find the yourlocaltrades website, www.yourlocaltrades.co.uk a good place to start. It offers a "quotation" service with access to tradespeople and an ideal starting point for anyone looking for the best builders in their area, feel free to check up on any trade listed for your piece of mind.

How to spot a rogue trader

Cold callers may use these lines to frighten homeowners into doing business with them

"You have loose tiles on your roof"
"Your roof has been leaking"
"I see cracked brickwork on your house"
"You need to have some pointing on your chimney"
"You need some work doing on your driveway"
"I'm doing some work in the area and have materials left over which we need to use up"
"I'm doing some work for the council down the road"
"I'm doing free property surveys to check if you have any rising damp"
"Your brickwork is acting like a sponge soaking up the rainwater" (Ignore this popular line as bricks are supposed to behave like this!!)

Roofing repairs
Gardening services, tree surgery
Path or driveway work
Block paving or tarmac driveways
Damp proofing
General maintenance work
Guttering repairs
Fascia boarding repairs
Wall surface coatings

Do not engage in conversation with them
Say you do not buy goods and services at the door
Say you need to compare prices
Say you have to discuss it with your partner, son, daughter or friend

In the case of the elderly, particularly those living alone, it is well worth thinking about having a son or daughter authorised as a joint signatory on bank accounts for amounts over, say £200.

Always use a professional builder who is recommended for doing similar work or a bona fide member of a trade association, see the list below. Alternatively you can submit online free to get quotes from a pre-vetted tradesperson and then rate and recommend them afterwards.

Talk to the builder's previous customers. Go and see the jobs they have done and make sure the customers were happy. Check they completed the job properly and came within/on budget.

Make sure the builders' quotes cover everything you would like done, including the supply of materials, removal of rubbish and making good after the work is finished.

TRADE BODIES & ASSOCIATIONS

Yourlocaltrades has no connection and does not endorse any association listed below,

To give you an idea, it states on the Corgi website, quote: "CORGI has carried out the industry’s first research into the illegal gas market and concluded that there could be as many as 20,000 people working illegally on gas in the UK" un-quote. This information can be found at http://www.trustcorgi.com/cowboys/fightthecowboys.htmx

Our vetting is as follows:

Advice from yourlocaltrades, for your benefit.

The DO'S and DON'Ts when using a tradesperson

How to spot a rogue trader

TRADE BODIES & ASSOCIATIONS