As winter turns into spring and the weather brightens up, we get that special urge to do some important home improvements, whether or not it’s for energy efficiency savings or just for aesthetic reasons?
TrustMark, the government endorsed quality mark for tradesmen, however, urges that you make doubly sure that you don’t find yourself in bed with a rogue traders offering to improve a property but not really qualified for the job!
So make sure you only use a reputable, honest and accredited company or tradesperson, to carry out the work.
Stuart Carter, head of public relations and marketing at TrustMark, says: “Whilst rogue traders operate throughout the year, there is likely to be an increase in their numbers following bad conditions involving high winds and cold weather.
“Bogus property repairers often trick people into paying high prices for unnecessary or shoddy work so I would advise consumers to be extra vigilant and only use reputable and legitimate tradesmen. Never agree to have work done by somebody who turns up uninvited on your doorstep.
“TrustMark was set up six years ago to signpost consumers to good quality and trustworthy firms and to help homeowners select a local tradesmen, like the one shown here, with confidence.
He points out: “With more than 20,000 licensed trades searchable on our database by postcode, we are able to help people find a good quality firm enabling them to get the best job done at a fair price. We want to give people a better-informed choice of tradesmen and if things don’t go right, to provide a clear and easy-to-use complaints procedure to resolve any problems.”
One of the National Home Improvement Council’s major campaigns is to help erase cowboy builders who can cost homeowners a fortune in shoddy workmanship with non-existent guarantees and warrantees. So we fully endorse TrustMark’s splendid efforts to eliminate these parasites.
Photo from the Federation of Master Builders
More information: www.trustmark.org.uk