12 Questions to Ask a Tradie Before You Hire Them

Hiring the right tradie usually comes down to asking a handful of straightforward questions before the work starts. The best questions to ask a tradie cover their licensing and insurance, exactly what the quote includes, who does the work, how long it will take, and what happens if something goes wrong. Get clear answers up front and you avoid most of the disputes that leave homeowners out of pocket.

Below is a practical checklist you can work through when you’re comparing quotes or messaging tradies. You don’t need to fire off all twelve like an interrogation — pick the ones that matter for your job and use them to sort a confident, well-organised professional from someone who’s winging it.

• Licensing and insurance
• ABN and business details
• Fixed price versus estimate
• What’s included and excluded
• Who does the actual work
• Timeline and start date
• Payment terms
• Warranty on workmanship
• References and recent work
• Permits and certificates
• How scope changes are handled
• A written contract or quote

1. Are you licensed and insured for this work?

For licensed trades — electrical, plumbing, gas, and most structural building — a valid licence isn’t optional, it’s the law. A good tradie will happily give you their licence number and confirm they carry public liability insurance, because it protects both of you if something goes wrong on site. If someone gets cagey or vague here, treat it as a red flag. For the full process, see our guide on how to check a tradie is licensed and insured.

2. Can I see your ABN?

A legitimate business will have an Australian Business Number, and you can look it up in seconds on the ABN Lookup register to confirm it’s active and matches their name. It’s a quick sanity check that you’re dealing with a real, registered operator rather than someone trading under the radar. It also matters for your own records and any warranty claims down the track.

3. Is the quote fixed-price or an estimate?

There’s a big difference between a fixed price you can rely on and a rough estimate that can move. A fixed-price quote tells you exactly what you’ll pay barring genuine changes to the job, while an estimate is a ballpark that may climb once work begins. Ask which one you’re looking at, and if it’s an estimate, ask what could push the final figure up. Our guide on how to get quotes from tradies walks through comparing quotes properly.

4. What’s included — and what’s not?

Two quotes for the “same” job can differ by hundreds of dollars simply because one includes materials, rubbish removal and cleanup while the other doesn’t. Ask the tradie to spell out what’s covered and, just as importantly, what isn’t. A clear answer lets you compare quotes fairly instead of being caught out by extras later.

5. Who does the actual work?

Sometimes the person quoting is the person doing the job; other times the work is handed to an apprentice, a subcontractor or a different crew. Neither is wrong, but you deserve to know who’ll be in your home and whether they’re supervised. A confident tradie will tell you exactly who’s turning up and who’s accountable for the result.

6. What’s the timeline?

Ask when they can start, roughly how long the job will take, and whether anything might hold it up. You’re not looking for a guarantee down to the hour — you’re checking they’ve actually thought it through and can commit to a realistic window. A tradie who can’t give you even a rough timeframe may be juggling more than they can handle.

7. How and when do you want to be paid?

Understand the payment schedule before work starts: is there a deposit, are there progress payments, and how much is due on completion? A modest deposit for materials is normal, but be wary of anyone demanding a large sum in cash up front before they’ve lifted a tool. Agreeing terms early prevents awkward conversations later.

8. Do you offer a warranty on the work?

A quality tradesperson stands behind their workmanship and will tell you what’s covered and for how long. Many licensed trades also carry statutory warranty obligations depending on your state and the size of the job. Get the warranty in writing so you know exactly where you stand if a problem shows up after they’ve packed up.

9. Do you have references or recent photos?

Ask to see photos of similar recent jobs or to speak with a past customer. Someone doing consistent, tidy work is usually glad to show it off, and a quick chat with a previous client tells you plenty about reliability and communication. This is one of the simplest ways to separate talkers from doers — there’s more on this in our guide to finding a reliable tradie.

10. Who handles permits/certificates?

Some jobs need council approval, permits, or a compliance certificate — think switchboard upgrades, gas work, or structural changes. Clarify whether the tradie arranges these or whether it’s on you, and make sure any required certificate of compliance is handed over when the job’s done. Skipping this step can cause real problems when you insure, sell or renovate later.

11. What happens if the scope changes?

Even well-planned jobs throw up surprises once a wall is opened or a floor comes up. Ask how variations are handled: will you get a written variation and a revised price before extra work goes ahead? Agreeing this in advance means no nasty surprises on the final invoice if the job grows.

12. Do you provide a written contract/quote?

Always get the job in writing — scope, price, timeline, payment terms and warranty in one document you both agree to. A written quote or contract protects you under Australian Consumer Law and gives you something to point to if expectations drift. Any professional tradie will provide one without being pushed; reluctance to put things in writing is a sign to keep looking.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the single most important question to ask a tradie? Whether they’re licensed and insured for the specific work. It’s the one answer that protects your safety, your home and your ability to claim if something goes wrong — and it’s a legal requirement for trades like electrical, plumbing and gas.

Should I always get more than one quote? Yes. Comparing at least two or three quotes helps you understand a fair price and spot anything that looks too cheap to be realistic. On Tradies Club you can post your job once and receive free quotes from multiple local tradies to compare side by side.

Is a verbal quote enough? No. A verbal quote is easy to misremember and hard to enforce. Always ask for the price, scope and terms in writing before work begins, even for smaller jobs.

How do I know if a quote is too good to be true? If one quote is dramatically lower than the others, ask what’s been left out — materials, rubbish removal, permits or insurance are common gaps. A cheap headline price often means extra costs land later.

Ready to put these questions to work? Post your job on Tradies Club to receive free quotes from local, vetted tradies, then message them directly in the app to run through this checklist before you commit. It’s the simplest way to compare your options and hire with confidence — see how it works to get started.