How to Find Good Tradies (And Spot the Bad Ones Before It's Too Late)
Alex and I have now worked with 14 different trades on our knockdown rebuild. Ten of them were great. Two were average. Two were disasters. I wish I'd known the red flags earlier — it would have saved us about $6,000 and three months of stress.
This guide is everything I've learned about finding, vetting, and managing trades as a 25-year-old woman who'd never set foot on a building site before this project. The construction industry isn't always welcoming to people who look like me, so I've had to be extra diligent about doing my homework.
Where to Actually Find Trades
Forget Airtasker for structural work. Here's where we found our best tradies, ranked by success rate:
1. Referrals from other trades (best). Our framer recommended our roof guy. Our plumber recommended our tiler. Trades who work together regularly have a vested interest in recommending good people — their own reputation is on the line.
2. HiPages / ServiceSeeking. Mixed results. We got our demo company through HiPages (great). Also got our worst plumber quote through HiPages. You need to vet carefully. The platform is just a starting point.
3. Local Facebook groups. "Lake Haven / Central Coast Tradies" type groups. Ask for recommendations. Real people sharing real experiences. We found our electrician this way — he'd been recommended by 6 different people.
4. Your certifier. Ask your private certifier who they see doing good work. They inspect hundreds of sites. They know who passes first time and who gets called back.
5. Google / Yellow Pages. Fine for initial discovery, but you'll still need to vet them. Look for businesses with genuine Google reviews from the last 12 months, not just a nice website.
The Green Flags (Signs of a Good Tradie)
They ask for your drawings before quoting (not just a verbal description)
They provide a written, itemised quote — not a round number on the back of a card
They can show you current public liability and workers comp insurance certificates
Their licence number is verifiable on the state licence checker
They have a physical business address, not just a mobile number
They ask about your timeline and flag if they can't start when you need
They mention potential issues proactively (site access, soil conditions, etc.)
They are happy to provide 2-3 recent references you can actually call
They don't trash-talk other trades or your design — they just do their job
They respond to messages within 24 hours during business hours
The Red Flags (Run)
They want more than 10% deposit before starting work
They can't provide insurance certificates when asked
They give a quote without looking at your drawings or visiting the site
They pressure you to sign quickly ('this price is only good today')
They don't have a consistent online presence (no website, no reviews, no ABN lookup result)
They won't put a completion date in writing
They suggest skipping inspections or 'not worrying about' certifier sign-offs
Their quote is significantly cheaper than everyone else's (20%+ below average)
They want cash only and won't provide a tax invoice
They can't explain the scope of works in plain English when you ask
How to Vet a Trade Before Signing
Here's the exact process I now follow for every trade we engage. It takes about 30 minutes per trade and has saved us from at least two bad decisions:
Step 1: Licence check. Every state has an online licence checker. In NSW it's Service NSW / NSW Fair Trading. Enter their licence number and confirm it's current, the right category, and not suspended. This takes 2 minutes.
Step 2: Insurance check. Ask for current certificates of currency for public liability (minimum $10M) and workers compensation. Check the dates — they expire annually. Our framer's PL had lapsed 2 months before he quoted us. He renewed it when we asked, but imagine if we hadn't checked.
Step 3: ABN lookup. Go to abr.business.gov.au. Enter their ABN. Confirm they're actively registered for GST. If they're not registered for GST on a $30K+ contract, that's a red flag.
Step 4: Google reviews. Look for at least 10 reviews with an average above 4.0. Read the negative reviews — what people complain about tells you more than what they praise. A pattern of "late" and "poor communication" reviews is a pattern, not a one-off.
Step 5: Call a reference. Ask the trade for 2-3 recent clients. Call at least one. Ask: "Would you use them again?" That single question tells you everything.
Questions to Ask Before Getting a Quote
Before I send drawings to any trade, I ask these questions by phone or text. Their answers (and how quickly they respond) tell me whether to proceed:
If a trade won't answer these before quoting, they're not going to improve after you've paid them.
Being a Young Woman on a Building Site
I'll be honest — not every trade takes me seriously when I'm the one on site. I've been asked "is the owner-builder here?" when I'm standing right there. I've had a trade address every question to Alex even though I'm the one managing the schedule.
The ones who do that don't get hired. Not because I'm petty, but because if they can't communicate with me now, they won't communicate well during the build. Communication is the single most important trait in a trade. Technical skill is a close second.
The best trades we've worked with couldn't care less who's signing the cheques. They care about clear drawings, a reasonable timeline, and getting paid on time. That's the professional standard I look for.
Our Trade Report Card
For transparency, here's how our 14 trades have gone so far:
The pattern is clear: referrals from other trades produce the best results. Facebook groups are a close second. Online platforms are hit-and-miss. Google is last resort.
Owner-builder costs, permit requirements, and insurance obligations differ across Australia. See the rules for your state:
Disclaimer: Some names, figures, timelines, and details in this article may have been changed, simplified, or fictionalised for illustrative and storytelling purposes. While based on real owner-builder experiences, individual scenarios, costs, and outcomes will vary depending on your location, build type, market conditions, and other factors. This content is general guidance only and should not be relied upon as professional financial, legal, or construction advice. Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions about your build.
Ashley Brennan is 25 and co-owns a knockdown rebuild in Lake Haven, NSW. She manages the trade relationships, checks every insurance certificate, and isn't afraid to fire a no-show. She writes about the practical side of owner-building that doesn't get talked about enough.