1. "Are you licensed and insured?"
This is non-negotiable. Every state in Australia requires tradies to hold specific licences for certain work:
- NSW: Check at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
- VIC: Check at vba.vic.gov.au
- QLD: Check at qbcc.qld.gov.au
Ask for their licence number and verify it yourself. Also ask about public liability insurance — a minimum of $5 million is standard. If they hesitate or get defensive, that's your answer.
2. "Can I see examples of similar work?"
A good tradie will happily show you past projects. Look for:
- Work that's similar to your job (not just their best project)
- Before and after photos
- Recent work (within the last 12 months)
- Details about the scope and timeline
On platforms like Quoteable, tradies have project portfolios with photos, descriptions, and client reviews attached — making this easy to check before you even make contact.
3. "What's included in your quote?"
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. Ask specifically:
- Does it include materials, or just labour?
- What about waste removal?
- Are there potential additional costs (e.g., if they find asbestos or rotten framing)?
- What's the payment schedule? (Never pay 100% upfront)
A professional tradie will provide a written, itemised quote — not a number scrawled on the back of a business card.
4. "What's your timeline?"
Get specific:
- When can they start?
- How long will the job take?
- What could cause delays?
- Will they be on-site every day, or juggling multiple jobs?
A realistic timeline is better than an optimistic one. If a tradie says they can start tomorrow and be done in two days for a job that typically takes a week — that's a red flag.
5. "Can I speak to a recent client?"
References are the gold standard. A tradie with nothing to hide will happily give you a name and number. Ask the reference:
- Was the work completed on time and on budget?
- Did they clean up after themselves?
- Were there any issues, and how were they handled?
- Would they hire this tradie again?
Online reviews are useful too, but personal references are harder to fake.
Bonus: trust your gut
If something feels off — they're evasive about credentials, pushy about upfront payment, or their quote is dramatically cheaper than everyone else's — trust your instinct. The right tradie will make you feel confident, not anxious.