46% of homeowners would only use a tradesperson recommended by friends or family
Trust is the biggest influencing factor for homeowners when selecting a tradesperson according to recent research from Paddle, the app that made for tradespeople to secure jobs.
The research, which surveyed over 1,500 consumers, looked at which factors influence a homeowner when it comes to selecting a tradesperson, with almost half (46%) of people only contacting those who have been recommended by someone they trust.
Homeowners spend on average two hours researching potential tradespeople and when it comes to background research, 39% of people check online to see if tradespeople have good reviews, checking an average of five review sites before booking a tradesperson. Over a quarter (26%) of people also read up on the problem they’re experiencing to ensure they don’t get ripped off by the tradesperson they select.
Despite the risk of sub-standard work, 10% of those surveyed will always go with the cheapest option available, with people in the North East least likely to spend money on tradespeople.
Ben Milton, heating engineer and co-founder of Paddle, said: “It’s evident that people value the recommendations of their friends and family, or even other homeowners within their local area, when it comes to finding a tradesperson. But between searching online, getting recommendations and finding an installer that is available, it can take hours to get a job booked in.
The app has initially launched in Greater Manchester and is free for tradespeople until early 2020.
For more information on Paddle, and to sign up as a tradesperson, visit: www.just-paddle.com
