BEFORE THE WORK STARTS

Be the client
who asks first.

Most building-work problems start before the first tool comes out.

A homeowner seen from behind at a kitchen table, comparing several printed quotes beside a notebook and a mug, with a half-finished kitchen in soft focus — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Three written quotes
Check the register
Pay in stages
Simple checks, fewer surprises

A clear description of the job, a few written quotes and some quick checks make you the kind of client a good trader is glad to work for, and a poor one would rather avoid.

Updated 16 October 2026

THE SHORT ANSWER

Compare, check,
then agree in writing.

Citizens Advice sets out six steps for work on your home.
Three of them happen before you say yes.

QUOTES

Get it fixed, and in writing

A quote is a fixed price; an estimate is a rough guess. Citizens Advice suggests written quotes from at least 3 traders.

See the numbers

THE BRIEF

Describe the job first

Write down exactly what you want done and a list of questions before you meet traders, so every quote prices the same work.

How to prepare

REGISTERS

Check who can legally do it

Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. HSE says their competencies are shown on the back of their ID card.

Check a job

A QUICK JOB CHECK

What are you
having done?

Pick a type of job to see what extra checks the guidance points to. The bar shows how much checking and approval the job is likely to need.

Based on Citizens Advice, GOV.UK and HSE guidance for England. This is general information, not legal advice.

Job check

Choose a jobPainting a bedroomNew sockets or rewiringA new gas boilerA rear extension

Painting a bedroomBasic checks

No special register applies. Get written quotes, ask for 2 or 3 recent examples of similar work and contact the people they did it for.

New sockets or rewiringRegistered electrician

Citizens Advice says to use a properly qualified or registered electrician. A trader on a competent person scheme can self-certify some work.

A new gas boilerGas Safe only

You must use a Gas Safe registered engineer. Check the back of their ID card shows they are competent for that kind of gas work.

A rear extensionApprovals first

You usually need building regulations approval, and an extension usually needs planning permission. Check with your council before work starts.

Sources: Citizens Advice, Before you get work done on your home (England); HSE, Domestic gas FAQs; GOV.UK, Competent person schemes.

TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Compare the price,
limit the risk.

One figure for choosing a trader,
one for how much to hand over up front.

3+ quotes

Written quotes to compare

Citizens Advice suggests getting written quotes from at least 3 different traders. A price far lower than the others may mean the trader is not quoting for exactly the same work.

QUOTES · CITIZENS ADVICE

≤ 25%

Most to pay as a deposit

Don't agree to pay everything up front. If a long job makes a deposit hard to avoid, Citizens Advice says to keep it as low as possible and not agree to more than 25%.

DEPOSITS · CITIZENS ADVICE

Citizens Advice also suggests offering to buy materials yourself instead of paying a deposit for them, so you own the materials if something goes wrong, and always getting a receipt.

A gas boiler on a utility room wall with its front cover open and an engineer's gloved hands holding a flue gas analyser probe — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

FOUR THINGS TO DO

Prepared client,
smoother job.

None of this needs special knowledge. It is about writing things down and checking what you are told before you agree.

Write a short brief
Describe exactly what you want done and list your questions, so quotes can be compared like for like.
Ask for references
Ask for 2 or 3 recent examples of similar work and contact those customers, as written references aren't always genuine.
Check memberships yourself
If a trader says they belong to a scheme or trade association, look them up on that scheme's own website.
Agree it in writing
Put timings, tidying up, materials and payment stages in a written contract before the work begins.

WHAT A QUOTE SHOULD SHOW

A good quote
answers questions.

Citizens Advice says a quote should give a fixed total price rather than a daily rate, a breakdown of the work and materials, separate costs for each part, how long the price is valid and whether it includes VAT.

It should also say when the price can go up, for example only if you agree to extra work. If you are offered a daily rate, ask for the number of days and the hours in a day in writing.

Two people's hands over a sheet of house plans on a table, one pointing at a room with a pencil while the other holds a tape measure — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Questions

Questions people ask

What is the difference between a quote and an estimate?

Citizens Advice says a quote is a fixed price, so you know what you will pay, while an estimate is just a rough guess and you might end up paying more. Ask for a written quote.

How many quotes should I get?

Citizens Advice suggests written quotes from at least 3 different traders. Some traders charge for quotes, so ask about this first.

How do I check a gas engineer?

HSE says anyone working on gas appliances in a home must be Gas Safe registered and competent in that area of work. Their competencies are on the back of their Gas Safe Register ID card, and you can check the register.

What is a competent person scheme?

It is a scheme that lets registered installers self-certify certain types of building work. Using a trader on a relevant scheme can mean you don't have to apply for building regulations approval for that work.

Should I pay a deposit?

Citizens Advice says not to pay everything up front. Where a deposit can't be avoided, keep it as low as possible, no more than 25%, get a receipt and pay the rest in stages.

Be the client
who asks first.