Homeowner FAQ’s, help & advice

Looking for a tradesperson, but wondering how best to go about getting the right one for you? No problem you are in the right place. Please see below for answers to frequently asked questions, advice and guidance on how to select the right trade professional for you and your job.

Choosing a tradesperson

How does HaMuch work?

HaMuch is a trade comparison website providing prices, customer reviews, availability requests and contact details for professional tradespeople at the touch of a button. Our aim is to make it easier to select the right tradesperson for you.

I’ve previously gone on word of mouth recommendations – why should I use HaMuch?

HaMuch is a directory of trade professionals who are prepared to be clear on price. They list their hourly and daily rates, list the services they provide, upload photos and ask their customers for reviews to help you make your choice. HaMuch connects you straight the tradesperson, simply click the icons to call, text, email them or press the availability button to find out when they are next available.

There are other trade comparison sites – why should I use HaMuch?

HaMuch is the only comparison to list hourly and daily prices. We are all about saving you time and hassle when trying to find the right tradesperson for you. The availability button means you can find out when they are next available at the click of a button. Also the other users of the site are leaving unbiased reviews of the tradespeople they have used meaning they will only get the star rating they deserve. All this combined helps you make the right choice of tradesperson for your job.

Do I have to pay to use HaMuch?

HaMuch is a free online directory helping you find the right tradesperson for your job. You can look at local tradespeople and see their prices, availability and reviews to help you pick the right one for you.

Why are there only a small number of tradespeople in my area?

So far we have just over 10,000 tradespeople in the HaMuch directory and these numbers are growing daily with trade professionals who are wanting to “clear on price” – if you know of tradespeople who you haven’t seen on the site, please tell them to visit HaMuch to get more customers.

Do the hourly and daily rates include VAT?

No the prices quoted exclude VAT. This has been done this way to aid comparison because not all tradespeople will pay VAT or some may be on a lower rate so we want to provide a level playing field for you to make your decision. Remember to ask the tradesperson about VAT when you contact them if this will impact your decision. The standard VAT rate is currently 20%.

What is the availability button?

Press the availability button to send an instant request to the tradesperson to find out when they are next available.

How do I view ratings?

The tradesperson’s star rating is shown on their profile page header along with their hourly/daily rates and the icons to contact them. If you click into their profiles and scroll to the bottom you will see their customer reviews about previous work they have carried out.

What if the tradesperson has no ratings?

Tradespeople without ratings may have only recently joined HaMuch, therefore it does not mean that they are not professional tradespeople. A tradesperson should have a portfolio of pervious work, photos of past jobs may be visible on their profile page and ask them for references whilst they are waiting for their first HaMuch site review.

What is Gas Safe?

All gas (heating) engineers must be on the gas safe register to work to work safely and legally on gas appliances. Registered tradespeople carry a personal ID card, so check their licence number and expiry date. Not all engineers are qualified to do all types of work so always check their credentials before commissioning any work. To check simply click the gas safe logo to visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk

What is Part P?

Part P is part of the Building Regulations in England and Wales and relates to an electrician being qualified and deemed a “competent person” to safely carry out electrical work in your home. To check the status of the electrician you are interested in, simply click the association logos on their profile page (e.g. ELECSA, NICEIC, NAPIT or Stroma) that will take you through to www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk All registered competent persons have been authorised by Government to self-certify that their work is compliant with Building Regulations. This means they meet strict entry requirements, and their work is regularly assessed, to ensure their ongoing competence and that their work meets the correct standards. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the Part P certificate isn’t a requirement but it’s definitely something to look for if you want a professional electrician.

What is TrustMark?

TrustMark is a government endorsed scheme for the trades and acts as a stamp of quality for tradespeople who have this logo on their profile. TrustMark accredited tradespeople have been through a vetting process and meet high standards in trading practices, customer service and technical competence. For more information visit www.trustmark.org.uk

What is the difference between a quote and an estimate?

So you have looked at the profiles on the site and selected (we would recommend three) tradespeople to come out and take a look at your job. An estimate is a useful starting point for final selection, it is rough price, but be aware it is not binding. Before work starts, ask for a quotation for the work agreed. The quote should include a detailed job specification, price, conditions of work and a payment schedule. A quote should outline the payment schedule this can help avoid misunderstandings. An invoice should be received at each stage of the payment schedule and should only cover work that has been done. Never pay the full cost of the job up front.

Should I pay a deposit?

It is not uncommon to be asked to pay deposit to cover the tradesperson’s tools, materials and possibly travel. HaMuch would recommend the deposit should be recorded with an invoice. As a rough guide, a deposit should be less than 20% of the overall job.

Should a tradesperson guarantee their work?

A tradesperson is likely to guarantee their work for a period of time. Make sure you know what this period is and that you have any relevant paperwork if you need to make a claim in the future.

How do I settle a dispute with a tradesperson?

We hope that all of our online community honour agreements and work with mutual respect.  We suggest you negotiate any issues with the tradesperson directly and speak to Citizens Advice Bureau for any additional help and guidance.

How do I report a review?

If you are concerned that a review is inappropriate, misleading or offensive then let us know by contacting us at info@hamuch.com

Do I need to pay for the HaMuch service?

HaMuch is free for people who want to find a tradesperson in the area. There are no hidden costs and HaMuch provide a service for people to compare costs and check availability at the click of a button with no charge to the consumer.

How do I opt out of HaMuch communications?

By email simply click on the unsubscribe button to be removed from the mailing list, or by text all you need to do is click #stoptxt.net which takes you to an optout page, enter your number and click submit and you will no longer receive text messages.

How do I get in touch?

We welcome any feedback and if you have any queries that need additional support email us: info@hamuch.com

Reviewing a tradesperson

Should I leave a review?

Yes please. Once the job is done, please leave a review you may want to comment on the quality, value and reliability of your tradesperson. Your review will be a valuable tool for other users when selecting a tradesperson for their job. Good reviews will help good tradespeople build their business and secure work.

How do I review a Tradesperson on HaMuch?

You may receive an email from your tradesperson once the job is done, if this is not received, please go to the HaMuch website and click on the top right hand button “Homeowner Feedback” enter the business name and press search to go directly to the review section of their HaMuch profile page.

Can HaMuch guarantee the quality of a tradespersons work?

The tradespeople in HaMuch directory are all independent businesses, so we cannot guarantee the quality of their work. HaMuch provides a platform for comparison based on price, a portfolio of their previous work and reviews. We recommend you contact a minimum of 3 tradespeople for a quote, ask to see additional examples of previous jobs completed and check their association memberships online to help select the right tradesperson for you.

Will HaMuch remove poor tradespeople from the site?

HaMuch is keen to protect both homeowners and honest tradespeople. Dispute resolution guidance is available and should this be unsuccessful, investigations will be carried out and poor tradespeople will be removed from the site.