Most tradies are honest, hardworking people who just want to do a good job and get paid. But there’s a small handful out there who’ll take your deposit and vanish, or do shoddy work that costs you twice as much to fix. The good news is that dodgy operators tend to show their hand early, usually before you’ve paid a cent. Here’s what to watch for.
1. No licence number (or they get cagey when you ask)
For most building, plumbing and electrical work in Australia, the tradie needs to be licensed. A good one will give you their licence number happily, because they’ve got nothing to hide. A dodgy one will dodge the question, say “she’ll be right”, or rattle off a number that doesn’t check out.
Always look the number up on your state’s register. The body changes depending on where you live, like the QBCC in Queensland, Service NSW in New South Wales, or the VBA in Victoria. Our guide on tradie licences walks you through who to check with and what to look for.
2. Cash only, or a big deposit upfront
Cash-in-hand for the whole job is a red flag. It usually means no paper trail, no GST, and no comeback if things go wrong. Be just as wary of anyone who wants most of the money before they’ve lifted a tool.
A modest deposit to cover materials is fair on a larger job. Wanting fifty or eighty per cent upfront is not. Several states cap how much a tradie can ask for as a deposit, so it pays to know your rights. We cover this properly in deposits, contracts and your rights.
3. No written quote
If a tradie won’t put the price in writing, walk away. A verbal “it’ll be about two grand” means nothing when the bill turns up at double that. A proper written quote lists the work, the materials, the cost and roughly when it’ll happen.
Good tradies give you something in writing because it protects them too. It’s how everyone stays on the same page.
4. The door-knock “leftover materials” pitch
This is a classic. Someone turns up unannounced and says they’ve got leftover bitumen, roof tiles or paint from a job “just down the road” and can do yours cheap today. It sounds like a bargain. It almost never is.
The work is often rushed, overpriced and unfinished, and the person is long gone before you notice. Never agree to work on your doorstep. Take their details, get a written quote, and check the licence before anything else.
5. No ABN
A legitimate business has an Australian Business Number. You can check it for free on the ABN Lookup website (abr.business.gov.au). No ABN, or one that doesn’t match the name they gave you, is a sign you’re not dealing with a real, registered business.
6. Vague timelines
“I’ll get to it sometime next week” can be fine for a small job. But if a tradie can’t or won’t give you any sort of timeframe, or keeps shifting it without a reason, that’s worth noting. It can mean they’re overcommitted, disorganised, or stringing you along.
A good tradie gives you a realistic window and tells you straight if something changes.
7. Pressure to decide on the spot
“This price is only good today.” “I’ve got another customer keen, so I need an answer now.” High pressure is a sales tactic, not a sign of a good tradie. It’s designed to stop you shopping around or thinking it through.
A genuine tradie is happy for you to take your time and get a second quote. If someone’s rushing you, slow right down.
What a good tradie does instead
Put simply, a good tradie makes it easy to trust them. They:
- Give you a licence number and an ABN without being chased
- Put the quote in writing, with the work and price spelled out
- Ask for a fair deposit, or none at all on smaller jobs
- Take payment by bank transfer or card, with a receipt
- Give you a realistic timeframe and keep you posted
- Are happy for you to compare quotes and never pressure you
How needatradie takes the worry off you
Checking all this yourself takes time, and it’s easy to miss something. That’s the whole reason needatradie exists. We match you with one vetted local tradie whose licence, insurance, ABN and reviews we’ve already checked. One good tradie, not five sales calls, and never your details sold around.
If you’d rather skip the homework, get a free quote and we’ll line you up with someone you can trust.