Describe the work before asking for prices
Write down what is wrong, your desired outcome, the suburb and when you need it completed; the job-posting guide has a checklist. Photos and approximate measurements can make expectations clearer. Avoid sharing private access instructions or contact information in a public description.
Check the right registration and insurance
Electrical, plumbing and some building work are regulated. Check current professional credentials with Energy Safe Victoria and the Building and Plumbing Commission, as applicable. Ask what insurance covers the proposed work; don't treat an online profile as proof.
Get quotes you can actually compare
Ask whether quoted amounts include labour, materials, travel, call-out charges, disposal and GST. Confirm what is excluded, whether the price can vary, and how extra work will be approved.
Agree on details before work starts
Confirm who is doing the work, the scope, timing, access requirements, cancellation arrangements and any required paperwork. Retain receipts and written agreements. Don't pay on the basis of an unverified payment claim, and keep any deposit within the legal limits.
Know when to use emergency assistance
For hazards such as fire, live electrical danger or major property flooding, contact emergency services or relevant utilities as appropriate. A job marketplace is not an emergency-response service.
Example: comparing two unlike quotes
Quote A says $180 for a “tap repair”, but excludes a call-out fee, parts and follow-up testing. Quote B costs more but specifies investigation, a named replacement part, cleanup and testing. The totals do not yet tell you which offer is better, because the inclusions are different.
Ask each provider to put the same tasks, parts, travel, GST, paperwork and exclusions in writing. For uncertain faults, agree which investigations are authorised initially and how further repairs will be approved.
Five checks before accepting a quote
A clear agreement should establish who performs the work, the required credentials, the materials, the expected timing, the price basis and what happens if the scope changes. Keep copies of messages and invoices so there is a record of what was agreed.
- Verify licensing for the particular regulated trade
- Understand call-out, labour, parts and GST
- Check insurance appropriate to the work
- Ask how extra work is approved and recorded
- Keep required certificates and completed-work records
If the job is urgent or potentially dangerous
Immediate electrical hazards, fire and serious flooding may require emergency services or utilities rather than an ordinary marketplace response. Never ask an unqualified person to handle a live electrical fault or a suspected gas leak. A promise of fast attendance does not replace the relevant safety requirements.
More on hiring a tradie
- Find a tradie: where to look, and what a recommendation should tell you
- Check a tradie's licence: which work needs one, and the official registers
- Paying a tradie: deposit limits, progress payments and door-to-door deals
- Repairs when you rent: urgent repairs and who books the tradie
Official information and further reading
Regulatory requirements can change. Check the relevant Victorian authority before arranging regulated work.