Trusted trader check a trade rated people WHICH ONE IS BEST???

[Radioman]

Here's the problem. The local plumbers merchants I have had 90% of my leads from has packed it in and retired after 30 years. Over the last 10 years this is where most of my profitable jobs have come from and we had a great mutual trading relationship. No local advertising works for us. Who reads the local papers anymore anyway???

The area I work from in North Herts is saturated by specialist bathroom shops who employ cheap immigrant labour at £50 pd and the usual Sheds and Nationals such as Bathstore Wickes etc. within a 5 mile radius of home there are over 20 specialist stores.

I only need to work 3 or 4 days a week for the next 3 years ( I am 63 next birthday) till full pensions kick in. So what I need is to source work that I can pick and choose the jobs that suit my skills base and location as I am also doing a couple of my own refurbs for buy to let's so positive cash flow is needed.

To that end I am considering one of the web based outfits such as check a trade etc. but which one works best? Please let me have your honest opinions and experiences. Like many others I have been duped and conned by slick marketing over the years so I am now doubly careful.

Thanks in advance
Tim

 

[Millsy 82]

I set up self employed 4 months ago in an area that I have just moved to from 200+ miles away so nobody knows me so I have looked into a couple of these.

I use rated people. Don't like it 1 bit you have to pay £18.00+vat per month and then you have to pay for leads. It is doing it's bit for me at the moment, I only ever do small jobs off it though and if someone else buys it I leave it. The good thing you can do is read the thing before you buy, some can be quite funny, a bloke wants BBU out worcester fitting and all heating pipework replaced budget £3000.00 and needs it doing before the 16th! Even my girlfriend laughed at that price and she knows nothing about pricing!

Never used trusted trader or check a trade (I did look into it and may still do it but it has got mixed reviews on this site)

 

[SimonG]

Been with Checkatrade since early June. I would rate it at poor to moderate. Im just making sure I stay within the terms and conditions for the money back guarantee.

 

[TBServices]

I've been with checkatrade around the same time and I've never been more in demand.

It's working fantastically for me, but I feel it may be because I'm the first to join in my area

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Check-a-trade works for me too. If your Gas Safe why not sub contract to one of the big utilities, I earn £250-300 a day doing this without having to chase customers and materials etc

 

[lame plumber]

checkatrade has yet to kick off for me, 4th month on it and 1 enquiry to follow up to date for a boiler swap, SW folks arent computer fans in my mind

 

[TBServices]

Have you been getting regular feedback? It wasn't working at all for me until I got my first feedback form in, then it's just snowballed

 

[lame plumber]

25 feedbacks all 9 plus

 

[wetdrip]

Have you been getting regular feedback? It wasn't working at all for me until I got my first feedback form in, then it's just snowballed

Just had a look on there for you. Good scores, too.

 

[Masood]

Check-a-trade works for me too. If your Gas Safe why not sub contract to one of the big utilities, I earn £250-300 a day doing this without having to chase customers and materials etc

How do you get to know about those jobs?

 

[Radioman]

Great feedback and info. Keep it coming please. Unfortunately I am not gas safe for 15 years and at my age have no plans to start all over

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

How do you get to know about those jobs?

SSE emailed me out of the blue looking for fitters, I used to work for BG so i have contacts with them too