From ghosting to green flags how to hire the right tradie
Struggling to find your tradie ‘Mr Right’? Spot the signs you’re on the right track to find your perfect tradie match.
Struggling to find your tradie ‘Mr Right’? Spot the signs you’re on the right track to find your perfect tradie match.
Finding the right tradie for your home improvement project is kind of like navigating the dating world.
You’re not just hiring hands; you’re handing over your time, space and sanity. So how do you know which tradies to trust and which ones to avoid?
When it comes to hiring tradies, homeowners face a few hurdles when it comes to looking for their perfect match. In fact, half of Aussies report that finding the right tradie is “confusing” (rising to 56% among women).
And this confusion is causing more than just the awkward first date chat:
And like dating, the red flags show up early. If it kicks off with chaos, your dream home improvement project could end up more of a nightmare.
We’ve all been there—waiting for a call or message that never comes.
Turns out, being ghosted by a tradie is our number one red flag, with 55% saying unreliability is their biggest concern when hiring a trade.
A tradie who’s difficult to reach before you’ve even marked them as hired is sending a clear message about their communication style. If they can’t return your calls for a quote when they’re trying to win your business, how responsive will they be if an issue comes up mid-project?
They message first, confirm the quote and show up.
In dating and trades, effort equals interest. A good tradie keeps the convo flowing both ways, checks in and makes sure you feel seen, not sold to.
Punctuality and reliability (48%) and clear communication and honesty (38%) are high up on Aussie homeowner’s must-haves when it comes to working with tradies.
No review, licence or verified history. Just vibes and a van.
Whether it’s a partner or a plasterer, no paper trail or online presence gives Aussies the ick. So it’s no surprise that hiring unlicensed or unqualified tradies comes in at number two on the list of the biggest red flags for homeowners (45%).
Always verify a tradie’s credentials before hiring. A trusted tradie should be happy to provide license numbers and proof of qualifications upon request.
That kitchen? Hot. And that deck could host a wedding.
Experience counts and makes the top five of homeowners green flags (37%). Looking at their previous work is a great indication of whether a tradie is right for your job. Check out their websites, and company socials to get a look at the jobs they’ve done before.
On their hipages profile you’ll see their previous work, ratings and recommendations, credentials and the all important verified tradie tick.
56%
Transparent pricing
48%
Punctuality and reliability
38%
Clear communication and honesty
37%
Experience
23%
Qualified and licensed
Six foot? More like five-eight. Even worse is quoting $500 and invoicing $1,500.
Like hidden emotional baggage, hidden fees are messy and costly.
Get a written quote up front that is itemised, so you aren’t stuck dealing with any nasty surprises.
On the flip-side, be straight up when you’re working with your trades. Be prepared to pay for those “just while I’ve got you here” little extras that you ask for – after you’ve already agreed on the quote. Don’t be ‘that client’ that pushes the scope creep buttons. Keep up your end of the bargain for a more harmonious working relationship.
Number one on the list of green flags for homeowners is transparent pricing (56%). In a landscape where two-thirds of Aussies don’t know how much tradies should cost, a professional who provides clear, itemised quotes with no hidden surprises stands out immediately.
A trusted tradie will explain all costs upfront, break down material and labor expenses, and discuss potential variables that might affect the final price. They’ll communicate about any necessary changes before proceeding with additional work, ensuring you maintain control over your budget throughout the project.
With 45% of Aussies keen for a “tradie matchmaker” to connect them with the right professional, it’s clear that many homeowners want a simpler solution to finding trusted experts.
With hipages entering the chat, you can more easily spot your red flags upfront. With verified licences, tradies who make the first move, and for those Aussies that want to “speak with their exes” by looking at customer ratings and recommendations (54%), you can say hello to matching with trusted, reliable trades.
Take the drama out of home improvement and connect for free with trusted tradies through the hipages app.
About the research
Commissioned by hipages Group in conjunction with Pureprofile, the research was conducted online in April 2025. Findings are based on a sample of over 1000 Australians aged 25+ years across all states and territories.
