The proof is in the pudding, or rather the quote

19 December 2016

The proof is in the pudding, or rather the quote

For many of us, the summer break is a chance to take care of the house ‘to do’ list. Whatever the renovation, asking for a written quote to know the cost before you agree to the service is the advice from Consumer Protection this summer.

“The weeks surrounding Christmas are extremely busy, with most of us hosting family, dinner parties, or just extra visitor traffic. We all want our homes to be looking their best for the occasion, but don’t forget to get the price of any agreed work in writing when engaging with tradespeople,” advises MBIE Consumer Protection Manager Mark Hollingsworth.

“It often surprises me that most people don’t place the same importance on quotes as they do a job contract, for example.

“Ask your friends and neighbours for tradespeople they would recommend, or google for reviews and evidence of work for any tradespeople you are thinking of working with. Shop around and get written quotes from several businesses offering the same service before deciding the price is right for you. When it comes to paying, you don’t have to pay more than what is quoted.

“I strongly advise consumers to do their homework so they can feel confident dealing with tradespeople. The Consumer Protection website outlines what you need to know on the Getting Quotes and Estimates page.

“We all love our figgy pudding, but remember the proof is in the written quote,” Mr Hollingsworth says.

Protect your rights this summer and find out how much a job will cost before you agree to it. Further details on the process for getting a quote (or an estimate), as well as how to work with the service provider if you’re dissatisfied with their work, can be found on the Consumer Protection website.

ENDS

© Scoop Media