How it works
Three steps, no phone tag.
Most directories sell you a list. We do the checking first, match you to firms that are actually free, and show our working.
- 01
Describe the job
Two minutes, plain English, photos if you have them. Free, and you stay anonymous until you choose to share your details.
- 02
Get matched with up to three
We rank checked local firms on trade, area, availability and track record — then hand you the shortlist with the reasoning shown.
- 03
Hire on the evidence
Compare verified credentials, before-and-after work, written reviews and reply times. Book a slot directly, or take the quotes away and think.
Our standard
What a checked firm has actually passed.
Five things, every one dated and repeatable. If we can't verify it, we don't claim it.
Identity and company record
Photo ID matched to the Companies House record or sole-trader details. No anonymous profiles.
Public liability insurance
Certificate checked and the expiry date stored, so a lapsed policy removes the badge on the day.
Trade accreditations
Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, FENSA and similar confirmed with the issuing body by registration number.
Review integrity
Reviews are tied to a signed-in account and a real job, moderated before publishing — the critical ones included.
Ongoing monitoring
Checks are dated and repeated. A firm keeps its badges by staying compliant, not by paying a subscription.
Questions
The things people ask first.
- Is TradesmanFinder free for homeowners?
- Yes. Posting a job, comparing firms and reading reviews are free, and you're never obliged to hire anyone you're matched with.
- How many quotes will I get?
- Up to three matched firms per job. We'd rather send you three available, checked trades than twenty who never call back.
- Can a firm pay to be listed or featured?
- No. A firm appears only after our checks pass, and the featured slot is set by hand after a full review — it stays empty when nothing qualifies.
- What happens if a tradesman's insurance expires?
- We store every expiry date. The badge drops off the profile automatically the day cover lapses, and we re-verify credentials on their anniversary rather than once at sign-up.