Preparing Your Home for a Tradie Visit: A Simple Checklist

Tradies charge for time, and time spent waiting for access, moving furniture, or hunting for a park is time you're often paying for. A few minutes of preparation before the visit keeps the job moving and avoids an awkward first ten minutes on site.

Clear access to the work area

Move furniture, vehicles or clutter away from wherever the work is happening, including the path to it. If pets are home, plan to keep them in another room or area during the visit.

Have the details ready

• A clear description of the problem, including when it started
• Access details — gate codes, parking instructions, or where to knock if you won't hear a doorbell
• Any previous quotes, reports or product manuals relevant to the job
• A way to be contacted if you won't be on site the whole time

Ask what happens on arrival

It's reasonable to ask in advance roughly how long the visit will take and whether the tradie needs anything from you, such as power or water access, or space to bring in equipment.

Agree on the finish before they start

Confirm what 'done' looks like — will they clean up as they go, and is there anything you'd like left as-is, such as an old fitting they're replacing? Small clarifications like this prevent misunderstandings later.