An independent research database · 33 trades · 2,037 homeowner quotes
Hiring a tradie
shouldn't feel
like a guess.
We read every Reddit post, Whirlpool thread and tradie forum we could find — 2,037 real questions from Australian homeowners across 33 trades. Then we wrote the answers. No directory politics. No paid placement above proof.
The research base
What sits behind every guide.
Buyer-research files
Reddit, Whirlpool, ProductReview, forums, authority sources.
Homeowner quotes
Real questions, complaints, quote anxieties, red flags.
Trades covered
From plumbers and roofers to tilers, arborists, pool builders, waterproofers.
States & territories
Every regulator referenced and verified — NSW / VIC / QLD / WA / SA / TAS / NT / ACT.
Why this exists
Published claims don't move money.
Proof underneath does.
Every tradie's website says "licensed and insured." Every quote says "best price guaranteed." Almost none of it tells you what to actually ask for — the licence number, the certificate, the variation clause, the receipt.
This site is the homeowner's side of that gap. For each of 33 trades, we publish the ten questions homeowners ask most, the answers grounded in state regulation, and the exact thing to request before you sign.
If a tradie can answer all ten properly, they earn the work. If they can't, they don't.
Three ways into the site
Pick the one that fits why you came.
For homeowners
PrimaryYou're about to hire someone. Get briefed first.
The 12 cross-cutting questions, the 33 trade guides, the licence-check directory, the verification routine.
For tradies
Operator platform lives on a separate subdomain.
The consumer guide stays independent — no tradie pays to be featured here. If you're a tradie looking to get listed, that's a separate site under the same publisher.
Editorial trust
How the research was done. Who runs it. What we've corrected.
Show your work. Publish your funding. Log your corrections. The boring foundations of consumer authority.
The 33 trades
Pick your trade.
- 01 ArboristLive →
Tree removal, council permits, storm damage.
- 02 BricklayerLive →
Brick, block, stone. Repair to new build.
- 03 BuilderLive →
Luxury, custom, new build, major renovation.
- 04 CarpenterLive →
Framing, joinery, cabinetry, handyman-plus.
- 05 ConcreterLive →
Driveways, slabs, polished, decorative.
- 06 DeckingLive →
Timber, composite, balcony, pool surround.
- 07 DemolitionLive →
House removal, asbestos, partial strip-out.
- 08 ElectricianLive →
Switchboard, EV, three-phase, compliance.
- 09 ExcavationLive →
Site cut, drainage, rock breaking, retaining.
- 10 Pressure CleaningLive →
Driveway, roof, brick, render, soft wash.
- 11 FencerLive →
Colorbond, timber, pool, security.
- 12 FlooringLive →
Timber, laminate, hybrid, carpet, vinyl plank.
- 13 Garage DoorsLive →
Sectional, roller, tilt, motor and remote.
- 14 GlazierLive →
Window, splashback, balustrade, mirror.
- 15 GutteringLive →
Replace, leaf guard, downpipe, fascia.
- 16 HandymanLive →
Small jobs and the licence ceiling.
- 17 HVAC / Air ConLive →
Split, ducted, multi-head, refrigeration.
- 18 InsulationLive →
Batts, blow-in, acoustic, retrofit.
- 19 LandscaperLive →
Hardscape, retaining, garden design.
- 20 LocksmithLive →
Rekey, lockouts, smart locks, master key.
- 21 PainterLive →
Interior, exterior, heritage, lead paint.
- 22 PavingLive →
Pavers, exposed agg, permeable, edging.
- 23 Pest ControlLive →
Termites, general, rodent, pre-purchase.
- 24 PlastererLive →
Plasterboard, render, cornice, repair.
- 25 PlumberLive →
Emergency, hot water, drains, gas.
- 26 Pool BuilderLive →
Concrete, fibreglass, plunge, equipment.
- 27 Renovation BuilderLive →
Kitchens, bathrooms, extensions.
- 28 RooferLive →
Restoration, replacement, leak repair.
- 29 ScaffoldingLive →
Residential and commercial scaffold hire.
- 30 Solar & BatteryLive →
PV, inverter, battery, rebate.
- 31 TilerLive →
Bathroom, kitchen, outdoor, waterproofing.
- 32 WaterprooferLive →
Wet area, balcony, basement, AS 4654.
- 33 Window CleaningLive →
Residential, high-access, solar, gutter.
Template lock
Every page uses the same ten-question template. Same structure, same standards, different trade. Built from real homeowner research per state. The Roofer page is the quality bar.
How this is funded
No tradie pays for placement here. Ever.
Most "find a tradie" sites earn from the tradies, then write content to keep you on the page until you click their referral. We earn separately, on the supply side — printing letterbox flyers for trades who can answer all ten questions properly. The homeowner-facing pages stay editorial. The two never mix.