DIY is not my strong point. But as a new home owner it needs to be, along with the ability to suss out tradesmen in Clevedon who care.

My tool collection now outstrips my knowledge and while I am doing my best to tackle as much as I can, it is only wise to recognise my shortfalls and employ the pros for any job where building regulations, steady hands or the risk of death are involved. 

Watching one tradesman teeter on the roof almost made me change my mind and reach for my climbing rope though. 

The latest point of my learning curve on spotting a fine workman is how much work they put into your quote. 

Do they spend enough time scoping the job, measuring, checking details, talking you through it?

I've just had a job where a little more research would have saved the electrician an awful lot of time. The other guys I got quotes from made the same mistake.

To his credit, he finished the brief. He adapted his plan, spent far longer than expected and didn't charge a bean more for his labour. Neither did he ask for any money upfront. 

And he seems to have done a good job.

But he left mud on the stairs. 

I'll employ him again but is it the little things which put others off?

So please step forward and share names and numbers of people you have used in Clevedon and would use again.

It's expensive enough getting on the housing ladder so we could all do with avoiding the cowboys. Report them to the authorities and do your own research. 

- Get a written contract of what they are doing for the price.

- Does it include VAT? 

- Get references.

- Check they are registered with who they say they are.

- Check Consumer Direct's guide to builders and decorators 

- Report problems to North Somerset Trading Standards office

- Find a trusty tradesman using the government endorsed TrustMark scheme