Ireland-focused customer guide

The BIG 10 for Customers in Ireland

A practical guide for homeowners, renters and landlords hiring tradespeople, cleaners and home-service providers.

Because better job posts get better quotes, clearer work and fewer awkward surprises.

Start the checklist Copy-paste templates

Why this matters

Good providers can only quote properly when the job is clear.

This page is not about customers versus providers. It is about making the job clear enough that a good provider can price it properly, arrive prepared, do the work safely and close the job fairly.

Vague jobs create vague quotes

If the provider has to guess the size, access, condition or materials, the quote may not match the real job.

€

Cheapest is not always clearest

A low number can become expensive if materials, disposal, preparation or extra work were not included.

✓

Clear proof protects everyone

Photos, messages, quotes and job notes reduce arguments and help both sides handle changes fairly.

The overview

The BIG 10 cards

Click a card to jump into the details. Each section is written for real home-service situations in Ireland: cleaning, trades, gardens, repairs, call-outs and small residential jobs.

The clarity question

Do I know what I need done?

Better job posts get better replies. Providers need the real outcome, not just a vague category.

The photo question

Have I added useful photos?

Useful photos save time, reduce guessing and help providers quote the real job.

The right-provider question

Am I booking the right provider?

Some jobs need a specialist, registration, licence, insurance or proper experience, not just “someone handy”.

The quote-ready question

Is the job easy to quote?

The clearer the brief, the less time everyone wastes going back and forward.

The comparison question

Am I comparing quotes properly?

The cheapest quote is not always the best quote. Compare what is included, excluded and assumed.

The fair-price question

Do I understand the real price?

A fair price includes more than time on site. It includes the cost of doing the job properly.

The change question

What if the job changes?

Homes are messy. Hidden issues happen. Extra work should be explained and approved before it is charged.

The access question

Is my home ready?

Good preparation helps the provider start on time and protects your home.

The problem-solving question

Can I raise problems fairly?

If something is wrong, raise it clearly, quickly and with proof. Good providers deserve a fair chance to fix issues.

The closing question

Have I closed the job properly?

The job is finished properly when the work, payment, proof and review are all clear.

The simple answer

A good job post explains the outcome, the property, the area affected and what “finished” should look like.

What to do next

Write the job as if the provider has never seen your home. Add rooms, sizes, condition, access notes and the result you want.

Common mistake

Posting “need a cleaner”, “need handyman” or “garden sorted” and expecting accurate quotes.

A lot of home-service problems start before anyone arrives. The customer knows what they mean, but the provider has to price the actual work, travel, tools, materials, risk and time.

Better details to include

What needs doing exactly
Which rooms or areas
Is it repair, replacement, deep clean, maintenance or inspection
Is the property occupied, empty, rented or managed
Any access, parking, pets, stairs or time restrictions

Better question

Could a provider understand the size, condition and difficulty of this job without needing to guess?

The simple answer

Photos should show the full area, the close-up problem, the access and anything that changes the difficulty.

What to do next

Add one wide photo, one close-up photo and one access/scale photo where possible.

Common mistake

Uploading only a close-up of the problem, with no sense of the full room, garden, wall, carpet or access.

Photos do not need to be perfect. They need to be useful. A good provider can often spot access issues, scale, materials, damage and likely extras from the right photos.

Photo ideas by job type

For cleaning, show the actual rooms or items
For painting, show walls, corners, cracks and current colour
For gardening, show the full garden, waste and access
For plumbing, show the leak, pipe, sink, toilet or affected room
For carpet cleaning, show the full carpet and the stain close up

Better question

Do my photos help someone price the job, or only prove that a problem exists?

The simple answer

Simple jobs can suit general providers. Safety-critical, regulated or specialist jobs need extra checks.

What to do next

For electricity, gas, security, waste, roof work, pest control or specialist treatment work, check the proper register or licence before booking.

Common mistake

Choosing the cheapest general option for work that should be done by a properly registered or specialist provider.

Not every home job should go to “someone handy”. Some work affects safety, security, insurance, compliance or the long-term condition of the home.

Be more careful with

Electrical work
Gas work
Locksmith work
CCTV, alarms and access control
Waste removal
Roof work or work at height
Structural work
Pest control
Specialist carpet or upholstery cleaning
Large plumbing jobs

Better question

Is this a normal service job, or should I check registration, insurance, licensing or specialist experience first?

The simple answer

A quote-ready job includes location, timing, size, photos, access, materials, disposal and any awkward details.

What to do next

Mention the things that could slow the provider down or change the price before they quote.

Common mistake

Leaving out parking, apartment access, green waste, stairs, materials, keys, pets or timing restrictions.

A provider can only quote properly if the job is clear. Missing details can turn a fair quote into a misunderstanding.

Quote-ready details

Area or Eircode
Property type
Rooms, measurements or approximate size
Photos
Preferred timing
Access details
Parking situation
Whether materials are included
Whether waste disposal is needed
Pets, stairs, lifts, gates or apartment rules

Better question

Have I mentioned anything that could slow the provider down or change the price?

The simple answer

A quote is useful only if you understand what it includes, excludes and assumes.

What to do next

Compare the scope before comparing the price. Ask providers to clarify materials, disposal, VAT, call-out fees and extras.

Common mistake

Comparing two numbers even though the providers may be pricing two different jobs.

A good quote should reduce confusion. It should make the job, price and assumptions clear enough that both sides know what is happening.

Compare these quote details

What is included
What is excluded
Whether materials are included
Whether VAT is included if applicable
Whether call-out charges apply
Whether disposal is included
When the provider can come
How long the job may take
How payment works
What happens if extra work is discovered

Better question

Am I comparing the same job, or just comparing two numbers?

The simple answer

A fair price is clear, explained and reasonable for the work involved — not simply the lowest number.

What to do next

Ask what is included if the quote feels unclear. Look for explanation, not pressure.

Common mistake

Thinking “it only took two hours” means the whole job only cost two hours of labour.

Customers often see the time on site. Providers also have travel, tools, insurance, fuel, parking, materials, admin, disposal, experience, risk and follow-up.

A proper price may include

Travel
Parking
Fuel
Tools
Insurance
Materials
Preparation
Admin
Disposal
Quoting time
Business costs
Risk
VAT where applicable
Follow-up if something needs checking

Better question

Is the price clear, fair and explained — not just low?

The simple answer

If hidden issues appear, the provider should explain the change and the customer should approve extra paid work before it happens.

What to do next

Ask how extras are handled before work starts, especially for repairs, painting, plumbing, gardens and older homes.

Common mistake

Assuming the original price covers every hidden issue, or accepting surprise extras with no explanation.

Jobs can change once the provider sees what is behind the wall, under the sink, beneath the carpet, behind the hedge or under old paint.

Common things providers discover

Hidden damp
Rotten timber
Damaged plaster
Blocked pipes
Unsafe wiring
Extra waste
More rooms than described
Heavy furniture
Stains that need specialist treatment
Previous poor workmanship
Missing parts or materials

Better question

If something extra is found, have we agreed how it will be priced and approved?

The simple answer

The provider should be able to park, access the area, work safely and contact you if something changes.

What to do next

Clear the work area, secure pets, arrange parking, share access details and be available by phone.

Common mistake

Only telling the provider about no parking, no lift, keys, pets or blocked access when they arrive.

Customers can make jobs smoother by preparing the home properly. That does not mean doing the provider’s job. It means removing avoidable obstacles.

Before the visit

Clear the work area
Move fragile items
Secure pets
Arrange parking
Be available by phone
Give gate, alarm or access details
Tell apartment management if needed
Check water and electricity access
Make sure someone can let the provider in
Explain anything unusual before arrival

Better question

Have I made it possible for the provider to start work when they arrive?

The simple answer

A fair complaint explains what is wrong, what was agreed, includes photos where useful and gives the provider a reasonable chance to respond.

What to do next

Message quickly if something is wrong. Be specific and keep the tone clear, not abusive.

Common mistake

Saying nothing at the time, then leaving an angry review days later without giving the provider a chance to respond.

Sometimes work does not go perfectly. There may be a missed area, misunderstanding, delay, damage, unfinished work or quality issue. The way the issue is raised matters.

A useful issue message includes

What the problem is
Photos where useful
What was agreed
What outcome you want
When you noticed it
A reasonable chance for the provider to respond

Better question

Have I explained the issue clearly enough that a reasonable provider can respond or fix it?

The simple answer

Before closing the job, inspect the work, ask questions, confirm payment, keep proof and leave a fair review.

What to do next

Use the job thread, quote, photos and invoice/receipt as your record. Raise issues quickly, not weeks later.

Common mistake

Paying or reviewing before checking the work, or delaying problems until memories and proof are unclear.

The job is not really finished until both sides are clear. A clean finish protects the customer and the provider.

Before closing

Inspect the work
Ask any questions
Check agreed extras
Confirm payment
Keep messages, photos and receipts
Leave a fair review
Raise issues quickly
Save the provider if they did good work

Better question

Did I finish the job in a way that is fair, clear and useful for both sides?

Official places to check

Useful Irish starting points before booking specialist work.

Use these official sources when the job involves consumer rights, electrical work, gas work, security/locksmith services or waste collection. This guide is general information only, not legal advice.

Consumer service rights

CCPC: buying services

What to expect from services, delays and poor service issues.

Electrical work

Safe Electric: find a REC Completion Certificate info

For checking Registered Electrical Contractors and completion certificates.

Gas work

RGI: registered installers

For checking registered gas installers before gas-related work.

Security and locksmiths

PSA registered contractors

For locksmiths, CCTV, access control, intruder alarms and security-related contractors.

Waste collection

NWCPO permit search

For checking waste collection permit details before waste removal.

NAIAQ job tracking

Track your job Post a clear job

Keep quotes, questions, photos and updates in one place.

Copy-paste templates

Small messages that prevent big misunderstandings.

Use these as starting points. Change the wording to match the real job and what you are comfortable agreeing.

Clear job post

Hi, I need help with [job type] at [area/eircode]. The job is: [clear description]. Photos are attached. Access/parking: [details]. Timing: [preferred days/times]. Please let me know what is included in your quote, whether materials/disposal/VAT are included, and how extras would be handled if the job changes.

Quote clarification

Hi [name], thanks for the quote. Before I decide, can you confirm what is included, what is excluded, whether materials are included, whether VAT applies, and whether disposal/call-out fees are included? I just want to make sure I am comparing quotes fairly.

Extra work approval

Hi [name], thanks for explaining the extra issue. Before you go ahead, can you send the updated price and what the extra work includes? I am happy to review and approve it before the additional work starts.

Raise a problem fairly

Hi [name], thanks for the work today. I noticed [specific issue] after checking it. I have attached photos so it is clear. Can you let me know what you think and how we can sort it? I wanted to raise it quickly while the job is still fresh.

Final checklist

Before booking, ask yourself:

Do I know what I actually need done?

Did I add useful photos?

Am I choosing the right type of provider?

Is the job easy to quote?

Am I comparing quotes properly?

Do I understand what a fair price includes?

Have we agreed what happens if the job changes?

Have I prepared the home?

Do I know how to raise a problem fairly?

Have I closed the job properly?

Better job posts create better jobs.

Clear jobs waste less time. Clear quotes avoid awkwardness. Clear expectations protect both sides. That is the kind of home-service experience NAIAQ is built to support.

Post a clear job