Posting your job
- How do I post a job?
- What should I include in my job posting?
- What if I’m just looking for a quote?
- Why do you need my name and contact details?
- Which category should I choose for my job?
- What happens after I post my job?
- Will you publish my contact details when I post a job?
- Why do you ask for a budget?
- Why have I been asked to update my job?
- How do I change/update a job I have posted?
- Why can’t I update my job?
- Should I add photos to my job?
- How do I add photos to my job description?
- What if I don’t want multiple quotes?
- Do job postings expire?
- Can I cancel my job advertisement?
- How do I cancel my job advertisement?
- What happens when I withdraw a job?
- Do I withdraw the job now or once the job’s done?
- Can i still rate or contact the tradesperson after withdrawing the job?
Choosing a tradesperson
- How should I choose a tradesperson?
- How do I review the tradespeople interested in my job?
- Why have I been asked to contact the tradesperson?
- How do I contact the tradespeople interested in my job?
- What do the stars beside the tradesperson’s information mean?
- How do I view ratings?
- How do you know that ratings are genuine?
- What does Gas Safe mean?
- What does Part P mean?
- What is the ‘Checklist’?
- Must I be contacted by multiple tradespeople before I choose one?
- What if I have already chosen a tradesperson?
- What do I do after I choose a tradesperson?
- What should I do if no tradespeople have contacted me?
- What should I do if a tradesperson asks me to pay a deposit?
Leaving a rating
- Should I rate my tradesperson?
- How do I leave a rating?
- What do I do if I don’t want to leave a public rating?
- What happens if I’m not happy with a tradesperson’s work?
- How do I share a tradesperson I like with others?
Your account
- How do I log in to my account?
- How do I view jobs I’ve posted through Rated People?
- What if I have forgotten my password?
- How do I change my password?
- How do I change/update my contact details?
- How do I change/update my alert contact preferences?
- What is the ‘My tradespeople’ section?
About the service
- How does Rated People work?
- I’ve always relied on word of mouth before, why should I use Rated People?
- How do you define the term ‘local’ tradespeople?
- Do you screen tradespeople who sign up to Rated People?
- How can you guarantee the quality of a tradesperson’s work?
- Do you close tradespeople’s accounts?
How do I post a job?
You can post a job in a variety of ways:
- On the main website: Visit our homepage at www.ratedpeople.com and select the type of work you need done in the web form on the left to get started. In a few short steps, the form will ask for your job details and contact information before submitting your job.
- On our mobile website: When you visit Rated People on a mobile smartphone you will land on our mobile web form. Select the type of work you need done to get started and complete the short form to submit your job.
- With our mobile app: Download our Homes mobile app for your iPhone or Android smartphone. To post a job, simply launch the app and select ‘Post a Job’ from the main menu. Complete the short form to submit your job.
What should I include in my job posting?
The more information you can provide for our tradespeople, the better. We ask for your job type, postcode and approximate budget. In your job description, give additional details such as:
- when you want the work to start
- whether you already have materials
- the size of the room(s) or affected area(s)
- the size and type of property
- whether you have planning permission and/or drawings
- whether your budget is flexible
Note: The budget you provide is used to help us set the price for tradespeople to quote on your job. Please provide an approximate, but realistic budget.
What if I’m just looking for a quote?
Our tradespeople pay for the opportunity to quote, so to ensure the quality of the jobs on our site, we ask that you only post jobs that you intend to have completed.
If you are looking for more information on a project, such as the general price or what’s involved, check out our Ask an Expert section here.
Why do you need my name and contact details?
Unlike directories or word-of-mouth where you are subject to the tradesperson you contact’s availability, Rated People tradespeople view your job and request your details only if they are interested and available to carry out the work.
To keep the market competitive and protect your personal information, a maximum of 3 tradespeople can view your name and contact details. So all you have to do is post your job and the tradespeople will come to you.
Which category should I choose for my job?
If you’re not sure which category to post your job under, take a browse of our category listings here to see which job types are available under each category.
What happens after I post my job?
After you post your job, we’ll forward your job description to all relevant tradespeople in your area. Those who are interested in completing your job will pay to see your contact details and contact you to quote. To keep the market competitive and protect your personal information, only a maximum of 3 tradespeople can view your name and contact details.
You’ll also be able to use the chat feature within the app and website, where you can send messages to the tradesperson.
We will send you the tradesperson’s details and ratings (via text message and email) each time a tradesperson requests your contact details. If you have not been contacted by at least 1 tradesperson within 24 hours, consider updating your job description with more details or a revised budget.
Will you publish my contact details when I post a job?
No. Your contact details will never be made public on the site. When a tradesperson buys your job, they will then get access to your details so that they may contact you to quote.
Note: To keep the market competitive and protect your personal information, only a maximum of 3 tradespeople can view your name and contact details.
Why do you ask for a budget?
Your budget helps us estimate the size of the job and set the price for tradespeople to quote on your job. Setting an approximate, but realistic, budget helps ensure that the right tradespeople contact you to quote.
Why have I been asked to update my job?
Our tradespeople usually respond to job postings within a few hours, so if no tradespeople have expressed interest in quoting on your job within 24 hours, we contact you to suggest that you update your job.
Jobs with very short descriptions or unrealistic budgets often do not get a response from tradespeople. When we ask you to update your job, we suggest that you add more details or reconsider your budget.
How do I change/update a job I have posted?
If you wish to change or update a job you have posted, log in to your account here or launch the Homes app on your smartphone. Select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation to view the list of jobs you have posted through Rated People. Click the job you wish to update and then the ‘Update job’ button. Add any details you wish to append to your job description and click ‘Update your job’ to submit changes.
If you received an email prompting you to update your job, you may click the update job link in the email to be taken directly the update screen for that job.
Why can’t I update my job?
You cannot update your job if a tradesperson has already expressed interest in quoting or if you have already updated the job once before.
Should I add photos to my job?
Yes, if you have photos to add, you should. Photos of your job will help tradespeople better understand your job requirements and provide a more accurate quote. tradespeople are also more likely to respond to a job that includes extra information, such as photos.
You should also add any plans, drawings or other images that could help the tradesperson better understand your requirements. You can take and add photos directly from your smartphone using the Homes mobile app.
How do I add photos to my job description?
The Homes mobile app allows you to add up to 5 photos to your job description with your iPhone or Android smartphone.
You can add photos to your job description at any time by launching the app and selecting your job from the ‘My Jobs’ section. Select ‘Job Details’ and then one of the photo boxes to upload photos directly from your smartphone.
What if I don’t want multiple quotes?
If you have already selected a tradesperson or do not require any more quotes for any reason, please take down your job posting so that our tradespeople do not waste valuable time or money pursuing your job.
To do so, log in to your account here and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation to view the list of jobs you have posted through Rated People. Click the job you no longer require quotes for and click the ‘Cancel job’ button.
Do job postings expire?
Yes. Jobs are only live in our system for 3 working days. We also take job postings down if 3 tradespeople have purchased them.
Can I cancel my job advertisement?
Yes. You can take down your job posting at any time by logging in here and selecting ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation. Click the job you don’t wish to advertise any longer and then click the ‘Withdraw my job’ button at the bottom of the page.
If you’re using the Homes mobile app, launch the app and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation. Click the job you don’t wish to advertise any longer and then hit the ‘Withdraw’ button.
Note: You may still be contacted by any tradespeople who purchased your job before cancellation. Clicking ‘Withdraw my job’ or ‘Withdraw’ will not affect any arrangements you have already entered into with a tradesperson.
How do I cancel my job advertisement?
To take down your job posting, log in here and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation. Click the job you don’t wish to advertise any longer and then click the ‘Withdraw my job’ button.
To cancel your job advertisement using the Homes mobile app, launch the app and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation. Click the job you don’t wish to advertise any longer and then hit the ‘Withdraw’ button.
Note: You may still be contacted by any tradespeople who purchased your job before cancellation. Clicking ‘Withdraw my job’ or ‘Withdraw’ will not affect any arrangements you have already entered into with a tradesperson.
What happens when I withdraw a job?
When you withdraw a job, no-one else will be able to see it.
If a tradesperson bought your job before you withdrew it, they will have your contact details so will still be able to get in touch.
Do I withdraw the job now or once the job’s done?
If you’ve found a tradesperson and agreed that they’ll do the work, or if you’ve decided not to go ahead with the work, you should withdraw the job. Tradespeople pay for the chance to quote, so if you leave your job up when you’ve already found someone, they’ll be wasting their hard-earned cash.
Can i still rate or contact the tradesperson after withdrawing the job?
If a tradesperson said they wanted to give you a quote before you withdrew the job, you can still rate and contact them. Bear in mind you can only rate one tradesperson per job, so if one quoted and another quoted and did the work, you’d probably want to rate the tradesperson who did the work.
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How should I choose a tradesperson?
After a tradesperson expresses interest in your job and pays to see your contact details, we send you their details and a link to their profile page and ratings.
You should visit the profile of each tradesperson we send you and review their qualifications, past work and, of course, reviews from other Rated People customers. This information plus your personal impression and the final quotes should help you make an informed choice of tradesperson for your job.
View our Homeowner Checklist for more tips on choosing a tradesperson.
How do I review the tradespeople interested in my job?
After a tradesperson expresses interest in your job and pays to see your contact details, we send you their details and a link to their profile page and ratings. To review their ratings and profile, click the link in the email to view their profile.
You may also view the profile and ratings of the tradespeople interested in your job by logging in to your account online. Select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation and then click the job from the list. You will then be shown a list of tradespeople interested in your job and the links to their profile pages. We also add their details to your My tradespeople address book if you have download the Homes mobile app.
Why have I been asked to contact the tradesperson?
After a tradesperson expresses interest in quoting on your job, they’ll be able to chat to you via the website or app, and they’ll also get your contact details. In the event that the tradesperson hasn’t been able to contact you, we’ll send you a message asking you to try contacting the tradesperson directly yourself.
Our tradespeople pay for the opportunity to quote on your job, so we ask that you please ensure that you allow them to do so.
How do I contact the tradespeople interested in my job?
Up to 3 tradespeople can pay to access your job and get your contact information. You’ll be sent their contact details too, as well as their profile page on our site. You can use our chat feature through our app and website if you’d like to send messages back and forth. You can also call or email them directly.
You can also see their contact information by logging in to your account online. Select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation and then click the job from the list. You will then be shown a list of tradespeople interested in your job and their contact details. We also add their details to your My tradespeople address book if you have download the Homes mobile app.
What do the stars beside the tradesperson’s information mean?
After a job has been completed, we ask all homeowners to rate their tradesperson with 1 to 5 stars (5 being best) based on their quality of work, reliability and value for money. Each tradesperson is then given an overall 1 to 5 star rating based on the average of all of their ratings on Rated People.
How do I view ratings?
To view a tradesperson’s ratings, go to their profile page. Their most recent 3 ratings will be displayed on the main page. Click ‘View More Ratings’ at the bottom of this list to view the tradesperson’s full history of ratings with Rated People.
How do you know that ratings are genuine?
Unlike other recommendation sites, we operate a closed ratings system. Only people who have hired a tradesperson via Rated People can submit a rating of that specific tradesperson when the job has been finished. They can then come back and amend their rating at any time and the tradesperson can comment/respond.
We conduct spot checks on both positive and negative ratings to further ensure that you can confidently hire a tradesperson. Additionally, ratings are always screened for offensive language.
What if a tradesperson has no ratings?
tradespeople without ratings have most likely just joined Rated People. Though they don’t have ratings yet, this doesn’t mean they’re not quality tradespeople. In fact, these tradespeople are incentivised to do a quality job to ensure that they get a brilliant first rating, helping them build their reputation and win future work.
A good, quality tradesperson should have a portfolio of previous work. tradespeople can upload photos of past projects, qualifications and a description of their services on their Rated People profile. We recommend you review their profile for this information and ask them for customer references.
What does Gas Safe mean?
By law, all tradespeople must be gas safe registered to carry out gas work. Gas Safe registered tradespeople carry a personal ID card which you should check for their licence number and expiry date. tradespeople are screened for this information when they join and only Gas Safe registered tradespeople are able to purchase and bid on these type of jobs.
What does Part P mean?
tradespeople must have a Part P qualification to do most electrical work on your property. Review their profile for this qualification and also ask to see proof of Part P credentials before allowing a tradesperson to carry out electrical work. Otherwise, you will need to contact your local building authority for certification.
What is the ‘Checklist’?
To help you choose the best tradesperson for your job, we’ve put together a checklist of items you should review and consider for each tradesperson quoting on your work.
Must I be contacted by multiple tradespeople before I choose one?
No. If you have already selected a tradesperson or do not require any more quotes for any reason, please take down your job posting so that our tradespeople do not waste valuable time or money pursuing your job.
To do so, log in to your account here and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation to view the list of jobs you have posted through Rated People. Click the job you no longer require quotes for and click the ‘Cancel job’ button.
What if I have already chosen a tradesperson?
If you have already selected a tradesperson or do not require any more quotes for any reason, please take down your job posting so that our tradespeople do not waste valuable time or money pursuing your job.
To do so, log in to your account here and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation to view the list of jobs you have posted through Rated People. Click the job you no longer require quotes for and click the ‘Cancel job’ button.
What do I do after I choose a tradesperson?
Once you’ve chosen your tradesperson, we ask you to do two things:
- Take down your job posting, if possible
- Rate your tradesperson when the work is complete
What should I do if no tradespeople have contacted me?
Most jobs get serviced within hours of posting, but unfortunately due to seasonality and availability, some jobs do not always get the interest of our tradespeople. If you have not yet updated your job, try updating your job with more information and/or an adjusted budget.
If you have updated your job and still have no response, visit our Ask an Expert section to see what more you could do and try posting your job again at a later date.
Note: Sometimes tradespeople express interest in quoting on your job but do not contact you straight away. If we have sent you a notification (email or SMS) that a tradesperson has expressed interest in your job, you may want to try contacting the tradesperson directly.
What should I do if a tradesperson asks me to pay a deposit?
This is not uncommon as many tradespeople require an initial payment to help them cover the cost of materials, etc and get started. However, we never recommend paying the entire amount up front. The deposit should not be more than 20% of the overall job price and the tradesperson should be able to explain what it is covering (e.g. any initial costs).
Should I rate my tradesperson?
Yes. After the work is completed, we ask that you provide a rating on the quality, value and reliability of your chosen tradesperson. Your rating and feedback is a valuable tool for other users of Rated People when evaluating their own tradespeople. Also, positive ratings are essential in helping good tradespeople build their business and secure future work.
If you are unsure about leaving a rating for any reason (e.g. you’re worried about giving negative feedback), contact us with your feedback and an agent will get back to you with advice.
How do I leave a rating?
After the work is completed, we ask that you rate your chosen tradesperson.
To give a rating, log in to your account or launch the Homes mobile app and select ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation to view the list of jobs you have posted through Rated People. Select the job from the list and then click the ‘Rate’ button for the tradesperson who completed the work. You will then be asked to give the tradesperson a star rating of 1 to 5 (5 being best) on their quality of work, reliability and value for money.
Note: Sometimes we or the tradesperson may send you a prompt to leave a rating. Click the tradesperson/company name in this email and follow the instructions to leave your rating.
What do I do if I don’t want to leave a public rating?
We highly encourage you to leave a rating. Your rating and feedback is a valuable tool for other users of Rated People when evaluating their own tradespeople. Also, positive ratings are essential in helping good tradespeople build their business and secure future work.
However, if you are unsure about leaving a rating for any reason (e.g. you’re worried about giving negative feedback), please contact us with your feedback. We are keen to hear about your experience and an agent will get back to you with advice and next steps.
What happens if I’m not happy with a tradesperson’s work?
In the vast majority of cases, our homeowners have a positive experience using our service but we know that there may be occasions when things don’t work out. If this happens, our Homeowners’ Guidelines for Dispute Resolution outline the steps you can take to resolve your dispute.
How do I share a tradesperson I like with others?
If you are happy with any of the Rated People tradespeople you have used, we encourage you to share their profile and ratings with others. There are standard social sharing buttons on each tradesperson’s profile page and you can always view the past tradespeople you have used by logging in to your account and browsing through your past jobs.
We also encourage you download our Homes mobile app for iPhone and Android to help you keep track of the tradespeople you like. Once you have the app, simply launch the app and visit the My tradespeople section to view and share information on past tradespeople you have used.
How do I log in to my account?
To log in to your account, visit the Rated People home page at www.ratedpeople.com. Click ‘Login’ in the upper-right navigation and enter your email and password in the homeowner section.
How do I view jobs I’ve posted through Rated People?
To view the jobs you’ve posted on our site, log in to your account or launch the Homes mobile app on your smartphone and click ‘My jobs’ from the main navigation. Select a job from the list to view more details.
What if I have forgotten my password?
If you have forgotten your password or need to change it for any reason, you may change your password here.
How do I change my password?
If you have forgotten your password or need to change it for any reason, you may change your password here.
You may also change your password by logging in to your account, selecting ‘My details’ from the navigation and clicking the ‘Change password’ button.
How do I change/update my contact details?
To change your contact details, log in to your account, select ‘My details’ from the navigation and click the ‘Update contact details’ button.
To change your contact details using the Homes app, click ‘More’ from the main navigation and then the ‘Edit your contact info’ button.
How do I change/update my alert contact preferences?
Here’s how to turn notifications on or off for our apps.
Apple/iOS: Go to Settings > Notifications > Homes app.
Android: Go to Settings > Notifications > Homes app.
What is the ‘My tradespeople’ section?
The ‘My tradespeople’ section on the Homes mobile app is your personal address book of Rated People tradespeople. This section will be blank until tradespeople respond to your first job posting. As tradespeople express interest in quoting on jobs you have posted, their contact information, ratings and Rated People profile will be uploaded here.
As you continue to use Rated People to find tradespeople, this address book will automatically fill with quality, local tradespeople that you may re-employ and share with others as need.
How does Rated People work?
- Post your job for free: Give us your job details and contact information using our main website, our mobile site or the Homes mobile app.
- Receive quotes: We send your job details to the relevant tradespeople in your area. Tradespeople will pay to see your contact details and follow-up with you to quote.
- Review ratings: When each tradesperson expresses interest in your work, we will send you their profile and ratings to help you choose the right tradesperson for your job.
- Rate your tradesperson: When the work is complete, leave a rating for your tradesperson on their quality of work, reliability and value for money.
I’ve always relied on word of mouth before, why should I use Rated People?
Our service is better than word of mouth and directories for 5 reasons:
- Work done when you need it: Our tradespeople pay to quote on your job. So instead of waiting on tradespeople that may not be available, the tradespeople who contact you are genuinely interested in carrying out your job.
- Quality workmanship: Our tradespeople know that in order to get rated well, they must perform well and do good work.
- More certainty: Our tradespeople average 5 ratings each, which means that you don’t have to rely on only one recommendation.
- More security: We check credentials before a tradesperson signs up to the service.
- More choice: With over 30,000 tradespeople covering over 20 trades across the UK, we’re sure to have the right tradesperson for your job.
How do you define the term ‘local’ tradespeople?
The term ‘local’ in London is different to ‘local’ in rural Scotland. Every tradesperson sets their central post code and the distance they are willing to travel to work. Some tradespeople might specify that they only want to work within a 10 mile radius while others may specify a larger area to increase the chances of winning work.
Do you screen tradespeople who sign up to Rated People?
All tradespeople who sign up to Rated People are screened with our partner Equifax. Equifax is a leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients. They help businesses to, amongst other things, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. We work with Equifax to establish a tradesperson’s identity and financial stability.
As well as screening, we employ other technology and work with Action Fraud UK and Trading Standards to minimise the risks posed to homeowners by rogue traders. Gas job leads can’t be purchased without valid company Gas Safe certification numbers.
To give homeowners further help with identifying quality tradespeople and helping tradespeople to become recognised for their quality work, we’re working with TrustMark. TrustMark is the not-for-profit government endorsed scheme which has created the industry standard for vetting the qualifications, customer service and business management of tradespeople in the UK. If a tradesperson is TrustMark registered, they will have the TrustMark badge displayed on their Rated People profile page.
How can you guarantee the quality of a tradesperson’s work?
The tradespeople on Rated People operate as independent companies and are not working on behalf of Rated People, so we cannot guarantee the quality of their work. We can guarantee that tradespeople go through a screening process and agree to abide by our code of conduct before they become members of our service.
The best way to ensure quality workmanship is to review the ratings left by previous customers on the tradesperson’s quality of work, reliability and value for money. We’ve had over 600,000 customer ratings submitted to date to help you make an informed decision.
Do you close tradespeople’s accounts?
Rated People is committed to minimising the risks posed to UK homeowners and the reputations of honest professionals by rogue traders.
For this reason, we will close accounts of tradespeople if:
- They are not willing to resolve fair and reasonable negative feedback or complaints.
- They receive negative reviews or serious complaints from a homeowner during their first few months with Rated People.
- They receive three instances of poor workmanship within the last 12 months (based on negative feedback or a complaint being raised).
- After investigating an issue or complaint, we deem there is sufficient cause to remove a tradesperson from our service.
- They behave inappropriately, including being racist or sexist, threatening, bullying, stealing from or abusing the trust of customers.
- They receive serious complaints relating to their work or personal conduct from outside of the Rated People site.
- We receive feedback on them from Trading Standards, Government bodies or the Police.
- They set up multiple Rated People accounts for personal gain.
- They can no longer pass identity validation.
- They can no longer meet the financial stability criteria that we have set.
This list is by no means exhaustive and is there to protect both homeowners and honest tradespeople. For example, if a tradesperson’s business becomes financially challenged and they receive a complaint, we may choose to close their account.