What each job involves, the questions to ask before agreeing a price, the warning
signs, and how to tell a fair quote from a bad one — 79 trades, in plain
language.
Appliance repair diagnoses and fixes fridges, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens and ranges — and the first real question is always whether the repair is worth more than the machine.
Carpet and upholstery cleaning lifts embedded soil, stains and odours — with the main variable being the method used and how long the carpet stays wet afterwards.
A chimney sweep inspects and cleans flues and fireplaces — maintenance whose purpose is preventing a chimney fire and carbon monoxide entering the house.
Concrete work covers driveways, patios, walkways, slabs and foundations — where preparation of the base and correct curing determine whether it cracks in year two or year twenty.
An electrician works on wiring, panels, outlets and fixtures — the category where doing it yourself carries real fire and shock risk, and where permits often apply.
Flooring installation covers hardwood, laminate, vinyl plank, tile and carpet — and the subfloor underneath decides how good the result looks more than the flooring you choose.
Garage door work covers openers, springs, cables, rollers and panels — and torsion springs in particular are the one common home repair that regularly injures people who attempt it themselves.
Gutter cleaning and repair keeps rainwater moving away from the roof and foundation — the cheapest maintenance there is relative to what a blocked gutter eventually costs.
A handyman handles the pile of small jobs that are each too minor for a specialist trade — mounting, patching, assembling, adjusting and fixing the things that have been annoying you for months.
House cleaning ranges from a recurring visit that keeps a home on top of itself to a deep clean before a move, after building work, or at the end of a tenancy.
An HVAC technician installs and repairs heating, ventilation and air conditioning — systems that stop working in the weather that makes you need them most.
Junk removal clears and hauls away what you cannot fit in a car or a bin — furniture, appliances, construction debris, or an entire property clear-out.
Lawn and landscaping covers routine maintenance through to design and hardscaping — the category where the difference between a one-off job and a recurring contract matters most.
A locksmith opens, repairs, rekeys and replaces locks — a trade where the scam version is well documented enough to be worth knowing before you are locked out at midnight.
A moving company packs, loads, transports and unloads your belongings — and the single most useful thing to understand before booking is the difference between a binding quote and an estimate.
A painter prepares and paints interior or exterior surfaces — and the preparation, not the paint, is what decides whether the job still looks good in three years.
Pest control identifies what you actually have, treats it, and closes the way it got in — the last part being what separates a fix from a subscription.
A plumber handles water supply, drains and fixtures — leaks, blockages, water heaters, burst pipes and the pipework behind a kitchen or bathroom refit.
Pressure washing cleans driveways, siding, decks and roofs — and the pressure used matters as much as the cleaning, because too much of it permanently damages siding, shingles and soft wood.
A remodelling contractor runs larger projects — kitchens, bathrooms, additions and basements — coordinating trades, permits and inspections, which is the part you are really paying for.
A roofer repairs and replaces roofs, gutters and exterior weatherproofing — the trade with the highest ratio of storm-chasing door-knockers to established local businesses.
Septic service pumps, inspects and repairs on-site wastewater systems — maintenance that is cheap relative to a drain field replacement, which is what neglect eventually buys.
Snow and ice removal clears driveways, walkways and car parks — where the trigger depth, the response window and who is liable for a slip are the terms that matter.
Solar installers design and fit rooftop photovoltaic systems — an industry with strong sales pressure, where the financing structure matters as much as the panels.
Storm cleanup clears fallen trees, debris and damage after severe weather — the category with the highest concentration of out-of-area operators working door to door.
Tree work covers trimming, removal and stump grinding — the highest-risk residential trade, where insurance is not a formality but the thing standing between you and a claim for a crushed roof.
Water damage restoration dries a building out after a leak, burst pipe or flood, and repairs what cannot be dried — a job where the first 24 to 48 hours genuinely change the outcome.
Window replacement covers full-frame and insert installation — where the installation quality decides whether you get the efficiency the window was sold on.
Auto glass repairs chips and replaces cracked windscreens — with the modern complication that most newer cars need their driver-assist cameras recalibrated afterwards.
Auto repair covers diagnosis, maintenance and repair — including mobile mechanics who come to you, which is often the difference between a fixed car and a towed one.
A mobile mechanic brings the repair to your driveway or the car park you broke down in — which for most common failures is the difference between a repair and a repair plus a tow.
A tyre shop fits, balances, repairs and aligns — where the questions worth asking are about what is included in the fitted price and whether you actually need an alignment.
Towing moves a vehicle that cannot or should not be driven — where the thing to establish before the truck arrives is the total price and exactly where it is going.
A barber cuts and styles hair and beards, typically with clippers and razor work — a trade where finding one who cuts your hair type well matters more than the price.
An esthetician provides facials, waxing, peels and skin treatments — a service where a proper consultation about your skin and any medications matters before a first treatment.
A hair stylist cuts, colours and treats hair — and the difference between a good result and an expensive correction usually comes down to the consultation before anyone picks up scissors.
A lash technician applies extensions and lifts — a treatment done millimetres from the eye, which makes training, hygiene and adhesive choice the questions that matter.
A makeup artist does event, bridal and photographic makeup — where a trial before the day is the single thing that prevents the most common disappointments.
A massage therapist works on muscle tension and soft tissue — with styles that differ enough that saying what you want, and what you do not, changes the session completely.
Babysitters and nannies care for children in your home — occasional evenings through to full-time care, where background checks, references and emergency preparedness matter far more than hourly rate.
In-home senior care ranges from companionship and housekeeping to personal care — and the line between non-medical help and skilled nursing decides both the training needed and who can legally do what.
Nutrition support ranges from general healthy-eating coaching to clinical dietetics — and the difference in title, regulation and scope is substantial.
A personal trainer designs and supervises training — an unregulated title, so certification, insurance and how they handle injuries are the questions worth asking.
A yoga instructor teaches classes or private sessions across styles that differ far more than the name suggests — from slow restorative work to vigorous heated flows.
A custom cake baker makes celebration and wedding cakes to order — where allergen handling, delivery and how long before the event it is made are the practical questions.
A meal prep service cooks and portions meals for the week — with the practical questions being how food is stored, how long it keeps, and how dietary needs are handled.
A private chef cooks in your kitchen for a dinner, an occasion, or on a recurring basis — which is a different service from catering, at a different scale.
A caterer plans, cooks and serves food for an event — where allergies, service style and what is actually included beyond the food cause most of the surprises.
A DJ runs the music and often the timeline of an event — and at a wedding they are frequently the de facto MC, which is worth confirming rather than assuming.
A florist designs and supplies arrangements for weddings, events and deliveries — where the honest constraint is that flowers are seasonal and substitutions happen.
An interior designer plans and specifies interiors — where the fee structure, and whether they earn margin on the furniture they specify, is the thing worth understanding early.
Party rentals supply tents, tables, chairs, linens and equipment — where delivery windows, weather contingency and damage terms are the details that bite.
A photographer covers weddings, events, portraits and commercial work — where the contract, the delivery timeline and who owns the images matter as much as the portfolio.
A videographer films and edits weddings, events and commercial video — where audio quality, not camera quality, is what usually separates good work from unwatchable work.
A wedding planner manages vendors, budget and timeline — sold in tiers from full planning down to day-of coordination, which are very different services at very different prices.
A mobile vet comes to your home for routine care — valuable for anxious animals, multi-pet households and end-of-life care, within limits set by what can be done outside a clinic.
A pet sitter cares for animals in your home while you travel — drop-in visits or overnight stays, which is usually less stressful for the animal than boarding.
A bookkeeper keeps a small business's books current — categorising transactions, reconciling accounts and producing the reports that make tax season and lending possible.
Commercial cleaning covers offices, retail, medical and industrial premises on a contract — where the scope of work document, insurance and key handling are what you are really negotiating.
Computer and IT support fixes hardware and software problems for homes and small businesses — where data safety and who has access to your accounts are the real risks.
A headshot photographer produces professional portraits for profiles, company pages and acting — where the retouching policy and how many final images you get are the practical questions.
A home inspector assesses a property's condition before purchase — and who recommended them matters, because an inspector wanting more referrals from an agent faces an obvious conflict.
This is a guide to hiring a lawyer — how fees work, what to ask at a consultation and what to have ready. It is not legal advice, and no website is a substitute for a lawyer who knows your situation.
A music teacher gives lessons on an instrument or voice — where teaching experience with your age and level matters more than the teacher's own performing ability.
A notary verifies identity and witnesses signatures — with mobile notaries travelling to you, which matters for hospitals, care homes and property closings.
A real estate agent represents a buyer or seller in a property transaction — where the questions that matter are who they represent, how they are paid, and what the agreement commits you to.
Security installers fit alarms, cameras and access control — where the contract length and who owns the equipment are usually more consequential than the hardware.
A tax preparer files returns for individuals and small businesses — where credentials matter, because who prepared a return determines who can represent you if it is questioned.
A tutor works one-to-one or in small groups on a specific subject or exam — where matching the tutor to the actual problem matters more than credentials alone.
A web designer builds and maintains websites for small businesses — where ownership of the domain, the hosting and the site itself is the thing most often lost.