Five short questions, asked before you book, prevent almost every problem with a job at home.
What is the total
Not the hourly rate. What the whole job comes to, with call-out, materials and VAT.
Who is coming and at what time
The name of the person who will be at the door and a realistic time window. A vague answer here usually announces a morning lost waiting.
How long will it take
This serves two purposes: knowing whether you must be home all afternoon, and finding out whether whoever quoted knows what the job involves.
What happens if it goes wrong
Guarantee on the work, public liability insurance, and who you call the following week. A serious company answers this without hesitating.
Do I need to prepare anything
Clearing the area, water or power off, moving the car out of the garage. It saves time for both sides and avoids the conversation about the job that could not be done.
One warning
If they ask for the full amount up front and in cash, stop. A deposit and the balance at the end is normal, everything up front is not.
In the OSCAR app these answers appear before you book, with a fixed price and verified professionals.