# Ten questions to ask any tradesman before you say yes Source: https://honestfix.cf-migrate-pulse-web.workers.dev/guides/ten-questions-before-you-say-yes · checked 14 Sep 2026 the Honestfix team · checked 14 Sep 2026 ## Before the work starts You have found someone to fix the leak, service the aircon or sort out a problem at home. Before you agree, make sure you understand the job, the price and what happens if something changes. You do not need to know how to do the repair yourself. These ten questions help you get the information you need, whether you are speaking in person, on the phone or over WhatsApp. ## Ten questions worth asking 1. **What exactly is included in this price?** Ask for a breakdown of parts, labour, transport and any call-out charge. Confirm what is excluded too. 2. **Is GST included?** If GST applies, ask whether the quoted amount already includes it so you can compare the total bill. 3. **Is there an inspection or call-out fee if I do not go ahead?** Agree on the cost of the visit before someone arrives, even if you decide against the repair. 4. **Does this job need a licensed professional?** Ask which licence applies and how to check it. PUB requires a Licensed Plumber for regulated plumbing work, with exceptions for specified simple jobs. EMA advises that electrical wiring and power-point work be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker. See [PUB’s plumbing guidance](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works) and [EMA’s guidance on electrical workers](https://www.ema.gov.sg/consumer-information/electricity/engaging-licensed-workers). 5. **What is the business’s registered name and UEN?** Check that the name on the quote matches the business you intend to hire. Business registration and a trade licence are different checks; neither alone guarantees workmanship. 6. **How long should this take, and will you ask before charging for extra work?** Agree that any change to the scope or price needs your approval before the additional work starts. 7. **What happens if the repair does not solve the problem?** Ask whether a follow-up visit is included and whether further diagnosis or replacement parts would cost extra. 8. **Is there a warranty on the work?** Ask how long it lasts, what it covers and what is excluded. Get the answer in writing. 9. **Can you confirm the price and scope in writing?** A quotation, email or WhatsApp message gives both sides a record of what was agreed. Keep it with the invoice. 10. **Will you explain what you found?** Ask the provider to show or explain the fault and the completed repair, where it is safe and practical to do so. ## What a clear quote looks like A useful quote names the business, describes the work, breaks down the charges and states whether GST applies. It also explains any call-out fee, exclusions, payment schedule and warranty. If the diagnosis changes after inspection, ask for the revised scope and total before agreeing to more work. A low starting price is difficult to compare if the final cost depends on extras that have not been explained. ## When to pause Give yourself time to decide if the provider will not confirm the price in writing, cannot explain an extra charge, or pressures you to approve work immediately. If a licence is required, verify it before the job begins. If the job or cost is unclear, ask for clarification or another quotation. You can decline work you have not agreed to. ## Put the questions to work Start with a shortlist, compare the available facts, then contact the provider directly to confirm the details for your job. Not every provider has been matched to the public register, in any trade, which is why question 5 above is worth asking directly: ask for the registered business name and UEN, then check it yourself. [Compare plumbers](/plumbers), [find electricians](/electricians), or [find aircon servicing providers](/aircon-servicing). ## Sources Licence guidance checked on 14 September 2026: [PUB — Plumbing Works](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works) and [EMA — Engaging Licensed Electrical Workers](https://www.ema.gov.sg/consumer-information/electricity/engaging-licensed-workers). ## Related - [Handyman Services in Singapore — compare providers](/handyman) — Handyman - [Cannot fix a leaking tap myself in Singapore: what to check first, what it costs, who to call](/guides/cannot-fix-a-leaking-tap-myself) — Guide: Replacing a tap or washer is not licensed plumbing work in Singapore, so most leaking taps are a handyman job. - [Door jammed or misaligned in Singapore: what to check first, what it costs, who to call](/guides/door-jammed-or-misaligned) — Guide: A door that jams or drags is usually the hinges, the frame, or humidity swelling the panel. - [Is a handyman licensed in Singapore: what to check first, what it costs, who to call](/guides/is-a-handyman-licensed) — Guide: General handyman work has no trade licence to look up — here is what to check instead. - [Booking a handyman online: establish who will do the work](/guides/platform-handyman-and-repair-apps-singapore) — Guide: Check the job scope, contracting business and inspection fee before booking a repair online. - [Booking platform or direct provider: which suits your job?](/guides/platform-or-direct-vendor) — Guide: Compare responsibility, total price and support across two ways of booking home services.