Straight answers about finding, vetting and hiring tradies in Melbourne and across Victoria.
Start by asking neighbours, family and workmates who they have used and would actually hire again. Word of mouth still beats everything.
After that, cross-check names on Google Reviews, HiPages and Facebook to see if the ratings hold up across multiple platforms. A tradie with 4.8 stars on Google but 3.2 on HiPages is a red flag. Look for consistent scores, recent reviews (not just ones from 2019), and responses from the tradie to negative feedback. That tells you a lot about how they handle problems.
Avoid anyone who only has reviews on one platform or refuses to provide references from recent jobs. For more on what to check, read our guide on vetting tradies before you hire.
For Victorian trades, use the VBA (Victorian Building Authority) licence checker at vba.vic.gov.au. Punch in their name or licence number and it will tell you what class of work they are registered for. Plumbers, electricians, gasfitters and builders all need current registration.
Ask for their Certificate of Currency for public liability insurance - $10 million minimum is standard. If they get cagey about showing you, walk away.
For trades outside the VBA system, check Consumer Affairs Victoria for any registered complaints or tribunal orders against the business. We cover this in more detail on the blog.
Ask these five before you sign anything:
1. What is your licence or registration number?
2. Can I see your Certificate of Currency for insurance?
3. Will you provide a written quote with a full scope of work, materials list and timeline?
4. Can I speak to two recent clients?
5. Who will actually be on site doing the work - you or a subcontractor?
That last one catches a lot of people out. Some operators quote the job themselves but send apprentices or subcontractors you have never met. Get the answers in writing, not just a handshake.
Call-out fees for plumbers and electricians typically run $80 to $150 in metro Melbourne, with hourly rates from $90 to $130 per hour after that. Painters charge $35 to $60 per square metre for interior walls.
A full bathroom renovation sits between $15,000 and $35,000 depending on size, fixtures and tiling. Roof restorations run $3,500 to $10,000 for an average home.
These are rough guides only - prices shift based on access difficulty, materials and how busy the trade is in your area. Always get three written quotes and compare the scope of work, not just the bottom-line number. Check our pricing guides for trade-specific breakdowns.
A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope of work. Once you accept it in writing, the tradie is legally bound to that number unless you change the job.
An estimate is a ballpark figure - a guess based on what they can see at the time. It can go up (and usually does).
Always push for a written quote with an itemised breakdown: labour, materials, disposal, permits and GST. If the tradie says they can only give you an estimate because the job is too uncertain, ask them to cap it. Something like "estimate $8,000 with a maximum of $9,500" gives you a ceiling.
Document everything first. Take photos, save texts and emails, and keep copies of the quote and any receipts.
Contact the tradie in writing (email, not a phone call) and give them a fair chance to fix the defects within a reasonable timeframe. Under Australian Consumer Law, you have a right to have the work done properly.
If they refuse to come back or do a dodgy patch-up, lodge a formal complaint with Consumer Affairs Victoria. For building work over $10,000, you can take it to VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) to recover costs or force rectification. If the tradie was licensed through the VBA, file a complaint there too - it can affect their registration.