How to choose tradespeople and not overpay
A good tradesperson saves you money; a bad one makes you pay twice. Here is whom to hire, how to vet them, how to compare prices and what to put in the contract.
Contents
A crew or individual tradespeople
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| A company or turnkey crew | one person responsible, deadlines, a contract, sometimes a warranty | usually more expensive; you need to know who actually does the work |
| Individual trades: electrician, plumber, tiler | you can pick the best at each job, often cheaper | you coordinate the order of works yourself and are responsible for the hand-offs |
| A general handyman | convenient for small jobs | rarely equally good at everything |
For a full apartment renovation, when you are short of time, a crew with one person in charge is easier. For specific jobs — replacing plumbing or wiring, tiling a bathroom — look for a specialist in that trade.
How to vet a tradesperson
- See their projects — in person or at least detailed before-and-after photos
- Talk to previous clients, ideally those whose renovation was finished a year or two ago
- Ask how they will do your job: which materials, in what order, how long it will take
- Notice whether they ask questions about the apartment: a good tradesperson looks first and prices second
- Find out who will actually work on site — the tradesperson or their team
- Ask how they handle materials: they buy them, follow your list, or add a mark-up
How to compare prices
Renovation prices in Armenia vary a lot, so we do not quote averages. The right way to compare is to give everyone the same brief.
- Make a list of works with quantities, even in a simple spreadsheet
- Give it to two or three contractors and ask for a line-by-line estimate
- Compare lines, not totals: someone may have left out demolition or rubbish removal
- Ask what the price includes: materials, consumables, delivery, cleaning
- Check whether the price is approximate or fixed
What to put in the contract
Even with a private tradesperson, it is better to sign a written work contract, however simple. The Civil Code of Armenia treats the price of work as fixed unless the contract says otherwise. A contractor who failed to warn in time that an approximate estimate would be exceeded must finish the job at the contract price.
- The list of works and the estimate, attached to the contract
- Start and finish dates, stages
- Payment schedule — by stage, after acceptance
- Who buys materials and how costs are confirmed
- Warranty period for the work
- How extra work is approved — only in writing
Acceptance and warranty
Accept each stage: look, check and record remarks in writing. Under the Civil Code, a client who accepts work without checking it may lose the right to rely on obvious defects that could have been spotted during a normal acceptance. Hidden defects found later must be reported to the contractor within a reasonable time after discovery.
If the contract sets no warranty period, claims can be made for defects discovered within a reasonable time, but within two years of the work being handed over. For construction contracts the Code sets an outer limit of five years. If a dispute arises, a lawyer will tell you which type your contract falls under.
If the parties disagree about defects, either can demand an expert examination. The contractor pays for it, unless the examination shows that the contractor did not breach the contract.
Key points
- Choose by finished projects and references, not by the lowest price
- Compare line-by-line estimates based on the same list of works
- Sign a contract: works, deadlines, staged payments, warranty
- Extra work only with written approval
- Accept each stage and record remarks in writing
