Finding a reliable service provider is a challenge these days, partly due to high market demand. Some companies take advantage of this by investing heavily to appear at the top of search results. Don’t be fooled by this: a high ranking in search engines is no guarantee of expertise, reliability, or work done to a high standard.
Always check a company’s reputation, certifications, and references before awarding a contract.
Don't get scammed!
What you can do yourself;
- Search for a local business in the area.
- Ask friends or acquaintances about their experiences with service providers.
- Be wary of 085 phone numbers and the use of unrealistic stock photos.
- Look for a company with a clear business address or physical location.
- Check the Chamber of Commerce number at www.kvk.nl/zoeken
- Check whether the company is a member of a trade association.
- Check for quality marks, certifications, and whether the technician is authorized to perform the work.
- Skip paid ads; these are often clearly marked in the search results.
- Skip comparison sites. Service providers pay a lot of money for leads, yet they often have to be the cheapest in order to actually get the job. Lead-generation companies send these leads to multiple service providers, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll get to do the job. This puts pressure not only on fair pricing but also on the quality of materials and service. Lead-generation companies like Werkspot and Trustoo make a killing off this.
- Read online reviews on platforms other than the service provider’s own website. Consider Google Reviews, Trustpilot, Klantenvertellen, etc., and ideally sort these reviews by “most recent.”