The Book by the Telephone: Finding Tradespeople You Can Trust in a Foreign Town
Begin before the first drip
Most Britons arrive in a new country with a folder of official papers and a list of practical unknowns. The name of a good plumber is rarely among them. That is understandable, but it is also a gap worth closing early. A trusted tradesperson is not simply someone to call in an emergency; they are part of the ordinary infrastructure of settled life abroad.
The sensible moment to start building this small black book is before you need it. Ask during the quiet weeks after you have moved in, when a neighbour is having a boiler serviced or a local friend mentions a roofer. A recommendation gathered calmly is worth far more than one sought in a hurry, with water spreading across the kitchen floor.
Recommendations that carry weight
Word of mouth remains the strongest currency, but it should be weighed carefully. A neighbour who has lived in the town for twenty years will usually know who turns up, who quotes fairly and who disappears after taking a deposit. Ask specifically what work was done, when it was done and whether the final bill matched the estimate. A vague assurance that someone is 'very good' is a start, not a reference.
Expatriate groups and online forums can be useful, particularly for language and cultural explanations, but treat enthusiasm with caution. A contractor who is popular with newcomers may be expensive, or may be excellent. The only way to tell is to ask for details and, where possible, to speak to someone whose work you can actually see.
Local institutions can also help. In France, the syndic or building administrator may keep a list of contractors used for communal repairs. In Spain, a reputable administrator or your home insurer may suggest tradespeople. In Italy, a trusted geometra or surveyor can often point you towards reliable local firms. Your insurer's approved list is especially valuable if you want the repair to be handled smoothly should you later make a claim.
The first conversation: describing the fault
A common difficulty is not finding a plumber but explaining what has gone wrong. Before making the call, write down a short description in the local language, using simple words rather than technical ones. Photographs and a short video are often more useful than a long explanation. Show the leaking joint, the faulty socket, the cracked tile or the water stain on the ceiling.
Learn a handful of practical phrases: there is a leak, the pressure has dropped, the boiler will not start, the drain is blocked, the power has tripped. Keep these in a notebook or on your telephone. Do not be embarrassed to ask the tradesperson to repeat something more slowly. A good professional will prefer a clear, modest conversation to a misunderstood instruction.
If language remains a barrier, consider asking a bilingual neighbour or a local friend to be present for the first visit. This is not a sign of failure. It is simply good administration, particularly where gas, electricity or structural work is concerned.
Quotes, deposits and invoices
Ask for a written quotation before work begins. In France this is commonly a devis; in Spain a presupuesto; in Italy a preventivo. The document should describe the work, list materials, state whether VAT or local tax is included and give a completion date. A quotation given only by telephone is difficult to rely on later.
Be cautious about large deposits. A modest payment for materials may be reasonable, but a request for most of the sum upfront deserves questions. Ask what the deposit covers and obtain a receipt. Where possible, pay by bank transfer rather than cash, so that a record exists.
When the work is finished, ask for a proper invoice showing the tradesperson's business details and tax identification number. This matters for two reasons. First, it creates a clear record if the same problem returns. Second, insurers frequently ask for invoices and reports when assessing a claim. Without paperwork, a genuine claim can become unnecessarily complicated.
The file that pays for itself
Keep a simple repair file, either on paper or as a folder on your computer. For each job, store the quotation, the invoice, photographs of the problem and the completed work, and any guarantee or warranty. Note the date, the name of the firm and what was agreed. If a roof repair fails two winters later, this file will save time and argument.
It is also wise to record routine maintenance. A boiler service, a chimney sweep or an electrical inspection may seem unremarkable at the time, but a history of proper upkeep can support an insurance claim or a future sale. If you rent out part of your home, or let it for long periods while you return to the UK, this record becomes more important still.
Keeping the book current
A black book should not be allowed to grow stale. Tradespeople retire, move or become too busy. Review the list once a year and add anyone new who has done good work. Keep a separate note of emergency numbers, including the local equivalent of a gas emergency line, and make sure anyone staying in your home knows where it is kept.
Above all, build the list gradually. Start with a plumber and an electrician, then add a general odd-job person, a roofer and perhaps a gardener. Ask for small jobs first and observe how they are handled. Reliability abroad is rarely a matter of nationality or reputation alone; it is revealed in the quotation, the punctuality, the invoice and the willingness to return when something is not right. A little effort in compiling the book will pay for itself long before the first emergency.
