A builder has warned Australians to double-check their contractors’ credentials, claiming too many workers are carrying out work without proper licensing.
Steven Sousamlis has been a dual-licensed contractor for more than a decade and cautioned clients to always ask to see a tradesman’s license before hiring them.
He stressed that this is very important even for small jobs.
He said news.com.au There is a dubious trend of fake workers in Australia.
“There are a lot of unlicensed cowboys out there ruining most people’s lives,” Sousamlis said.
“We see a lot of people using fake licenses under other people’s names.”
Mr Sousamlis warned that Australia is suffering from a shortage of licensed professional workers, leaving an opportunity for people to abuse the system.
He said failing to check a worker’s license can result in shoddy jobs that could leave property owners thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Steven Sousamlis (pictured) warned that failing to check a worker’s license can result in botched jobs that could leave property owners thousands of dollars out of pocket.
“People get ripped off and get shoddy work done,” Sousamlis said.
He said it is not unusual for victims to have to pay double the cost to fix a botched renovation.
Mr Sousamlis said the reason for the high cost is that questionable renovations often have to be removed and started again for the safety of the owner and the worker.
He said he knows how devastating this can be for homeowners, as they have often invested their life savings into renovations.
Mr Sousamlis revealed that he has had clients break down in tears in front of him.
He also advised customers to stay away from apps where tradespeople compete with each other to offer the cheapest quote to get the job.
“I refuse to use apps. I think it’s a race to the bottom,” he said.
“The cheapest bid wins, so how do you compete?”
Mr. Sousamlis said that given the costs of materials and labor, he cannot understand how some builders can bid only $9,000 for a bathroom renovation that should cost about $20,000.
Mr Sousamlis stressed that it is important to check a trader’s licence even for very minor jobs.
Earlier this year, South Australia’s Minister for Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs Andrea Michaels issued a warning about unlicensed and disreputable door-to-door traders.
The South African Government’s Consumer and Business Services had noted an increase of about 20 percent in complaints about unlicensed tradesmen, including electricians and gas fitters, during the last financial year.
Ms Michaels cautioned against accepting lowball quotes: “While I completely understand why people might be tempted, they should remember that a deal that seems too good to be true often is and can end up costing more in the long run.”