How to choose the right tradesperson

In brief

• Describe the job as precisely as possible.
• Find at least three suitable tradespeople.
• Check the organisation number with the Brønnøysund Register Centre (Brønnøysundregistrene).
• Check trade qualifications and the relevant public registers.
• Ask for references from similar projects.
• Compare the content of the quotes, not just the total.
• Clarify who will carry out the work and which subcontractors will be used.
• Always use a written contract.
• Do not pay for the whole project up front.
• Tie payment to documented milestones.
• Approve all changes and extras in writing.
• Agree on what final documentation you will receive.
• Be sceptical of cash payment and quotes that seem unrealistically low.
• Document progress with photos and written communication.
• Carry out a final inspection before the last payment.

How to choose a tradesperson - step by step

A safe selection process can be divided into seven steps:

Take a little extra time before you choose. A thorough check at the start is usually far easier and cheaper than dealing with mistakes after the project has begun.

1. Describe the job before you contact tradespeople

It is hard to get a precise quote if all you write is "I want to renovate the bathroom" or "I need a carpenter".

Write a simple work description that explains:

Attach photos, measurements, drawings and any product choices. The more information the tradesperson gets, the easier it is to assess the work and give a realistic quote.

Use the same description for all the companies. That makes the quotes easier to compare.

2. Find several suitable tradespeople

As a rule, get quotes from at least three companies. For large projects it may be sensible to contact four or five.

You can find tradespeople through:

A recommendation is a good starting point, but should not replace your own checks. The company may have taken on new staff, its finances may have changed, or it may have taken on more projects than it has the capacity to handle.

So check the company yourself, even if it was recommended by someone you trust.

3. Check that the company exists

Always ask for the company's full name and organisation number.

Then search the Brønnøysund Register Centre's business register. There you can check, among other things:

The name and organisation number should be the same on the quote, the contract and the invoice.

Payment should also go to the company or payment solution named in the agreement. Be careful if you sign an agreement with one company but are asked to pay a private individual or a different business.

What if the company is not registered for VAT?

Not being registered in the VAT Register does not automatically mean the company is disreputable. A new or small business may be below the registration threshold.

If the company adds VAT to the invoice, however, it should be registered. Ask if the information does not match the quote or the invoice.

4. Check for the right trade qualifications

Different jobs require different skills. A tradesperson can be skilled in their own trade without being qualified to carry out every part of the project.

Ask for information about:

A trade certificate shows formal qualifications in a specific trade. A master craftsman certificate involves further qualifications in areas such as professional management and running a business.

You can check people who use the master craftsman title in the public Master Craftsman Register (Mesterregisteret). A master craftsman certificate is a positive sign, but no single approval can guarantee that a particular project will be flawless.

5. Use the right register for the right type of work

There is no single public register covering all tradespeople. Some trades have their own requirements.

Electrician

All businesses that lawfully offer and carry out electrical work must be registered with active status in the Register of Electrical Contractors (Elvirksomhetsregisteret).

Check the specific business or sub-unit that will carry out the work in DSB's Register of Electrical Contractors. DSB, the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection, stresses that it is the customer's duty to check this.

It is not enough that the person who comes to your home calls themselves an electrician. The work must be carried out and documented through a registered electrical contractor.

When the work is finished you should receive, among other things, a declaration of conformity (samsvarserklæring). According to DSB, this documentation must stay with the electrical installation.

Plumber and wet rooms

For plumbing and wet room work, you should check:

A full bathroom renovation within the same unit is normally exempt from the building permit requirement, but the relevant requirements in the Building Technical Regulations (byggteknisk forskrift) apply. Work that breaks through a fire separation or affects several residential units may be subject to other requirements. See the Norwegian Building Authority's (Direktoratet for byggkvalitet) overview of work on bathrooms.

Carpenter and master builder

For work on load-bearing structures, extensions or other work that requires a building permit, you should check:

Central approval (sentral godkjenning) is a voluntary scheme. It can be relevant when you assess a company, but the absence of central approval does not automatically mean the business lacks qualifications. You can search for approved enterprises at the Norwegian Building Authority.

Painter, floor layer and other trades

For work without a dedicated mandatory business register, you should put extra weight on:

6. Look into experience from similar jobs

Ten years of experience is not necessarily relevant if the company has never done the type of project you are planning.

Ask for two or three references from jobs similar to your own. Ask the reference customer:

The most interesting thing is not whether everything went perfectly. Building projects can run into unforeseen conditions. What is often decisive is how the company communicated and solved the problems.

7. Read reviews with a critical eye

Reviews can provide useful information, but should not be used on their own.

Look for:

A single negative review does not necessarily mean the company is bad. Many similar complaints about delays, unexpected extras or poor communication are more serious.

Also be wary of a profile with many very short top-rated reviews published within an unusually short period.

8. Ask for a site visit for larger jobs

Photos and descriptions may be enough for a small job. For bathrooms, kitchens, extensive renovations, roofs, facades or structural work, the tradesperson should normally come for a site visit.

During the site visit, you should discuss:

Send a written summary after the site visit. That lets the tradesperson correct any misunderstandings before the quote is drawn up.

9. Compare more than the total

A quote of 150,000 kr can be better than a quote of 120,000 kr if the first one includes more work, better materials and more of the necessary services.

Use this overview when you compare:

If an item is missing, ask for written clarification before you choose.

10. Find out who is responsible

In larger renovations, several companies are often involved. You should know whether you are signing an agreement with one main contractor or separate agreements with each trade.

One main contractor

The main contractor normally coordinates the other trades and gives you a single point of contact. This can make the project easier to follow up, but you should know which tasks are outsourced.

Separate agreements

You hire the carpenter, electrician, plumber and painter yourself. This can give you more control, but also makes you more responsible for coordination and progress.

Clarify in writing:

11. Assess the communication before you decide

The communication before the agreement often gives an indication of how the collaboration will go.

Positive signs can be that the tradesperson:

Be careful if the tradesperson keeps changing their explanation, avoids written answers or pressures you to decide immediately.

A skilled professional does not need to be a good salesperson. But they should be able to explain the work, the price and the responsibilities in a way you understand.

12. Always use a written contract

Verbal agreements can be binding, but are hard to prove. So use a written contract - even when the tradesperson was recommended by someone you know.

The contract should include:

The Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) recommends a precise job description, several quotes and a written contract. See their checklist before you choose a tradesperson.

13. Agree on how changes will be handled

Many disputes start with small verbal changes:

"Could you move that wall a little?"

"Could you also replace the trim?"

"We chose a different tile."

Every change can affect both price and schedule. So agree that additional work must be approved in writing before it is carried out.

A change order should describe:

Do not base a large project on ongoing verbal agreements.

14. Do not pay the full amount up front

For larger projects, payment should follow progress.

A payment plan could, for example, look like this:

A limited advance for custom-ordered materials can be reasonable. In that case, ask for documentation of what the money will be used for, who owns the materials and what happens if the project is cancelled.

The Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) recommends paying for services through a bank. If you pay more than 10,000 kr in cash, you risk being held jointly liable if the supplier fails to pay taxes and duties. See the advice from the Norwegian Tax Administration.

15. Agree on the final documentation before work starts

Do not wait until the last day to ask about documentation.

Depending on the project, you may need:

The documentation can matter for maintenance, insurance claims, complaints and a later sale of the home.

Red flags you should take seriously

No single factor proves that a company is disreputable. Several warning signs at once, however, should make you pause.

Be particularly careful if the tradesperson:

A quote that is significantly lower than all the others should be examined extra carefully. The difference may be because work, materials, VAT or necessary trades are not included.

Fixed price, price estimate or hourly rate?

Fixed price

A fixed price gives good predictability when the job is clearly defined. Check that all the necessary parts of the project are included.

Price estimate

A price estimate is an estimate. Under the Consumer Craftsman Services Act (håndverkertjenesteloven), the final price should normally not exceed the estimate significantly, and not by more than 15 percent, unless something else has been expressly agreed or the customer has approved extras.

This does not mean the tradesperson can automatically add 15 percent to every price estimate.

Hourly rate

An hourly rate can be right when the scope of work is uncertain. Agree on:

Ask for ongoing updates if the work is approaching the expected budget.

What does it mean that a tradesperson is "quality-assured"?

Quality assurance can mean different things with different operators. It is therefore important to find out what is actually checked.

A check may include, among other things:

No advance check can guarantee that future work will be flawless. The customer should still use a clear contract, document the project and follow up the work.

The safest solution combines checking the company with a written agreement, documented progress and a secure payment process.

How Fikso can make the process safer

On Fikso, the customer can find service providers, describe the job and keep all communication about the project in one place.

Fikso is built with a particular focus on payment security:

A secure payment process does not replace the need for a good work description. But it can reduce the risk, since the full amount is not paid directly to the tradesperson before the work has been delivered and followed up.

Checklist before you choose

Use this list before you sign:

The company

• I have checked the organisation number.
• The name matches on the quote, contract and payment details.
• I have checked the relevant public registers.
• I know who will actually carry out the work.
• I have asked about subcontractors.
• I have checked the relevant qualifications.
• I have checked insurance where relevant.

The experience

• The company has experience with similar projects.
• I have seen examples of previous work.
• I have checked references.
• I have read reviews critically.

The quote

• The scope of work is clear.
• Materials and products are specified.
• The price includes VAT.
• Demolition and waste are clarified.
• Other trades are clarified.
• Start and completion dates are stated.
• The documentation I will receive is described.

The agreement

• We have a written contract.
• Changes must be approved in writing.
• Payment follows milestones.
• I am not paying the full amount up front.
• I know who is responsible for faults or delays.
• A final inspection has been agreed.

Frequently asked questions about choosing a tradesperson

Conclusion: The best tradesperson is not always the cheapest

A reputable tradesperson should be able to document who the company is, what qualifications it has, what the work costs and what you will get delivered.

Before you decide, you should:

The goal is not to find the tradesperson who promises the most or starts the fastest. The goal is to find a company that understands the job, communicates clearly and can document that the work is carried out in a safe and professionally sound way.

Method and sources

This article is based on information and guidance from Norwegian public authorities and consumer organisations. Rules and register schemes can change, and the customer should check the current requirements for their specific project.

Sources used as a basis: