Whether it’s insulation, glazing, solar or heat pumps, the jump between deciding you want to make a home upgrade and making it happen can be a big one, especially if you’re not sure of the right person for the job.
The My Home Made Better service offers advice for each step of the way. Though we don’t provide recommendations for specific tradespeople, we can offer impartial advice on where to look and what to consider. We’ve gathered some advice in this blog post to help you get started.
Where to start looking
We always suggest TrustMark as the starting point for finding retrofit tradespeople. Trustmark is the Government endorsed Quality Scheme for work carried out in your home.
They are also the custodians of the “PAS2035 Framework”, which tradespeople must adhere to when delivering energy efficiency works under any grant schemes.
All TrustMark registered businesses must be competent and able to follow latest industry standards, abide by a Code of Conduct, offer finance backed warranties, and provide access to a disputes resolution service should any problems arise.
You can search for tradespeople on the TrustMark website, but as it covers the whole country it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint those who are operating in your area. We’re helping to narrow this down via the My Home Made Better directory.
How can you check their expertise?
Individual businesses obtain their TrustMark registration via a Scheme Provider, which could be an accreditation scheme or trade body. It’s the responsibility of the Scheme Provider to ensure the business has the required training and competencies to carry out their trade. You can find more information about these requirements directly from the TrustMark scheme providers, and some of them also have their own ‘search for an installer’ tool.
When you find a business on TrustMark, have a look at the specific services that are listed under their name, and make sure this includes the service that you need. For example, if “loft insulation” is the only service listed, but they are elsewhere advertising other services like electrical work or roofing, those other services will not come under the TrustMark assurances. This principle applies to other certification and accreditation schemes too.
Are there any alternative schemes?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the quality mark for small-scale renewables, including solar panels and heat pumps. They set and maintain standards for products and installations, and they also offer consumer protection. Any heat pump installers wishing to offer the Boiler Upgrade Scheme subsidy for heat pumps must be MCS registered.
On the subject of heat pumps, if you’re looking for an installer local to you who has undergone training over and above that required to meet the MCS standards, you may be interested to look at the Heat Geek network.
If you come across a business offering a particular type of energy efficiency upgrade, such as solar, heat pumps or insulation, but you can’t find their MCS or TrustMark badge, it’s time to do some extra digging. They may be operating – legitimately - under an “umbrella company” which does hold the correct certification. If you’re not sure, or if they’ve not been able to explain their status clearly to you, you can contact us for advice.
Another important directory we would recommend is Buy With Confidence, which lists tradespeople who have been vetted and approved by Trading Standards. This can be a really good place to look for local businesses offering a range of services, but you might not find many specialist trades such as insulation or heat pumps listed on here.
Personal recommendations – it’s always good if you can get a recommendation from a trusted friend or neighbour. Online reviews can also help inform your decision, but be careful not to rely too much on these, as they can sometimes be misleading or biased. Always be sure to cross-check any recommendations for the appropriate accreditations to avoid rogue or unaccredited traders.
Gathering quotes
We recommend getting at least three quotes before deciding how to proceed with work on your home. This can be arduous and time consuming, but persevere and you’ll be glad you did.
Seeking multiple quotes allows you to gauge the current market rate for the job you’re looking for, and provides you with different suggestions from installers on how the job could be undertaken. Comparing all of this will help you make a more informed decision.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused by what’s on your quotes, we may be able to explain some of the terminology, or suggest questions you should ask the supplier.
Taking the time to get multiple quotes also gives you an idea of how professional and respectful an installer will be, how good their communication is, and how they are likely to respond to any of your concerns such as disruption to your home.
Getting a quote for a heat pump is a little different because the installer needs to complete a detailed heat loss survey and design your system first. This takes time and expertise, and understandably there will be a charge. We suggest speaking to more than one installer before you book a survey so you can decide which approach is best for your circumstances. Approaches range from more standardised, often lower cost options (for example, from one of the energy suppliers) to bespoke, possibly higher cost options with a performance guarantee (for example from a "Heat Geek"). All heat pump installers should be MCS certified.
If a tradesperson tries to pressure or rush you into making decisions, take your time and remember that you are free to decide what happens. High-pressure sales tactics are a warning sign that they might not deliver what they’re offering.
Additional questions to ask your installer
Key takeaways
Our My Home Made Better advisers recommend that Trustmark registration (and/or MCS for heat pumps or solar) is a must for all energy efficiency upgrades in your home.
Get several quotes before agreeing to any work – and write yourself a list of questions to ask the installers.
Check the details of any warranties to ensure you are protected in case things go wrong.
Finally, we recommend giving us a call. As an impartial advice service, we can support you to make well informed choices in your retrofit journey.
My Home Made Better
0800 804 8601
