How to read tradesperson reviews and ratings

Reviews are useful, but a star rating alone can mislead. To judge a tradesperson fairly, look at where the review appears, how many there are, how recent they are and what they say. This guide shows you how.

Reviews are one check among several. Always check ID, insurance and any registration too, using our guide to finding a tradesman you can trust.

Where the review appears

The first question is who controls the page. Reviews on a tradesperson’s own website are chosen by the tradesperson, so they tell you little. Reviews on an independent platform are harder to edit.

Some platforms confirm that a review comes from a real customer of a real job. That is useful, although the rules differ from site to site. Check how each site describes its process before you rely on it.

What the score really tells you

A score is a summary, and two numbers sit behind it. The first is the number of reviews, and the second is how recent they are.

A perfect score from three reviews says less than a good score from two hundred. A handful of reviews could come from friends or family. A long record is harder to fake, because it needs many customers over time.

Recent reviews matter because businesses change. Owners leave and staff change, so a run of five-star reviews from years ago may not describe the team today.

How to read the written reviews

Skip the stars and read the words. Specific reviews are more reliable than vague ones. A review that names the job, the date and what went well is more useful than “great service”.

Look for details on tidiness, timekeeping and price. Pay attention to how the tradesperson replies to a complaint. A calm, factual reply is a good sign, while an angry one is not.

Signs of fake or edited reviews

Be careful if several reviews use the same phrases, or if many arrive on the same day. Reviews that praise the business without describing any work are also suspect. Extreme scores with nothing in between can point to selective collection.

No single sign proves a review is fake. Treat a cluster of signs as a reason to check elsewhere. You can report a suspect review to the platform.

What to do next

Use reviews to build a shortlist, not to make the final choice. Ask for references and call them. Then compare written quotes, because price and scope matter as much as reputation.

If you want to start comparing, send us your job. We do not vet or review tradespeople, so the checks above still apply to every quote you receive.

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Each city page covers prices, how to choose and how to get free quotes in that area. For other trades, start from our roofers page.

Read Checkatrade vs MyBuilder vs Rated People to see how each site handles reviews, and questions to ask a builder before you hire.

Frequently asked questions

Can I trust online reviews?

Mostly, if you read them carefully. Prefer independent sites, look for volume and recent dates, and read the words as well as the stars.

What is a verified review?

It usually means the platform confirmed that the reviewer was a real customer. The rules differ, so read how each site defines it.

Is a five-star rating always good?

Not on its own. A perfect score from a few reviews says little. A strong score across many recent jobs says more.

What should I do if a tradesperson has bad reviews?

Read what went wrong and how they replied. One bad review is normal, yet a pattern of the same complaint is a warning.

Written by the Trusted Tradesmen Quotes team. Last updated 9 October 2026.