Whether you are building, renovating or moving houses, carpenters are go-to handymen in Nigeria you can hardly do without. From experience, hiring a good carpenter is as critical as what they do.
To hire a good carpenter anywhere in Nigeria today, you must look out for experience, strongest areas of expertise and overall work ethic. This is very important because a very competent carpenter may lack empathy which means he may not keep to time, use the best quality materials or even abandon the project to go work elsewhere.
How to identify a good carpenter?
Ask cogent questions to unravel the carpenter’s understanding of different materials, tools, and techniques that are required to deliver high-quality work.
While this will help you ascertain how much hands-on knowledge the carpenter will be bringing onboard, it is equally important to check his/her previous projects or ask for a walk-through of his/her approach to work.
From the previous projects or the approach the carpenter recommends, it will become clearer to you if he/she has specialized skills and in-depth knowledge of what you want to do.
For instance, if you’re looking to build a custom furniture or install intricate woodwork details, you will get more value from a carpenter who has similar projects in the past than a generalist whom you will end up paying to learn on the job.
Qualities to look for when hiring carpenters in Nigeria
- Attention to detail
- Keen eye for precision
- Ability to accurately execute references
- Ability to take and interpret measurements
- Problem-solving skills or how to handle contingencies
- Excellent communication skill and people management
Leveraging references and recommendations to hire carpenters
When it comes to hiring a carpenter in Nigeria, knowing how to assess references from past jobs or other sources will help you improve the quality of work that is finally delivered as these references will guide the carpenter’s creativity, thought process and execution style.
Recommendations from people you know are also very helpful. These will give you valuable insights into the potential candidate’s commitment to results and level of professionalism.
Besides, previous clients or employers will help you ascertain the carpenter’s reliability, timeliness, and how much customer satisfaction means to him or her.
Apart from personal recommendations within your network, feedback from trusted sources such as past associates or other professionals within the local construction industry can be invaluable. This feedback carries immense weight because these people and companies have had first-hand experiences of the carpenter’s craftsmanship and professionalism in the past.
Some smart questions to qualify a carpenter
- How long have you been a carpenter?
- What do you think makes a good carpenter?
- Do you have experience as a residential/commercial/industrial carpenter?
- Can I see similar jobs that you have done in the past?
- Is it okay to talk to 1 or 2 of your past customers?
- Have you worked with someone or company around here before?
- Will you be handling this job yourself or assign someone to it?
- Have you had any customers who didn’t like your job before? How did you handle it?
Hiring a good carpenter in Nigeria is easier said than done. The task of finding the right carpenter for your needs and budget can prove a daunting one as different carpenters specialize in different areas, and sometimes, a simple Google search or a friend’s recommendation may not cut it when it comes to finding exactly what you need.
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