Questions to ask before booking an installation

The booking call matters more than the quote — it's where you find out whether you're hiring a professional or a gamble. Most people compare prices and availability, then hang up without asking the questions that actually predict whether the job goes smoothly. Here's the script worth running through before you confirm anyone.

What exactly does the visit include?

Ask this plainly: "What will you actually do while you're here?" A good answer is specific — connecting the appliance, testing it runs, checking for leaks or faults, and showing you it works before they pack up. An evasive answer is vague, something like "we'll sort you out" or "standard installation," with no detail on what standard means. Follow up by asking what's excluded. A straight installer will tell you upfront if certain things — like modifying cabinetry, running new wiring, or dealing with an outlet that's in the wrong place — fall outside the quoted visit and would need a separate conversation. If they can't or won't describe the scope, assume the invoice will grow once they're already in your kitchen or laundry.

Ask how long they expect to be there. A confident tradesperson gives you a realistic window based on your specific appliance and space, not a generic "an hour or two." If they haven't asked what appliance it is, where it's going, or what it's replacing before answering, they're guessing.

How do you handle it when something's not as expected?

This is the question that separates people who've actually done the work from people who are just quoting off a price list. Installations rarely go perfectly — pipework might be old, a socket might be in the wrong spot, or the space might be a few millimetres tighter than the appliance needs. Ask directly: "If you get here and something's not right, what happens next?"

A good answer walks you through it calmly: they'll explain the issue, tell you what it would take to fix it, and give you a cost or a plan before doing anything extra — not after. They might mention that they carry basic fittings or parts for common surprises, which shows they've hit this before and prepared for it. An evasive answer either promises nothing ever goes wrong (nobody can promise that) or shrugs and says "we'll figure it out on the day," which usually means you'll figure it out, on the day, with your card out.

It's also worth asking what they do if the job simply can't be completed in one visit — whether that's due to a part they didn't expect to need or an issue beyond appliance installation itself, like ageing plumbing. The honest response names a plan B. Silence on this is a warning sign.

Who do I call if it stops working next week?

The visit ending isn't the end of the relationship, and this question tells you whether the installer sees it that way too. Ask plainly: "If there's a problem a few days after you leave, what's the process?" A trustworthy answer includes a direct contact, some indication of how quickly they'd respond, and clarity on whether a follow-up visit for their own workmanship error would cost you anything. Someone confident in their work isn't nervous about this question.

Also ask whether they'll leave you anything in writing — even a simple note confirming what was installed, the date, and what was tested. This matters less for insurance paperwork and more as a record that protects you if a dispute comes up later. If the answer is a shrug or "just message us," with no name, number, or paper trail, you're relying entirely on goodwill.

How someone answers these three questions, more than what they charge, tells you what kind of visit you're actually booking. If you'd rather skip the guesswork, browsing verified providers on Strove means these basics — scope, contactability, track record — are already visible before you ever pick up the phone.