Chasing Trades to Fix Defects Is Time Consuming and Draining
Defects happen. No matter how good a build is, something eventually needs fixing once the trades have finished and moved on. It's part of the process, and it happens across every development I've worked on, not just one. Anyone who's built more than a handful of homes has a list like this.
What a defect actually looks like
Right now I've got tiles that have lifted slightly in a bathroom. There's a small amount of movement underfoot, barely noticeable when you walk on it, but the grout has started to pop up. The tiler needs to come back and inspect what's causing it. Because it's a wet area, the tiles need to be removed carefully so the waterproofing underneath isn't tampered with in the process. Depending on what they find, this could mean pulling up the tiles, removing the old mortar, laying new mortar, and reinstalling new tiles, all without compromising the waterproofing. Done properly, that's the better part of half a day's work.
Why trades drag their feet on this
Rectification work like this is a defect, which means the tiler doesn't get paid for it. From their side, there's no incentive to prioritise a half-day unpaid job over paid work already in the pipeline. So it sits. Some trades are onto it fast and get it sorted with minimal fuss. Others drag it out for weeks, and every day it drags on reflects badly on the builder, not the tiler.
What it actually costs the builder
The client calls, I arrange a time to inspect the defect, coordinate a time that works for both the tradie and the client, and buy the replacement tiles myself. That's a chunk of my day gone, on top of the cost of the materials. It's time consuming, and it's not enjoyable time, it's the kind of task that drains your energy rather than moving the business forward.
The whole time I'm there, I can read it on the homeowner's face. They've got that look, wondering if this is a big problem or a small one, and what else might be wrong that they haven't noticed yet. Part of the job in that moment is reassuring them, explaining that this is fixable, that it's a minor issue, and that it'll be rectified properly. That takes time too, on top of everything else, putting their mind at ease so they're not left worrying every time something like this comes up.
This isn't just tiles. Minor roof leaks, internal plumbing issues, flooring boards lifting, squeaky floors, the pattern's the same across every trade. Defects come up, and how fast a trade responds when they do says more about them than the original job ever will.
How SiteCred helps
SiteCred is built to track this exact thing. Builders can rate trades not just on how the original job went, but on how they handled defects and rectification work afterwards. Trades who show up fast and sort it properly build a track record that follows them to the next builder. Trades who drag their feet get flagged too, so the next builder knows what to expect before they hire them.
Over time, this is how a builder ends up with a dream team, trades who are proactive even after they've been paid, and who you're not stuck chasing months down the line. Check the track record before you hire, on the job and after it.
Keep reading: how to find a reliable tradie, and why the cheapest quote isn't always the cheapest job.