Gen Z trust a tradesperson more based on their appearance and online reviews

Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than older generations to trust a tradesperson based on how they look rather than their qualifications. In contrast, a poll of 2,000 homeowners found Gen X and Boomers are more inclined to look for ‘traditional’ signs of professionalism, such as a friendly and professional manner (61 per cent). TV personality, Denise Van Outen teams up with Gas Safe Register ahead of Gas Safety Week Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than older generations to trust a tradesperson based on how they look rather than their qualifications Credit: SWNS Just 14 per cent from these generations would trust a tradesperson based on their appearance – versus a quarter of Gen Z and Millennials. Younger generations were also more likely to be swayed by positive online reviews (58 per cent), a professional website or social media presence (36 per cent), and branded workwear (22 per cent). Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The findings come ahead of Gas Safety Week, as Gas Safe Register urges consumers to check an engineer’s credentials rather than relying on appearances or word-of-mouth recommendations. TV personality Denise Van Outen, who has teamed up with the organisation for the campaign, said: “A clean van, smart uniform and five-star review from your mate might make someone look like the perfect fit for the job – but none of those things tells you whether they’re actually qualified to do the work safely and legally. A poll of 2,000 homeowners found Gen X and Boomers are more inclined to look for ‘traditional’ signs of professionalism Credit: SWNS Denise is urging consumers to check an engineer’s credentials rather than relying on appearances Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep “It’s not worth taking chances based on appearances or recommendations when you need your gas boiler serviced or fixed. “Taking a couple of minutes to check an engineer’s Gas Safe registration is a simple step that can help protect your home and family.” The study also found 23 per cent of all respondents said they had assumed a tradesperson was qualified because they arrived in a branded van, while 19 per cent said the same of someone wearing a uniform and 16 per cent because they “looked the part”. But while appearances and recommendations may help a tradesperson make a good first impression, more than half (52 per cent) admitted they have hired a tradesperson without checking their credentials. Most read in The Sun And despite 93 per cent knowing gas engineers must be Gas Safe registered to legally carry out gas work, just 57 per cent have ever checked an engineer’s registration before allowing them to begin work. However, homeowners are reluctant to ask tradespeople about their credentials, with 25 per cent of those who had hired a tradesperson admitted they had avoided asking questions because they did not want to seem rude. A further 23 per cent worried about appearing distrustful, according to OnePoll figures. Two thirds (66 per cent) said being pressured to approve work quickly would raise alarm bells, while 65 per cent would be concerned by a tradesperson who refused to provide a quote and 59 per cent by someone who accepted cash payments only. Concerns about choosing the wrong person remain widespread, with 79 per cent worried about poor workmanship, 69 per cent fearing being scammed and 65 per cent concerned about being overcharged. Meanwhile, 66 per cent said they were worried about letting someone they did not know into their home to carry out work. More than four in 10 (43 per cent) said they had experienced a negative encounter with a tradesperson, with poor-quality work the most common complaint. Among those, 60 per cent said the standard of work fell short of expectations, while 43 per cent had to have work repaired or redone and 22 per cent reported damage to their property. Ronan Howard, customer first delivery lead at Gas Safe Register, said: “It can be easy to make a snap judgement about a tradesperson based on a smart uniform, a branded van or a glowing recommendation. “However, these things don’t tell you whether someone is actually registered to carry out gas work. “It only takes a couple of minutes to check to see if your engineer is legally registered, and it could help prevent a serious safety issue in your home.” TOP 10 THINGS PEOPLE CHECK BEFORE HIRING A TRADESPERSON: Recommendations from family and friends Quotes and pricing Reviews Availability Registered with a relevant body Qualifications and accreditations Their website Previous work and portfolio Their ID Whether they have insurance Comment now