Look beyond a single star rating
A five-star average tells you almost nothing if it's based on two reviews from friends. What matters is how a provider performs on the things that go wrong most often: do they reply to messages, do they show up when they said they would, is the work good, and do they honour the quote.
On Prouva, every provider shows these as separate signals, computed from factual reviews — so you can see, for example, that someone does excellent work but is slow to respond. That's far more useful than one blended number.
Check whether the profile is Verified
Profiles on Prouva carry one of two badges, and the badge tells you exactly how much has been checked:
- Unclaimed — compiled from public information or added by a customer; the provider hasn't engaged yet.
- Verified — the owner has claimed the listing and we've checked their identity and, where applicable, their business registration (BRN).
Neither guarantees a perfect job — a badge only ever means exactly what we've checked. But a Verified provider has more skin in the game, can show contact details and reply to reviews, and is more likely to respond and stand behind their work.
Message clearly and keep a record
When you contact a provider, describe the job in one message: what needs doing, where, and when you'd like it. Ask for a quote in writing. A provider who answers clearly and commits to a time is already showing you how the job will go.
Keep the WhatsApp thread or emails — it's your record if anything is disputed, and it helps you write a fair, factual review afterwards. If you can, get the quote as a written message or a simple document rather than a number said over the phone.
Watch for the warning signs
Most jobs go fine. The ones that don't usually show early signals you can learn to spot:
- Pressure to pay a large deposit in cash before any work starts.
- A quote that's vague or refuses to be put in writing.
- No fixed address, business name or registration when you ask.
- A high-risk flag on the profile — on Prouva this means we've seen evidence worth caution, such as a business registration that didn't check out.
None of these alone proves bad intent, but two or three together is a reason to get another quote.
Leave a review — good or bad
The reason good providers are hard to find is that people keep the good ones to themselves and stay quiet about the bad ones. A two-minute honest review helps the next person and pushes the whole market to do better.
If you have an invoice or a contract for the job, attach it — our team checks it and marks your review Verified, which counts for far more in the provider's rating and protects the next homeowner.