What qualifications should I look for?

[Stan Streason]

Having just completed a house purchase I will be needing some work done.  Nothing too large but a bit of stonemasonry, a bit of electrics, a bit of plumbing.

I will not be there often or long enough to search out locals to do the work so I must probably arrange things from classified ads / tradesmans lists etc.  Because of the distance and lack of time to meet and supervise I probably need to be dealing with someone who is either English or is fluent in English.

I hear horror stories of english "handymen" bodging their way through or using UK standards which would be wrong for France and want a proper job done even if it is only relatively simple.

Are there any qualifications, memberships, insurances or other things I need to look out for to at least clear the serious players from the bodgers?

Thanks in advance

 

Sorry - just seen Will's sticky on finding tradesmen under the renovations thread.  (Should have checked first).  Is that all I need?