10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Any Artisan in Nigeria

If you have ever paid an artisan half the money, only for the person to disappear or do a rushed job, you already know the pain. The truth is that most artisan wahala in Lagos and Abuja is avoidable, and it starts before any work begins. Knowing the right questions to ask before hiring an artisan is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy. A ten-minute conversation can save you weeks of stress, repeat repairs, and money you cannot get back.

Whether you are hiring an electrician, plumber, painter, tiler, carpenter, or AC technician, the questions below help you separate the serious professionals from the ones who will spoil your day. Ask them calmly and listen carefully. How a person answers often tells you more than the answer itself.

Quick answer: Before hiring any artisan in Nigeria, ask about their years of experience, photos and references from similar past jobs, exactly what the quoted price covers, whether they give a written breakdown, how long the job will take, and what guarantee they offer if something goes wrong. Confirm the deposit and payment method, whether they have the right tools and certification, and who will physically do the work. A trustworthy artisan answers these clearly and puts key details in writing; anyone who dodges them or demands full payment upfront is a red flag.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Artisan: Why They Matter

Artisans are not the problem. Hiring blind is. When you skip these questions, you are trusting a stranger with your home, your money, and your safety, based on nothing but a phone call and a promise. Asking upfront does three things: it filters out unserious people, it sets clear expectations so nobody can claim confusion later, and it gives you a written record if things go sideways. Let us go through the ten questions, why each one matters, and what a good answer sounds like.

1. How long have you been doing this work?

Experience is the first filter. You want to know how many years the person has done this specific trade, not general "handyman" work. A good answer is specific and calm, for example, "Seven years, mostly residential wiring in Lekki and Yaba." Vague answers like "long time" or someone who keeps changing the number should make you slow down.

2. Can I see photos or examples of similar jobs?

Talk is cheap; proof is not. Ask for photos of jobs like yours, ideally finished work and the process in between. A serious artisan will have pictures on their phone or a profile and will happily show you. If the person has "no time" to show any work at all, that tells you plenty.

3. Do you have references or reviews from past clients?

References turn promises into evidence. Ask for one or two past clients you can call, or point to reviews and ratings online. A confident professional gives you names or a link without hesitation. On Wakawork, verified artisan profiles already carry ratings and reviews from real Nigerian customers, so this question is often answered before you even reach out.

4. What exactly is included in the price?

This is where most disputes are born. You need to know clearly what the quote covers, especially the split between labour and materials. A good answer breaks it down, for example, "Twenty-five thousand for labour; cement, sand and tiles are separate, roughly forty thousand." If someone gives you one lump sum and refuses to explain what is inside it, expect surprise charges later. For trades like plumbing, comparing this against typical rates helps too. See our guide on how much a plumber costs in Lagos.

5. Can you give me a written quote or breakdown?

A written quote is your protection. It does not have to be fancy; a clear WhatsApp message or note listing the work, materials, and price is enough. Serious artisans are comfortable putting numbers in writing because they stand by them. Anyone who insists on keeping everything "in the head" is leaving room to change the story later.

6. How long will the job take?

Timing affects your money and your plans. Ask for a realistic start date and how many days the work should take. A good answer sounds honest, even when it is not what you want to hear, like "Three days, but if we hit an old pipe it could be four." Beware of anyone who promises to finish everything in an unrealistically short time just to win the job.

7. Do you offer any guarantee or warranty?

A guarantee shows the artisan believes in their own work. Ask what happens if the fault returns or something breaks shortly after. A good answer might be, "If the same fault comes back within one month, I fix it free." No professional will guarantee forever, but a flat refusal to stand behind the work at all is a warning sign.

8. What deposit do you need, and how do you take payment?

Money handling reveals a lot about trust. A fair deposit usually covers materials and a portion of labour, not the full amount. Be very careful with anyone demanding 100 percent upfront before lifting a finger. Agree on how the balance is paid, ideally tied to the work being completed to your satisfaction. To go deeper on protecting your money, read how to avoid artisan scams online in Nigeria.

9. Do you have the right tools and certification for the job?

The right tools and training separate professionals from pretenders. For sensitive work like electrical wiring, gas, or solar installation, ask about relevant training or certification. A good answer names their tools and any qualification without fuss. Borrowing tools for every job, or having no idea what is needed, is a red flag, especially for anything involving safety. If you are hiring for wiring specifically, see how to find a trusted electrician in Lagos.

10. Who exactly will do the work, you or someone you send?

The person you interview is not always the person who shows up. Ask directly whether they will handle the job themselves or send an apprentice or team member. There is nothing wrong with a team, but you deserve to know who is coming and how experienced they are. A clear answer like, "I do the wiring myself; my boy assists with the small work," is honest and reassuring.

Let Wakawork answer half these questions before you even call

Here is the good news: you do not have to interrogate every stranger from scratch. Wakawork connects you with verified local professionals whose profiles already show their experience, past work, ratings, and reviews from real customers in Lagos and Abuja. That means questions about references, examples, and reputation are largely answered upfront, so your conversation can focus on the specifics of your job. If you are hiring in the capital, our guide on how to hire a reliable artisan in Abuja walks you through it step by step.

Ask these ten questions every single time, no matter how nice or how recommended the person is. It is not rudeness; it is how serious people do business, and good artisans respect it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to ask an artisan so many questions before hiring? Not at all. Professional artisans expect it and respect clients who ask clear questions, because it means fewer misunderstandings later. If someone gets offended or defensive when you ask reasonable questions, take it as useful information about how they will behave during the job.

How much deposit is normal for an artisan in Nigeria? It varies by trade and job size, but a deposit that covers materials plus a portion of labour is common and fair. Paying the full amount before any work is done is risky and best avoided. Where possible, tie the final payment to the work being completed to your satisfaction.

What if the artisan does a bad job after I have paid? This is exactly why a written quote and a guarantee matter. With them, you have grounds to ask for a redo or repair at no extra cost. Without any record, it becomes your word against theirs, which is why agreeing terms in writing before work begins is so important.

Should I buy the materials myself or let the artisan handle it? Both approaches work, but each has trade-offs. Buying materials yourself gives you control over quality and cost, while letting the artisan handle it saves you time and leans on their supplier contacts. Whichever you choose, make sure the written quote reflects it so nobody is confused about who pays for what.

How do I know an artisan is actually verified? On platforms like Wakawork, verified means the professional's identity and profile have been checked, and their ratings come from real past clients rather than random claims. Look for reviews, completed job history, and a consistent track record rather than relying on a single recommendation.

Ready to skip the guesswork? Post your task free on Wakawork and get matched with verified local professionals whose experience, reviews, and ratings are there for you to see before you decide. Find help that works, start on Wakawork today.