10 professionals you didn't know you could hire in South Africa

Plumber, electrician, builder. Those are easy.

But what do you search for when an old chair needs restoring, you're worried about a huge tree, or you want an independent look at a house before buying it?

South Africa has professionals working in all sorts of specialist fields. Knowing the name of the service can make it much easier to start looking for the right kind of help.

Here are 10 worth knowing about.

1. Upholsterer

An upholsterer works with the fabric, padding and related components of furniture such as chairs, couches, headboards and other upholstered pieces.

Depending on the service provider and the piece, work may include:

• recovering;
• replacing worn fabric;
• replacing or repairing padding;
• repairing certain upholstery components;
• restoring the appearance of an older piece; or
• custom upholstery work.

When it's worth knowing about: you have a chair or couch you like, but the upholstery is worn, damaged or no longer suits the room.

Whether restoration makes financial sense depends on the condition and construction of the piece, the fabric chosen and the work required. Ask for a quote before comparing it with replacement.

2. Home inspector

A private home inspector can assess visible and accessible aspects of a property's condition and provide observations or a report within the scope of the inspection service offered.

Depending on the inspector and the agreed scope, this may include areas such as:

• roofing;
• visible damp or moisture concerns;
• walls and finishes;
• accessible plumbing observations;
• visible electrical observations;
• doors and windows;
• structural warning signs; and
• other accessible components.

Not every inspector covers every one of these, and an inspection has limitations. It isn't a guarantee that every defect will be found.

South Africa has professional associations for private home inspectors, but requirements and approaches can differ between providers.

Ask the inspector exactly what their inspection covers, what it excludes and what report you'll receive.

3. Arborist / tree-care specialist

Arborists and tree-care specialists work with the assessment, care, pruning and management of trees.

Depending on their service and expertise, they may help with:

• pruning;
• tree-health concerns;
• risk assessment;
• managing trees near buildings or infrastructure;
• removals where appropriate; or
• advice about tree care.

A large, unhealthy or nearby tree doesn't automatically need to come down. The right approach depends on the tree and the situation.

Work involving large trees, chainsaws, working at height or trees near electrical infrastructure can involve significant hazards and isn't a casual DIY task.

4. Waterproofing specialist

Waterproofing specialists work with water-ingress and moisture-control problems involving areas such as roofs, balconies, walls, joints or other building elements, depending on their field of work.

They may assess symptoms and propose waterproofing work appropriate to the problem.

Water ingress can be difficult to trace, and visible damp isn't always directly below or beside its source.

Ask what the contractor believes is causing the problem, how they reached that conclusion, what work they're proposing and what is included in any warranty they offer.

5. Companion-animal behaviour consultant

Companion-animal behaviour consultants may work with owners on behavioural concerns such as fear, reactivity, anxiety or other behaviour problems, depending on their training and scope of practice.

South Africa has professional structures for non-clinical companion-animal professionals, including behaviour consultants.

There's an important distinction, though: behavioural concerns can sometimes have a medical component.

A non-veterinary behaviour consultant isn't a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Veterinary practice in South Africa is regulated through the South African Veterinary Council framework.

If behaviour changes suddenly, appears linked to pain or illness, or presents a serious welfare or safety concern, veterinary assessment may also be appropriate.

Training and experience vary between behaviour consultants, so ask about their background and approach.

6. Professional organiser

A professional organiser helps people create practical systems for spaces, belongings or workflows.

Depending on the service, this might include:

• decluttering support;
• wardrobe organisation;
• kitchen or pantry organisation;
• home-office systems;
• moving and unpacking organisation; or
• document and workflow organisation.

Organising isn't the same as cleaning, unless the provider separately offers cleaning.

Decisions about what to keep, donate or discard remain yours.

7. Appliance repair technician

Appliance repair technicians diagnose and repair household appliances within the types and brands of equipment they work on.

Examples could include:

• washing machines;
• tumble dryers;
• dishwashers;
• fridges and freezers;
• ovens; or
• other household appliances.

Depending on the appliance, its age, parts availability and the fault, a repair quote can help you compare repair with replacement.

Ask whether there is a diagnostic or call-out fee before booking.

8. Pool specialist

Depending on the provider, pool specialists may work with:

• routine pool care;
• water-quality issues;
• pumps and filtration;
• leaks;
• cleaning;
• equipment;
• renovations; or
• other pool-related services.

Not every pool professional offers all of these, so check what's included in the service you're considering.

9. Solar PV installer

Solar PV and backup-power installations can involve electrical installation work.

The exact professionals and approvals involved depend on the system and the work being done.

Ask:

• what equipment is being proposed;
• who will perform the electrical installation work;
• what electrical registration applies;
• whether a Certificate of Compliance is required;
• what municipal or distributor requirements apply in your area; and
• what warranties apply to equipment and workmanship.

10. Handyman

A handyman may be useful for a collection of general maintenance, assembly or minor repair tasks, depending on the person's skills and services.

Examples might include:

• hanging shelves or pictures;
• assembling furniture;
• minor non-regulated repairs;
• basic maintenance; or
• several small tasks during one visit.

A handyman isn't automatically the appropriate person for regulated or specialist work such as electrical installation work, certain plumbing work, structural work or other jobs requiring specific credentials.

Match the person to the work.

How do you know which specialist to search for?

If you don't know the professional title, start by describing the problem rather than guessing the trade.

For example:

“My couch frame is fine but the fabric and padding are worn.” → An upholsterer may be relevant.

“I'm considering buying a house and want an independent condition inspection.” → A home inspector may be relevant.

“A large tree has damaged branches over the driveway.” → An arborist or tree-care specialist may be relevant.

“Water keeps appearing on an internal wall after heavy rain.” → A waterproofing or building specialist may be relevant, depending on the cause.

“My dog has suddenly started behaving unusually.” → Veterinary assessment may be an appropriate starting point where a medical cause could be involved. Behaviour support may also be relevant, depending on the issue.

These are starting points, not diagnoses.

Specialist doesn't automatically mean “better”

A specialist title alone doesn't prove:

• competence;
• qualifications;
• registration;
• workmanship;
• experience;
• reliability; or
• suitability for your particular job.

Before hiring, consider:

• what services they actually provide;
• relevant experience;
• examples of previous work, where appropriate;
• qualifications or registrations, where relevant;
• scope and exclusions;
• the quote or pricing structure;
• customer-submitted reviews as additional context; and
• whether the job falls within their area of work.

Where Know a Pro fits

Know a Pro has categories and profiles covering a wide range of services.

You can explore profiles and service information to help identify Pros relevant to the job you're trying to solve.

If a profile displays ID Verified, that means the Pro completed Know a Pro's required identity-verification process.

It doesn't mean Know a Pro has verified their specialist qualifications or competence. Where qualifications, registrations or licences matter, check those separately.

Reviews provide customer-submitted context, not proof of future quality.

The takeaway

Sometimes the hardest part of finding help is simply knowing what the job is called.

Once you know the kind of specialist you're looking for, you can compare the services they actually offer, check relevant credentials where needed and ask better questions before hiring.

And if you're not sure of the professional title, start with the problem.

This article provides general consumer information and was reviewed in September 2026. Professional titles, qualifications, registrations and scopes of work can differ between services and providers. Check the credentials and regulatory requirements relevant to the particular work you need.