Before you call: the 60-second Pro check

Start the clock

You find a Pro who seems to offer exactly what you need. Before you call, message or request a quote, give the profile one focused minute.

You're not trying to decide whether this person is trustworthy in 60 seconds. You're checking whether the basic information makes sense and identifying what you still need to ask.

Think of it as a quick first pass, not full vetting. Some jobs need a lot more checking before you hire or before work begins.

Ready? Start the clock.

Seconds 0–15: what do you actually know about who they are?

On Know a Pro, look for ID Verified.

ID Verified tells you the Pro completed Know a Pro's required identity-verification process. That's useful information about identity.

It isn't a judgement about:

• skill;
• qualifications;
• registration;
• honesty;
• workmanship;
• safety; or
• whether you should hire them.

If you're looking at another platform or source, check what its verification badge actually verifies. Not every badge means the same thing.

Seconds 15–30: does the service match the job?

Check:

• what services they offer;
• where they work;
• whether they mention the type of work you need;
• any specialities or limitations shown; and
• other relevant service information.

The question is: does this profile give me enough reason to think this Pro may offer the service I need?

A detailed profile doesn't prove professionalism, and a brief one doesn't mean someone is risky. Missing information simply gives you something to ask.

Seconds 30–45: what do the reviews and work examples add?

If reviews are available, scan them for context. You might look at:

• what service the customer describes;
• how recent the review is;
• whether it relates to the type of work you're considering; and
• recurring themes across multiple reviews.

If a Pro doesn't have reviews yet, that gives you less customer feedback to consider. It doesn't tell you whether they're good or bad.

If work examples are available and relevant, they may help you understand the type or style of previous work shown. They don't independently prove who performed the work or guarantee future results, and not every profession needs a visual portfolio.

Seconds 45–60: what still needs checking?

Use the final 15 seconds to note what you still need to check before hiring.

Depending on the service, that might include:

• professional or statutory registration;
• a licence or designation;
• a qualification;
• the scope or category of a registration;
• insurance, where relevant;
• certificate requirements;
• the quote and scope;
• availability;
• who will actually perform the work; or
• another job-specific requirement.

For regulated or higher-consequence work, you may need to check credentials using the relevant official register or authority. That usually takes longer than a minute.

The 60 seconds simply tells you: “I need to check this before I hire.”

Some services need more than a quick scan

Some services have legal, statutory, professional or job-specific requirements that deserve more than a quick profile scan.

Examples can include electrical work, gas work, security services and regulated healthcare services.

For roles such as childcare, safeguarding and role-specific checks can vary, so find out what's appropriate for the particular role.

The 60-second checklist

1. Identity: What does the platform's identity information actually confirm?

2. Service fit: Does the Pro appear to offer the service and work in the area you need?

3. Reviews: If available, what useful context do previous customer reviews provide?

4. Work examples: If relevant, are there examples that help you understand the type of work shown?

5. Credentials: Does this job require a qualification, licence, registration or other credential that you still need to verify?

6. Questions: What information is missing that you should ask about before hiring?

What about gut feel?

An instinct may prompt you to slow down or ask another question, and that's fine. But a feeling isn't evidence of competence, safety or wrongdoing.

What 60 seconds can't tell you

In one minute you generally can't establish:

• whether the workmanship will be good;
• whether someone is honest;
• whether the price is fair for your particular job;
• whether every credential is current;
• whether insurance is suitable;
• whether reviews predict your experience;
• whether the Pro is the best option; or
• whether a future job will go well.

Before you actually hire

The next level of checking depends on the job. It may include:

• asking questions;
• getting and comparing quotes;
• confirming the scope;
• checking applicable credentials;
• confirming who will do the work;
• understanding deposit and payment terms;
• discussing timing;
• checking references, where appropriate; and
• checking certificates or documentation relevant to the service.

Not everything is required for every job. A small routine service and a major construction project won't need identical homework.

On Know a Pro

On Know a Pro, ID Verified gives you one piece of the picture: the Pro has completed Know a Pro's required identity-verification process.

Their profile can also contain information about their services, contact details and other information they've provided, while customer-submitted reviews can add context where available.

You still decide what additional checks are appropriate for the job.

The takeaway

Sixty seconds isn't enough to vet a professional, but it is enough to slow down and look properly before making contact.

Check what the identity information actually means, make sure the service appears relevant, use reviews and work examples as context where available, and identify anything you still need to verify or ask.

Then do the level of checking that makes sense for the actual job.

The 60-second check is a quick first-pass screen, not a substitute for checking the qualifications, registrations, documentation, references or other requirements relevant to a particular service or job.