Find a Tradesman in Portugal: Expat Guide

How to search for tradesman in Portugal?

Your search strategy must be adapted to the scale of the job. Finding a reliable handyman is a different game from vetting a builder for a six-figure renovation.

For small to medium housing jobs

For these tasks, your goal is to tap into a network of local trust.

1. Your #1 Source: Your Condominium Administrator. If you live in an apartment, this is your golden ticket. The building's management company has a pre-vetted list of reliable tradespeople they use for common area maintenance. They have already done the hard work for you.
2. Local Hardware Store (Drogaria). Avoid the big-box DIY stores. Go to the small, often family-run hardware store in your neighborhood. The owner knows every local professional's reputation. Ask them: "Bom dia. Conhece um eletricista de confiança aqui da zona?" (Good morning. Do you know a trustworthy electrician from this area?). Their recommendation is priceless.
3. Hyper-Local Community Groups. Forget the huge, noisy expat Facebook groups. Your search should be for the "Vizinhos de [Your Parish]" or "Amigos de [Your Town]" group. In these smaller, tight-knit communities, a reputation is everything. A recommendation there carries real weight because the person recommending them likely lives down the street.
4. Specialized Retailers. Need a new air conditioning unit installed? Buy it from a dedicated AVAC shop and ask for their list of certified installers. Their business reputation depends on the quality of that installation. The same applies to kitchen suppliers or high-end tile shops.

For larger projects

For major works, you need to elevate your search to a professional level. The financial and legal risks are too high for a casual recommendation.

1. Architect/Engineer Network. This is, without question, the safest and most effective method. If your project requires municipal licensing, you will have an architect (arquiteto) or engineer. They are your single greatest asset. They have a shortlist of empreiteiros they have worked with, trust, and can hold accountable. A builder will not jeopardize a long-term relationship with an architect for one project. The architect is your quality control and your leverage.
2. Professional Referrals. Ask your lawyer or a trusted, long-term resident who has recently completed a similar-sized project. A referral from someone who has successfully navigated a major renovation is highly valuable.
3. The "Good Work" Method. See a renovation in your area that is clean, organized, and progressing well? Don't be shy. Approach the owner and ask about their experience with the empreiteiro.

How to find tradesman in Portugal?

Think of this as a multi-pronged strategy. For any given job, you should try to generate leads from at least two of these channels.

Use a professional network (low risk, high quality)

This is the "insider track" used by Portuguese professionals and savvy long-term residents. These sources have a vested interest in recommending quality people because their own reputation is on the line.

• Through your Architect/Engineer:
  • Who it's for: Essential for large projects (renovations, extensions, new builds).
  • How it works: Your architect or engineer, who signs off on the project for the Câmara (city council), maintains a small, curated list of empreiteiros (contractors) they trust. A builder will never risk their relationship with an architect who provides them with a steady stream of work. The architect is your quality control and your leverage. This is the single safest way to hire for a major project.
• Through your Condominium Administrator (if you have it):
  • Who it's for: Anyone living in an apartment building (prédio). Ideal for finding plumbers, electricians, painters, and handymen for interior work.
  • How it works: Your building's administration company has a list of vetted tradespeople they use for all common area maintenance. They have already done the due diligence, and the tradesmen on their list are reliable because they depend on the administrator for repeat business.
  • What to do: Call or email your administration company and say: "Bom dia, estou a precisar de um canalizador/eletricista para um trabalho no meu apartamento. Têm alguém de confiança que possam recomendar?" (Good morning, I need a plumber/electrician for a job in my apartment. Do you have someone trustworthy you can recommend?).
• Through your Real Estate Agent:
  • Who it's for: New homeowners.
  • How it works: A good real estate agent, especially one who works with international clients, wants you to have a positive experience after the sale. Many maintain a "black book" of reliable tradespeople for their clients. They know who does good work and who shows up. This is a frequently overlooked resource.

Use your local grapevine

This strategy involves physically going to the places where professionals gather and reputations are built.

• Specialty Supplier (Extremely Effective):
  • The Logic: Go to the store that sells the high-quality materials for the trade you need. The store's reputation is indirectly tied to the quality of the installer's work. They will not recommend a cowboy who makes their products look bad.
  • How to apply it:
    • For a Plumber: Go to a dedicated plumbing and sanitary ware shop (loja de sanitários/canalização), not a generic big-box store. Ask the experienced person behind the counter.
    • For an Electrician: Go to a proper electrical supply wholesaler (loja de material elétrico).
    • For a Tiler: Go to a high-end tile shop (loja de azulejos). They know the artisans who do justice to their expensive tiles.
    • For a Painter: Go to a dedicated paint store (loja de tintas). They know the difference between a careful professional and a splash-and-dash amateur.
  • What to say: "Estou à procura de um bom [eletricista/pedreiro/pintor] para um projeto. Quem são os profissionais sérios que compram material aqui?" (I'm looking for a good [electrician/mason/painter] for a project. Who are the serious professionals who buy supplies here?).
• Neighborhood Hardware Store:
  • Who it's for: Finding local handymen, painters, and fixers for smaller jobs.
  • How it works: The owner of the small, local drogaria knows everyone. They know who is busy, who pays their bills, and who gets called back for more work. They are a hub of community knowledge.

Use your digital community (requires careful vetting)

This is the most common starting point for expats, but it must be navigated with precision.

• Hyper-Local Facebook Groups:
  • The Mistake to Avoid: Posting in massive, country-wide expat groups. These are filled with self-promotion and recommendations from people you don't know who may have a vested interest.
  • The Right Way: Search Facebook for your specific, small geographical area. Use search terms like:
    • "Vizinhos de [Your Neighborhood]" (e.g., "Vizinhos de Alfama")
    • "Amigos de [Your Town]" (e.g., "Amigos de Cascais")
    • "Recomendações [Your City]"
  • In these groups, accountability is high. A bad recommendation reflects poorly on the person who made it, and a tradesman's reputation can be ruined in an afternoon.
• Professional Platforms (Fixando, Zaask):
  • The Best Use Case: These platforms are "transactional" and work best for simple, well-defined, one-off tasks. They are not for diagnostic work or complex projects.
  • Good for: Assembling IKEA furniture; hanging a heavy picture; installing a pre-purchased appliance; painting a single, empty room.
  • Bad for: Finding a mysterious leak; renovating a bathroom; diagnosing an electrical fault.
  • The Catch: You are often getting the tradesperson who is the most available or the cheapest, not necessarily the most experienced. The best masters are often too busy to bid on jobs on these sites.
• OLX and Other Classifieds:
  • The Reality: This is the Wild West. It is the Portuguese equivalent of Craigslist. You will find many individuals advertising services, often for cash. While you might find a hidden gem, the risk of encountering uncertified, uninsured, or unreliable workers is extremely high. This channel should be your last resort and requires the most rigorous vetting (demanding to see certifications, checking references, etc.).

Using apps: Fixando and Zaask

In Portugal, the app market for trades is dominated by two main platforms. Think of them as the local equivalent of TaskRabbit or Thumbtack.

1. Fixando: This is arguably the most popular and widely used platform.
2. Zaask: A strong competitor to Fixando, operating on a very similar model.

How They Work:

The process for both is nearly identical:

1. You Post a Job: You open the app and describe the service you need in as much detail as possible (e.g., "Install a new kitchen faucet," "Paint a 15-square-meter bedroom," "Diagnose a circuit breaker that keeps tripping").
2. You Receive Proposals: The platform sends your request to registered professionals in your area. Within hours (sometimes minutes), you will receive several "proposals" or quotes, typically from 3 to 5 different tradespeople.
3. You Compare and Choose: You can see the price quoted by each professional, view their profile, and read reviews left by previous users. Based on this, you select the person you want to hire.

How can you use these apps safely?

Before you download them, you must understand the pros and cons. These apps are a tool, but a risky one if used incorrectly.

The PROS (Why people use them):

• Speed: It's the fastest way to get multiple quotes without making a single phone call.
• Convenience: The whole process is managed from your phone.
• Price Comparison: It gives you an immediate sense of the market rate for a simple job.
• Review System: There's a built-in accountability system with public reviews (though this can be manipulated).

The CONS (The reality every expat needs to know):

• It's a "Who's Available" Lottery: The professionals bidding on your job are the ones who are available and actively looking for work. The best, most experienced masters are often booked for months in advance through word-of-mouth and are too busy to be bidding on app-based jobs.
• A Race to the Bottom: The competitive nature can encourage professionals to underbid to win the job, which can lead to cut corners, low-quality materials, or attempts to add costs later.
• Minimal Vetting: While the platforms have registration processes, they are not a substitute for your own due diligence. They do not rigorously verify the skills, licenses, or insurance of every "professional" on the platform. You are hiring the individual, not the platform.
• Best for Simple, Not Complex: These apps excel at well-defined, simple tasks. They are very poorly suited for diagnostic work ("find this mysterious leak") or large, multi-stage projects (a full bathroom renovation).

If you decide to use Fixando or Zaask, follow these rules religiously:

1. Ideal for Simple Tasks ONLY:
   • Good for: Assembling IKEA furniture, mounting a TV, painting a small, empty room, basic garden cleanup.
   • Bad for: Anything involving gas, major electrical work, finding the source of a damp problem, projects requiring multiple trades.
2. Vet Them OFF the App: Do not trust the app profile alone. The moment you select a professional, take the investigation into your own hands.
   • Ask for their NIF (tax number) and full company name.
   • Search their company name online. Do they have a proper website or a professional Facebook page with a history of projects? Or do they only exist on the app?
3. The Invoice is Non-Negotiable: Before you even agree, ask the magic question: "Passa fatura-recibo pelo Portal das Finanças?" (Can you issue an official invoice through the Finance Portal?). If they hesitate, suggest a cash deal, or say no, you may consider to ABANDON THE HIRE IMMEDIATELY. No invoice means no legal warranty and no recourse.
4. Use the App as a Trial Run: Found a handyman on an app that you like? Hire them for a tiny, low-risk job first. Ask them to hang a single picture frame or fix a squeaky door hinge. This €20-€30 "test" will tell you everything you need to know about their punctuality, professionalism, and communication before you trust them with something more important.