What photos should you include when posting a job?

Photos are the fastest way to remove guesswork from a quote. Three well-chosen images will do more than a page of description, and they cut down the back-and-forth before anyone visits.

The three shots that always help

1. A wide shot of the whole area, so the tradesperson can judge scale and access.
2. A close-up of the specific problem or the item being replaced.
3. A shot of anything awkward — a tight corner, a boxed-in pipe, a difficult access point, an old fitting nobody makes any more.

Useful extras by trade

• Plumbing — the fitting, the pipework underneath or behind it, and the boiler or stopcock if relevant. See our plumbing advice.
• Electrical — the consumer unit with the cover on, showing the make and the breakers, plus the socket or fitting involved.
• Roofing — a photo from the ground with as much of the roof in frame as possible, plus any internal staining or damp. Never climb up to take a photo.
• Plastering and decorating — raking light across the wall shows the surface condition far better than a flat-on shot.
• Flooring and tiling — a photo of the existing surface and one of the doorway thresholds.

Practical tips

• Turn the light on and open the curtains — dark photos hide exactly what you want seen.
• Include something for scale, such as a tape measure or a standard mug.
• Take photos in landscape where you can; it captures more of the room.
• Three to six photos is plenty for most jobs.

Do not risk your safety for a photo

Never go on a roof, up a ladder, or into a loft you are not comfortable in to get a picture. Describe what you can see from ground level and let the tradesperson inspect it properly.