How to write a helpful review

"Great service" tells the next customer very little. "Arrived on time, completed the boiler service in 45 minutes, explained everything clearly, and left no mess" tells them a lot. Specific details are far more useful than general impressions.

Mention: the type of job done, how long it took, how the tradesperson communicated, and any standout positive or negative moments. If the price was fair, say so — pricing information is among the most-searched pieces of review content.

Reviews should reflect your genuine experience. If there was a problem, describe it factually without exaggeration. If it was resolved, say so — a complaint that was resolved professionally reflects well on the business and helps future customers understand how issues are handled.

Avoid reviewing a business based on a phone call alone, or because a colleague had a bad experience. Your review should reflect direct, personal experience of the service.

Use the full range of the scale. Five stars means genuinely exceptional — exceeded expectations in a meaningful way. Four stars is a strong positive: good service with minor room for improvement. Three stars is average: did what was expected, nothing more.

Many consumers only leave five-star or one-star reviews, which distorts the average and makes ratings less useful. A thoughtful four-star review is often more helpful than an automatic five.