Spring is traditionally house hunting season but for many, deciding to 'improve not move' is the more affordable way to the next rung of the property ladder.

However, according to one building society the good news for those who decide to improve and not move is that they can expect an excellent service from their tradesman.

Cowboy builders, bungling plumbers and decorators with a thirst for tea breaks every five minutes may be a thing of the past, said the Skipton Building Society.

Findings from their latest research reveal that two in three Britons (63%) who have used a tradesman in the last three years were very satisfied with the work carried out, giving their hired help the highest scores on the satisfaction scale.

So to make sure they get the recognition they deserve, Skipton Building Society has launched ‘The Grafters’ National Tradesman Award – a new competition to celebrate good service given by skilled labourers around the country.

If you know a plumber, heating engineer, electrician, builder or painter/decorator that’s a real hero, why not enter them? Entry forms can be collected from any Skipton branch (call 08457 171777 for your nearest location) or can be downloaded here. The winning tradesman will receive £1,000 in prize money and the person who nominated them will received £250, plus 10 runners up and their nominators will each receive a bottle of champagne.

How to spot the cowboys

A 'cowboy' tradesman is someone who is irresponsible or unscrupulous and doesn't run a legitimate business - so should be avoided at all costs. Look out for the warning signs say Skipton on their 'before you improve' website: www.beforeyouimprove.co.uk

• They offer only a mobile phone number to contact them.
• They show no address on their business cards (if they have any).
• They offer a discount (usually by saying you avoid VAT) for cash in hand.
• They use lots of jargon and make the work sound complicated.
• They are unwilling to put anything in writing, particularly a contract of work.
• They are unwilling to give references for previous jobs.
• They are available immediately (good builders are usually very busy).
• They are unable to give you a firm price as "things may change".
• They say they don't need any plans, even for larger jobs.
• They give a surprisingly low quote.
• They are detrimental about other tradesmen’s work.
• They are not members of any trade association or have any formal complaints procedure.
• They start telling you there's more work that needs doing than you thought, and may even recommend another tradesman (often a friend who is also a 'cowboy').

There's lots more useful information on the new 'before you improve' website, so if you are only just starting to look for tradesmen checkout http://www.beforeyouimprove.co.uk