How to hire a home service pro in Saudi Arabia: a 10-point checklist
10 checks before hiring an AC technician, plumber or pest control company: commercial registration, written quotes, reviews, building access, payment and invoices.
Hiring a home service pro safely in Saudi Arabia comes down to a few checks: an active commercial registration, 2–3 written quotes for the same job, recent reviews, a clear scope, approval before any extra work, and payment after the result has been tested, against an invoice with the warranty.
The same 10 checks work for AC cleaning, plumbing, pest control and electrical jobs. They take a few minutes and protect against poor work, surprise charges and the most common scams.
Before booking
- Check the commercial registration. The Saudi Business Center (business.sa), linked to the Ministry of Commerce, lets anyone look up a commercial registration by its 10-digit number for free. The result shows the trade name, activity, issue date and status: active, suspended, cancelled or under establishment. Under the unified registration system a record no longer has an expiry date; it is confirmed annually instead. The activity should match the job: AC maintenance, plumbing, electrical works. Pest control companies also need a Balady qualification for public health pest control.
- Get 2–3 quotes for the same job description. Each company should get the same details: service, number of units or rooms, brand and size where relevant, city and district, apartment or villa, floor, and photos. A quote far below the others deserves the question of what is not included.
- Read recent reviews. Comments about arriving on time, cleaning up and honouring the warranty say more than the star rating alone. A company with a fixed address and a long history is easier to reach if something goes wrong.
- Confirm what is included. Parts, materials, cleanup, removal of old units or debris, warranty, and whether 15% VAT is in the price. For AC cleaning: price per unit, drain flushing, outdoor unit. For pest control: number of visits and the warranty period.
- Get the price in writing. A WhatsApp message or email is enough if it states the scope, price, any deposit and the warranty period. It serves as proof if the price changes later.
On the day
- Arrange access. Many compounds and residential towers issue gate passes for contractors, allow work only at certain hours and may ask for the workers' names and copies of their national ID or iqama in advance. It is worth agreeing who arranges this, so the visit is not turned away at the gate.
- Agree before extra work. If the technician finds another problem, such as low AC gas, a cracked pipe or a damaged ceiling board, the price and the reason come first. Saying no and getting a second opinion is always possible.
- Test the result before the team leaves. The AC runs for 10–15 minutes; every cleared drain gets water and the toilet is flushed. No new leaks, panels and covers back in place, the area clean.
Payment
- No full payment in advance. Paying everything upfront to a company not yet met in person is the most common way to lose money. A deposit for materials is normal for bigger jobs such as AC installation or renovation. The balance is paid after the job is done and tested, preferably by card or bank transfer, which leave a record.
- Get an invoice. It should show the date, the company name, the work done, the amount paid and the warranty period. VAT registration is mandatory for businesses with taxable supplies above SAR 375,000 a year; a registered company issues a tax invoice with its VAT number, and a simplified invoice for consumers must also carry a QR code.
Red flags
- The price rises after the unit is opened, with no clear reason or photos.
- Pressure to pay in full by bank transfer before anyone visits.
- Every visit ends with "the gas is low", but no one checks for a leak.
- "This price is only for today."
- No company name, no commercial registration number, and a phone number that changes.
- A pest control offer with unmarked tablets or "fumigation" of a whole apartment.
- Refusal to put the scope or warranty in writing.
One red flag is not always a scam. A direct question and a calm, clear answer usually tell the difference.
What a fair price looks like
| Service | Typical price in Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Split AC cleaning | SAR 80–120 per unit |
| AC duct cleaning | SAR 500–2,000 per system |
| AC repair visit | from SAR 89, parts extra |
| Electrician, hourly booking | from SAR 69 |
| Drain unblocking | SAR 150–500 |
| Cockroach control, one session | SAR 200–300 |
Prices vary by city, access and the size of the job, so quotes are best compared for the same scope. Details are in the guides on AC cleaning cost, cockroach control and blocked drains.
If something goes wrong
- Contact the company within the warranty period, with photos or a short video of the problem.
- Refer to the written scope and the invoice, and ask for a date for the return visit.
- Keep the conversation in writing and polite. Most issues are fixed on a free return visit.
- If the company stops answering, a complaint can be filed free of charge with the Ministry of Commerce through the Balagh Tijari app or the unified number 1900, which works around the clock; an honest, factual review also warns other customers.
After a good job, a review helps reliable businesses too. To save time on step 2, the job can be described once on khalasna to get up to 5 free quotes from local businesses that cover the area, for example in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam.
Frequently asked questions
How can a commercial registration be checked in Saudi Arabia?
On the Saudi Business Center (business.sa), by entering the 10-digit registration number. The free lookup shows the trade name, activity, issue date and status (active, suspended, cancelled or under establishment). The registration number is usually printed on the company's invoices.
How much deposit is normal for a home service job?
Small jobs such as AC cleaning or drain unblocking usually need no deposit. For bigger jobs with materials, such as AC installation or renovation, a deposit for materials is common; the balance is paid after the work is done and tested.
Should VAT be added to the quoted price?
It depends on whether the company is VAT-registered and whether the quote already includes it. VAT in Saudi Arabia is 15%. Asking for a price including VAT avoids a surprise on the invoice.
What should a warranty cover?
A labour warranty covers the work itself, so the company returns for free if the same problem comes back within the period. Parts may have a separate manufacturer's warranty, so both are best confirmed in writing.
Is it necessary to be at home during the job?
It is best, or a trusted adult should be there, to let the team in, approve any extra work and test the result before payment. Compound security often requires a resident to confirm the visit.