MORE people turn to the Messenger to find a local tradesperson than other print or online resource, a new survey shows.

The News Corp survey of more than 270 people shows 70 per cent use Messenger’s Trades and Services section when looking for a tradesperson.

This dwarfs Google and other search engines’ figure of 40 per cent and is well above the yellow pages directory and website, which recorded a combined total of 47 per cent.

Letterbox flyers or cards were used by 22 per cent of those surveyed, while 5 per cent used flyers in shop windows or on community noticeboards.

The survey shows Messenger Community News has a high level of engagement, with 92 per cent of participants saying they had read their local Messenger in the past month. Sharpe Group managing owner David Sharpe said his company had more than 30 vehicles working from Aldinga to Gawler.

The company’s services include plumbing, electrical, heating and solar.

“When it comes to one of the main licenced trades, people generally like someone who is local and that is the strength of the Messenger,” Mr Sharpe said.

“Messenger works for our company because of the location and locality.”

Mr Sharpe said people looking for a tradesperson should make sure they were licensed and could provide a certificate of compliance.

“It’s not the hourly rate that counts. It’s the quality of the tradesperson, the speed at which they do it and the credibility and trust.”