How to Find a Good Plumber

Finding a good plumber is a daunting task. It is true that there are many plumbers to choose from but not all of them can do the job well. The problem is that those that are really good are usually very busy so it is hard to get a hold of them, and those who are not so busy can’t offer you the quality you need. To avoid being tricked by unexperienced plumber who can cause you more damage than good we have created a short guide that you might find useful. Let’s take a look.

1. Ask for their license. This is the first thing you need to do before you hire someone, as it might put you into big trouble. In addition, always confirm that they have full insurance so in case of disaster you and the entire neighborhood will be protected.
2. Don’t go with the first offer. Always look into your options and find online reviews for the company you plan to hire. Don’t forget to check their social network sites so you can see how they communicate with customers. It might even be a good idea to ask samples of previous work so you can know what to expect.
3. Compare the offers. Now that you have collected more offers, analyze them. Going with the cheapest one might not be the best choice. Instead try to understand what each of them has to offer and which would give you the best value for your money.
4. Check their experience. Don’t be shy to ask how long they have been in the business. Usually long years of experience mean they are doing a good job, although it doesn’t always have to be the case.
5. Ask for a guarantee. Can they guarantee the quality of their services? If they know that the services they offer are of good quality they won’t be afraid to stand behind their work and compensate you in case something bad happens.
6. The price factor. As much as you think that getting a quote over the phone is convenient, it is actually not. In fact, plumbers who give quotes over the phone can end up costing you a lot more. The better option would be if they can come and take a look at the problem and then inform you how much it would cost. If you agree to the rate, good, if not, you can continue looking.
7. Make sure you agree the price. We are back on the previous point here. To be sure that the work will cost you as quoted, the plumber must be able to see the problem. If they just guess what they should do, you will probably have to pay a lot more once the job is done.
8. Ask your friends to recommend you someone. This is maybe one of the best things you can do to be sure the job will be done well. Check with your friends, neighbors, or colleagues if they have someone they trust and if they can connect you to this person.
9. Use your previous connections. If you already had some work done in your home maybe you can ask these people if they know a good plumber. In most cases, they will have someone to recommend and most likely it will be someone good as they will try to keep their good reputation. Once the plumber comes to your house you can mention who recommended their services and who knows, you might even get a discount.

Useful tips

• When the plumber comes to your home, ask about their previous experience. Check how long they have been working for the company and try to sense the attitude they have towards the work. It might be a good indicator for the work this company is doing and the treatment they have towards their employees.
• If you need to make big repairs then always try to find at least three quotes from three different companies. If the quotes vary a lot, ask for more details so you can see why there is such a big discrepancy. With this you can also see their behavior towards potential customers and you will be able to see if they have the skills and knowledge you need. The cheapest offer doesn’t mean the best. You should be extra careful with people that offer their services for a lot less as they might be trying to trick you into paying more later, or they might do a bad job. On the other hand, those that give you a very high quote might not be interested in doing business with you, as they don’t see a lot of profit from your projects and are basically trying to chase you away.
• Usually the cheapest option is to choose a small business or an individual contractor. The problem here might be that they don’t have much experience in the field so they might not do a very good job, or it might take them longer to finish. Larger companies will always be ready to respond to your needs as they usually have a lot of people on staff and most of them are experienced in what they do. In addition they are usually well trained and use better equipment that might help them get the job done sooner.

Things to watch out for!

• Check their hourly rate and when do they start charging. Do they charge you once they leave the office or once they come to your house?
• If you have bad feeling about them, say no.
• If they are late, or a no show, get rid of them.