Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Things to Look for When Choosing a Plumber

BEFORE
AFTER
 
-Are they licensed and insured? Plumbers are required to hold a professional license and insurance obtained through the state in which they are working.  Many states have this information posted online, where you can search for the individual and see if they hold an active license.  Most reputable plumbing companies will be run by a master plumber, and insured – if in doubt – don’t hesitate to ask them.

-Are they experienced and do they have a good reputation locally?  Ask friends or neighbors if they have a recommendation or if it’s company or individual they have heard of.   If not, you can do some research on your own.  Don’t hesitate to give them a call and ask questions – they should be able to give you any information you need over the phone, or via mail or email.  Ask for pictures of their work, or for references.  A reputable company or individual should have absolutely no problem answering any questions or concerns.  Additionally, the internet is a great tool for researching on your own.  Just seeing how a company presents themselves either on the internet or by answering the phone can offer some insight into how they may treat their customers. 

-Do they warranty their work?  Most decent plumbers will offer some kind of a warranty.  But asking about a warranty is not the only important question – will the person be in business long enough to honor it?  Look for established companies or individuals with a good reputation.  If it’s a new company be sure to do your homework.  If you have a bad feeling, don’t ignore it!

-Are they dependable? Look out for the telltale signs that they will not follow through.  No one is perfect, but if they are consistently late, or making promises they can’t keep – think twice.

-Don’t shop on price alone, cheaper is not always better!  The cheaper the price, the more questions you should ask.  Make sure you are comparing apples to apples on quotes; some plumbers will find ways to cut corners and do things the quicker or cheaper way, with less than quality material.  Or they may have neglected to include something in their price and then can upcharge you later on.    

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