Who likes having to call in a plumber? Plumbing services cost a fortune, and more often than note the work costs more than was quoted. To make matters worse, the work’s never done on time. Additionally, plumbing services are kind of like car repair services in that most people really don’t know what the plumber is working on.
This makes it so much easier for an untrustworthy plumber to overcharge a homeowner for doing work that wasn’t necessary in the first place. There are a lot of horror stories about hiring a plumber. However, sometimes you don’t have any choice but to hire a plumber to fix a garbage disposal. If you can’t fix that garbage disposal on your own, you just have to bit the bullet and make the call.
How can you be absolutely certain that the plumber you’ve heard is trustworthy and competent? Here are some of the things that you should be aware of before you hire a plumber.
Get Idea From Neighbors
Before anything else, you should talk to people for whom a plumber has worked in the past, and find out if they were satisfied with the quality of the work done. You can try asking around your neighborhood or you can ask your friends. A lot of them may be able to recommend plumbers whose work quality and work ethic were good; a lot of them may also share plumber horror stories.
Don’t Rely on Sweet Advertisements
Don’t hire a plumber because of his or her advertisements, and don’t hire a plumber because he’s been in business for a long time. A lot of people make the mistake of going to a plumbing firm because they’re familiar with its name through the firm’s advertisements; more often than not these types of firms are the worst.
Find Someone Around You
This also goes for a plumbing firm that’s been around for a long time. Just because a company has a recognized brand name doesn’t always mean that it offers good service. If you’re considering hiring a plumber for a big remodeling job rather than a simple home repair, don’t be afraid to ask for references.
Check References
A good, trustworthy plumber or plumbing company should always provide references when you ask for them. Never hire the services of someone who refuses to provide references.
Check Online Review Carefully
The Internet can really help you in finding a good plumber. A lot of people who’ve had bad experiences with plumbers and plumbing companies have websites where they list the names of those who had done unsatisfactory work and those who overcharged them. Check the website for plumbers in your town and avoid them like the plague.
Ask Hourly Rate
One other thing you should look into when hiring a plumber is his or her hourly rate. Request rates from plumbers and plumbing companies and compare them. Check whether or not the plumber agrees to sign a price guarantee before he starts the project.
Ask For Total Fees
You should also check whether the plumber will charge you for the time spent traveling to and from your place and how he plans to calculate the charges and prove the charges to you. It may seem difficult to obtain a definite price, but you should not hire a plumber who isn’t able to give you an explanation on as to how he’s going to bill you.
It’s possible to find an honest and trustworthy plumber who does quality work. Just do a little research and you’re sure to find one.
