Plumbing Information, Cost & Free Price Quotes

When hiring a plumber, it isn’t wise to go to the yellow pages, choose a plumber at random, and pay for the services without shopping around. Oddly enough, it is very common for homeowners to find a plumber that way. The better route to take would be to do some research on local plumbers and find someone qualified. You are bound to find someone who can suit your needs the best when you do a little background search.

Recommendations and referrals are extremely important when it comes down to hiring a plumber. They allow you a way to find out a lot about a plumbers level of customer satisfaction. You should start by asking the people you trust, such as family and friends. They may be able to provide you with some recommendations of professionals they’ve hired in the past. Ask them what kind of service they received and what the rates were.

If the people you trust don’t happen to live near you or you have other problems getting a referral then rest assured because there are other ways to get a good recommendation. Try contacting contractors, real estate agents and your local plumbing supply store for a recommendation. Keep in mind, as you proceed with your research make sure that you note whether or not the plumber specializes in repairs or new construction and remodeling, as well as whether or not they do residential, commercial or both.

Qualified Plumber Check List

• Insurance: A qualified plumber will be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy. Check for the following items
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Liability insurance
• State License or Certification: Your state may require that your plumber have a license or state certification in order to make their company valid. Call to verify that the license is up to date and check if there are any active complaints against it.
• Better Business Bureau: Contact your local Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine if any complaints have been filed against your impending candidate.
• Obtaining a Quote: Acquire a detailed quote from two or three of the plumbers that seemed like qualified professionals. The contract should spell out the extent of the project and include
  • Materials list
  • Payment terms
  • Written estimate
  • Additional concerns and agreements related to the project
• Permits: Discuss with your plumber any and all permits that may need to be acquired. Make sure that your plumber vouches that he will go ahead and obtain these permits and that it is written in the contract.
• Length in business/references: Find out how long a plumber has been in business. This will tell you how experienced they are and also give you information on how well the company is doing. Ask to speak with some of their past clients to find out how others felt about their services.
• Service Guarantees: Find out what happens if a plumber comes in to fix something and then minutes/hours/days after words the problem returns. A plumber that guarantees his/her work is definitely important.
• Safety Commitment: Find out how your plumber handles situations where injuries or property damage occur. You’ll want to work with a plumber that will handle these situations in a professional manner.
• Clean Up: Check your contract carefully to make sure that it states your plumber assumes responsibility for the clean up after the work has been finished.
• Pricing: An experienced, qualified plumber may charge a higher hourly rate, but they will always know the most cost effective way to resolve your problem on the first try! And that could save you a lot of money.