Tips for finding a plumber you can trust
Many parts of a home remodel can be done by someone willing to take the time to figure it out or learn from the internet or a friend. But, some parts of a home remodel are too important to risk making a mistake. One of these parts is the plumbing. Granted, simple plumbing projects could be done by a homeowner hoping to save some cash, but for many plumbing projects the safest route to go is hiring a certified plumber. However, even though the job is more likely to get done right, hiring a plumber can be risky as well. Here are a few tips for hiring a plumber that can be trusted.
Friends, Family, Neighbors
When looking for a plumber to doing the plumbing in a remodeling project, the first step is to ask friends, family, and neighbors if they know any plumbers they can recommend. This is the safest way to find a quality plumber because the plumber's references are trusted by the home owner. It is also possible to find out if the work has held up over time. Finding a plumber through a friend, relative, or neighbor is also the easiest method because the task of getting quotes and searching for a plumber can be done quickly.
Other Resources
The next place to look is at plumbing supply stores or in the phone book. Both of these will require extra work because multiple plumbers will need to be contacted. While going with the first plumber contacted may make things go faster, chances are a high price will be paid for services and there is a potential for bad work. The best thing to do is call many plumbers and get a flat-rate quote from each for the project. This will give the owner an idea of how much the project should cost.
Interview
Whether a plumber is found through a friend, relative or in the phonebook, it is important to do a mini interview before contracting any plumber. Some questions to ask include:
How long before my project can be completed? This question is important because some plumbers will contract to do a job, but will not be able to work on it for two or three weeks because of previously contracted jobs. Finding out exactly when the plumber can get to the job will ensure the project is done right away.
Do you have any references? When looking for a plumber through a plumbing supply store or in the phone book it is important to get a few references from the plumber. This way, a homeowner can call and talk to people who have worked with the plumber in the past. This will ensure that the plumber performs quality work and is a fair businessman.
When do you expect payment? This is an important question because if the project is a small job, owners should not pay until the project is finished. Also, with projects that are larger, owners will want to ensure that all of the subcontractors have been paid before finishing payments with the plumber. A homeowner will also want to be sure the plumbing meets code before paying the plumber.
Sometimes contracting out some of the work in a home remodeling project is inevitable. However, getting ripped off by a bad plumber is preventable. Make sure to look around for a good plumber and then interview the plumber to ensure they will be honest and perform high quality work.
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Tags: finding a plumber quality plumber plumbing supply stores phone book flat-rate quote interview references subcontractors
