The best time to find a plumber is BEFORE we actually NEED one, but let?s face it, our home plumbing is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind type thing.? We won?t fix it until it?s broken, yet this often leaves us in an all-too-sticky situation.
We need a plumber now, and we need them to fix it fast!? ?Just get here,? no questions asked.? The problem ?is the difference between what can be a simple $65 to $100 job and what could end up being a $5,000 to $10,000 clean up.
Save yourself from the headaches, heartaches and pocketbook aches of having the wrong person do the job.? Before you hire a plumber, ask them these ten simple questions and you?ll be set!
1.?????? Are you licensed and qualified to work in [your state name here]?
All plumbers are required by law to be licensed in their state of work.? You can check a plumbers license by going online (in most states) to your State Contractor License Board website and searching by the company?s name or license number.
2.?????? Are you insured and do you carry Workman?s Comp?
A plumber should carry adequate liability insurance to cover any job site damages as well as Workman?s Compensation to cover any job related injuries or health risks.? This information can also be found on most State Contractors License Board websites. If not, you can always request a certificate of liability and Workman?s Comp.
3.?????? Are you bonded?
Bonds are recommended for any work done over $500.? It is set in place to protect you if the terms of the contract are not met by your plumber.? You want to make sure that their bond will cover the entire cost of completing (or re-doing) any of the specified work.? You can also find this information on most State Contractors License Board websites as well.
4.?????? Do you offer free estimates?
Most plumbing companies DO offer free estimates, but some will actually charge a trip fee or a service charge which is generally non-negotiable and can be shocking if you are unaware of it, and they show up and don?t do any work.? So make sure to ask!
5.?????? How do you charge for your services? Hourly or fixed rate?
Most plumbing companies charge at a fixed rate.? The underlying hourly rate of a plumber is anywhere from $40 to $70 per hour, but by charging a fixed rate, they are using their expertise to know approximately how long the job will take them, in order to give you one flat price.? This is often better than hourly rates where some plumbers might abuse the hourly wages and prolong their visit just to make more money. Be careful here!
6.?????? (If it?s an emergency) Do you charge any additional fees for emergency service?
Emergency service is generally considered any service required outside of normal working hours (7am to 6pm for most companies) or service that would require immediate assistance thus causing a plumber to reschedule some of his previously scheduled work.? Emergency fees normally run between $100 to $175 and ARE pretty standard.
7.?????? Do you offer any warranties or guarantees on your work?
This category can be a little tricky.? Most plumbers DO offer warranties and guarantees on all of their work, however, if a plumber notices a deeper issue and makes a recommendation for you to fix it and you choose not to, generally they will not offer a warranty or guarantee on that item or service.? The logic is simple, they know it will fail again and they are warning you for a reason.
8.?????? Do you have any references?
Although this is a great question to ask, often times you can look them up online on sites like Google Plus Local, Yellow Pages Online or Yelp (and you definitely should).? Keep an open mind when it comes to these websites ?and use your better judgement. A company with fifteen 5-star reviews and one 2-star review is probably a good bet.? A company with one positive review and two negative reviews probably isn?t worth your time.
9.?????? Do you have a website?
A good plumbing company WILL have a website and it generally outlines all of their terms and conditions and/or their service guarantees.? Bonus: It might also have some good coupons or deals for services that plumbers aren?t all to obliged to let you know about.
10.?? When?s the soonest you can be here? OR can you work with my schedule?
Most plumbing companies can have a tech out the same day during regularly scheduled business hours (generally 7am to 6pm for most companies) and/or can schedule appointments that work around your schedule. A plumbing company that can?t or won?t work with you is not worth your time.
So next time, when you find yourself in need of plumbing, make sure to ask these ten questions before hiring a plumber. Otherwise, you might regret it!
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Laurie Castillo
Laurie is a writer for Daniel Cordova Plumbing, a full service plumbing company located near Los Angeles, California. Although a standard service company, they go above and beyond the call of duty and do their best to help keep their customers informed when it comes to their home plumbing. You can check them out online by clicking here to the Daniel Cordova Plumbing website, or check out more of their money saving tips and informational articles on their Plumbing Tips and Information Blog.
Source: http://blog.homespothq.com/2013/01/ten-questions-to-ask-a-plumber/
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