Every household needs a professional plumber to maintain the plumbing systems, repairing all sorts of defects, and installing water heaters, pipes, and other components.
However, not all local plumbing professionals are as honest and trustworthy as they pretend to be. Rather, there are loads of unqualified and dishonest contractors in the market that you will want to avoid.
Now, how would you know if you are hiring the right plumber? This article will discuss 10 mistakes you should avoid when hiring a plumbing company for your home, ensuring the best one possible. Let’s get started!
1. Appointing the First Plumber You Meet
Many people consider all plumbers to be the same skill-wise and tend to appoint the first one they can find, which is the first mistake in hiring a plumber. You may end up losing loads of money because of this mistake.
Plumbers vary greatly in respect of their experience, skills, and rates. So, to make the most use of your money, take time to do enough research and find the most suitable plumber for your requirements. This is also helpful in avoiding being overcharged or paying for unsatisfactory work.
2. Prioritizing Price More Than Quality
Price is definitely an important factor when hiring your plumbing company, but the quality of their service is more important. Cheap plumbers who work at a lower price are more likely to provide low-quality services. In contrast, qualified and professional plumbers do not offer low prices as they know their work and are confident about it.
Therefore, before comparing the costs of the plumbers, consider the quality and time frame. If your plumber provides you with quality work, you won’t need to redo the same expensive repair in the near future.
Then, you must learn the amount of time your assigned task will take. An unqualified plumber, even if he charges a low price initially, can eventually cost you more money as he may take longer to finish his job. “Ask the plumbing company if they employ the latest technology and equipment, as this can lead to lower costs and faster repairs on major items,” says Dan Jordan, a Dallas Plumber.
3. Avoiding Signed Agreement
Avoiding written agreements is the worst blunder a homeowner can make when looking for a plumber. After talking about the crucial aspects of the task, many people take the plumbers for granted and do not hold any doubts about their integrity.
In today’s market, there are countless numbers of dishonest plumbers whose words can’t be trusted. They avoid any signed agreement because of the high probability of getting complaints from dissatisfied homeowners.
Therefore, your plumbing contractor needs to provide you with a written agreement guaranteeing the quality of their job. Ensure the contract clearly states whether it includes parts, labor, or the whole task. Also, be sure to know if any other charges are not incorporated in the estimation. This agreement or contract will also protect you in case of any legal disputes because of a breach of the contract.
4. Not Checking the License
Before giving plumbing services, a plumbing contractor must secure a license. A license indicates that your chosen plumber is trained and educated enough to complete your task. However, licenses are issued to each plumber or in several states and businesses.
After applying for a license, everyone needs to pass a contractor exam. Therefore, only a qualified contractor company or a qualified plumber is capable of obtaining a license. Thus, hiring a contractor with a genuine license will let you be at peace without any tension.
Therefore, checking for the license during the first-round discussions is strongly recommended. Most companies proudly post their license number on their online sites to convince potential clients of their credibility.
5. Neglecting Insurance
The plumber you are hiring for your house must have insurance coverage. Most homeowners do not realize the outcome of dealing with a contractor without insurance and ignore this important aspect.
But accidents are quite usual in plumbing. Someone, or even the plumbers, may get injured while working with sharp or heated tools. Make sure your plumbing company holds workers’ compensation insurance covering lost wages and medical bills if any plumber gets severely injured at your house.
Your property may also get damaged during working on the plumbing system make sure your contractor provides general liability insurance, which will cover any incident that may cause destruction to your property. Hiring a company that does not pay for such insurance will make you directly accountable for paying the expenses of any workplace injury or accident.
Additionally, these companies are bound to issue bonding, which provides financial protection when their services fail to satisfy their clients, for example, when they leave a project without completing it and do not provide any explanation or when they fail to fulfill the local plumbing codes, etc.
6. Not Reviewing the Online Reviews
In an emergency, you may feel like hiring the first plumber available. But such temptations must be resisted, and it is highly recommended to spend some time reading the online clients’ reviews on the plumber’s business site.
Online client reviews are crucial when assessing the professionalism and competence of your preferred candidates. Several clients post their experiences of taking plumbing services as online reviews. The plumbers who are good at their job will get numerous positive reviews and thus help potential clients to choose their plumbers.
7. Not Querying About Experience
The qualifications and experience of a plumber must be considered before appointing them. Before becoming professionals, plumbers often undergo a long apprenticeship. In addition, a plumber needs to have at least 10 years of domiciliary plumbing experience.
Experienced plumbers are capable of handling any plumbing issue as they’ve already handled countless of such plumbing problems. And the situation in your house also needs someone who can quickly catch the issue and determine what actions should be taken. Therefore, do not shy away from asking your potential contractor about their work experience and training.
8. Ignoring Clear Communications
A plumber must be a great listener and listen to their clients sincerely. This will give you confidence that they’ve clearly understood the issue. Moreover, communication makes sure that the task is done the first time correctly and dodges any frustration or misunderstandings that could cause expensive repairs in the future.
Also, as there are multiple options available for a plumber, your plumber needs to communicate effectively about the line of services you can get from them. Again, your plumber needs to communicate properly about the condition of the issue and suggest the right method of fixing it.
9. Forgetting Referrals and References
Not asking for referrals and references is another mistake that homeowners often make when choosing professional plumbers. It is a great mistake as it is one of the best and easiest ways to determine if a plumber is trustworthy and reputable.
People usually give referrals based on the contractor’s performance, which means referrals are usually unbiased. Therefore, make sure to ask your friends, family, or neighbors about the professional plumber they are using.
In addition, references given by plumbers can also help you get an idea about the standard of their service. A plumber, excellent at his job, will never have any issue providing references from previous clients who can tell you what service they took and how the service was.
Therefore, make sure to get some references from your potential plumber with their correct contact information and names. It will take you merely an hour to contact them and get your desired information.
10. Not Talking Over the Task in Details
Many people do not have much knowledge regarding plumbing and do not know what questions should be asked before hiring a plumber. But asking the proper questions is pivotal in order to avoid expensive surprises and make sure to get the desired outcomes.
It is important to properly explain what they should do and why in order to get a precise estimate from the plumber. Additionally, ask your plumber about any issue that might arise at the time of the task, and make sure you are prepared for it.
The Bottom Line
Whether you have a major sewer backup or a minor drip, the right plumber can easily make the difference. Hiring a suitable plumber has become quite challenging with so many available service providers. And this is where learning the common mistakes to avoid can turn out to be useful and help you avoid any unwanted headaches and ensure the expected results. Lastly, do not believe in empty promises, the only evidence of experience and quality!
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