The experienced plumber that you hire can make a huge difference in the time and cost of your project. Hiring one should usually be left to the experts because it is such an important job. The right plumber Brisbane Northside will save you money and headaches by doing his work well and on schedule. Many do-it-yourselfers run into problems when they try to fix things themselves or avoid hiring a professional because they think it’s too expensive.
If you’re getting started looking for a good plumber, follow these eight steps:
Make friends with someone who knows a good one
Ask around and find out if there is anyone you know in your social circle or workplace who can recommend their favourite plumber. This is often the least expensive and most efficient way to find a great plumber – you don’t need to spend time on research, getting bids or waiting for several companies to respond.
Look in the phone book
Search through your local phone directory (most areas have more than one plumbing company listed) for more information. This may yield some good results, but keep an eye out for ads that seem like they were placed by referral services instead of individual businesses. It’s usually easy enough to tell the difference though; look for words like “that has provided quality service since 1889” or phrases like “the area’s number one choice.” Referral businesses pay to be included in these listings so their rates are high and their client list tends to be much smaller.
Visit the websites of local companies
Most plumbing businesses have a website where you can find out more about what they do and how to contact them. Some also provide interesting information, like overviews of common projects or case studies that describe their work in detail. This is another way to assess whether or not a company might be a good fit for your needs without having to talk directly with them first. Look for signs that the site was created by an individual business instead of a referral service – look for logos, professional photographs of actual employees, and more detailed contact information than simply “hello@plumbingbusinessname.com.”
Write a list of questions you’ll need answers to before anyone
This depends on what kind of work you need to be doing, but there are some basic questions that you should be able to answer easily. For example:
- What is the nature of your project?
- Is this a one time job or are they needed regularly?
- How urgent is your job?
- What details do you have about the work itself?
- How much experience does their company have with similar jobs in the past?
- Do they have any specialties that could be useful for your particular project? You might want to find out if they’re experienced with working on commercial buildings, for instance.
You’ll want to know if they’re insured and what kind of licensing they have – at minimum, plumbers will need a license to practice in your state. If they use subcontractors, you’ll want to know which and their success rate with clients.
Get at least three bids for the job
As you start shopping around for plumbers, ask about getting three bids so that you can compare apples-to-apples on prices and services. That way, you’ll be able to determine who is offering the best deal and pick the person who’s right for your specific needs (even if they’re not necessarily the cheapest). This also gives them a sense of how much competition they have; more competitive companies might be willing to offer more generous discounts or better service packages. You should never make a final decision based solely on price and sometimes, paying more than you had planned on is well worth it.
Make sure they can do the work you need to be done
Sometimes, plumbing companies will only handle some aspects of a particular project – for example, maybe they’re great at fixing broken pipes but terrible at sewer cleaning. Make sure that whichever company you choose can do everything your home needs because most states require plumbers to have a general background in every aspect of their profession. You’ll also want to check that any claims about certifications and specialties are valid; look up the organization in question and make a quick call to confirm who they are and whether or not your potential contractor has been through the process required to become certified.
Search online
Many plumbers have websites where they advertise their services. Searching on Google or Yahoo will help you find one of them in your local area, but remember that it may be worth checking out some of the larger service directories as well. It’s also a good idea to check with your local council to see if they have a list of local service providers.
Think about your budget
Remember that not all plumbers charge the same rates for their work and that it may be worthwhile considering this when you compare the prices of different plumbers in your local area. Remember, too, that sometimes paying more now means you’ll save money later.
