You have been living in the same house for years. Although everything in the house is still functional, you admit that there are things which need repairs – and your plumbing is on top of the list. Whenever you take a shower, it’ll take a few minutes before all of the water will go down the drain. This is the reason why instead of ending up feeling relaxed after a bath, you’d be stressed. Aside from the shower drain, your kitchen sink also needs plumbing services. The water coming from the faucet isn’t clean at all. Every time you use your kitchen sink, all you can see is dark-colored water. And since this is where you prepare your meals, you want this problem to be resolved as soon as possible.
Problems concerning your home and its facilities should be dealt by the professionals. Doing everything by yourself might be tempting, but this can also lead to bigger problems and more expenses. Before you hire a plumber to fix all of your plumbing issues, ask the questions listed below. This will be your guide so you can end up with the best plumber fit your needs.
- Are you licensed?
As a homeowner, you would always want to work with the best people in the industry. For one, your home is your investment and this repair will require money from you-you don’t want all of these to be wasted, right? And you’ll only end up with the best plumber if you work with someone who’s licensed. If they are, you can be assured that these people have enough training and experience to get the job done. A licensed plumber also means that the state permits them to work as a plumber. A Colepepper plumbing – San Diego plumber, is a good example of a licensed plumber. An unlicensed plumber, on the other hand, will probably require you to spend more than what you’ve expected – you can’t expect that their services will be at par with the states’ requirements.
- What is the total cost?
There are now plumbers who can give you estimates over the phone. This can be convenient, but you should be wary. A good plumber will usually visit your home to check what needs to be repaired and give you an estimate of how much the repair will cost you. Once they do, ask if the price they’ve given you is everything you have to pay. Inquire if this includes the service fee, labor, materials, and contingency if problems will arise during the repair. You don’t want to work with a plumber who will give you a low price at the start, but you’ll end up paying for more because there are a lot hidden fees.
- What payment scheme do you follow?
The plumbing service you’re about to hire will require money from you. And if you can’t provide this the moment the plumber asks for it, you’ll end up suffering from the same problems in your bathroom and kitchen. To ensure that the plumbing service will lead to positive results, ask what payment scheme the plumber is following. Do they require the full payment before they start working? Or are they fine with starting off with a 50% down payment? This should be discussed from the start so you can budget your finances well. You don’t want to compromise other aspects of your life just because you hired a plumber, right?
- Who’s doing the work?
If you’re eyeing to work with big professional plumbing companies, expect that they’ll employ more people to help them out. Always ask if these people are employees from the same plumbing company or contractors who are outsourced. This information is essential because, for one, you need to know the experience and qualifications of the people who’ll be working inside your home and second, you need to make sure that your home and everyone in it will be safe once they start working. You can also dig deeper by asking what the company’s recruitment process is. You should be opening your doors to a plumber who is trustworthy, dependable and efficient. If you’re not happy with the answers given to you, don’t be afraid to turn down their offer.
The Bottom Line
Just because there’s an available plumber across the street doesn’t mean that you should immediately hire them. Sure, they might be convenient but can they give you what you need? Can they solve your plumbing problems within terms suitable for you? Because yes, these things matter. Use the information from this article as your guide. Ask these whenever you’ll meet with a plumber and if you’re not satisfied with the answers they give you, tick them off your list. You and your home deserve the best plumbing services.
Author: Mitch Kenney is the owner of Colepepper Plumbing in San Diego, California. He is an active real estate investor and also owns Pipes Media, a digital marketing firm specializing in SEO & PPC. Mitch enjoys surfing, drinking beer and spending time with his family.
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