How to Hire a Plumber
Finally, you have decide to begin the home remodeling project that you have dreamed about for years. You have all of the tools, materials, and design plans. The only thing that is left is to hire a qualified plumber. If you cringe at the thought, that’s alright, it can be a little intimidating. Plumbing horror stories are everywhere, but you don’t have to become one of them. There are a number of ways that you can find a great plumber without getting flushed.
First, you can start by checking with periodicals that specialize in rating home service companies and contractors. The most notable of these periodicals is Angie’s List. All of the companies or contractors that appear in Angie’s List has been referred to the them by a happy customer. Next, you can contact the Better Business Bureau in your area to ask for a recommendation. The BBB keeps track of complaints filed by customers that have been wronged by contractors. They also give out Customer Service Awards to private individuals and companies that have done outstanding work. If the plumber you want to hire is not listed with either agency, don’t panic. The BBB charges to be listed, and a plumber might not want to pay the cost and pass it along to you. You should also keep in mind that some customers guard their plumbers jealously, and do not easily refer them to people they know, let alone a popular periodical such as Angie’s list that could steal them away. If, using a referral service does not appeal to you, then you can search for a plumber with confidence on your own.
One of the best ways to find a qualified plumber is by word of mouth. Ask your friends and family if they can recommend a good, qualified plumber. The next people to ask is your neighbors and friends at work. You would be amazed at how many people carry the number or a business card of a plumber they like. Another way of finding a qualified plumber is by calling a respected general home contractor. A general home contractor builds homes and home additions. This type of home contracting involves plumbing, so general home contractors keep the contact information of qualified plumbers they like. Once you have several numbers you can take the final steps.
Before you begin making phone calls and setting interview times take a few days to organize yourself. For each plumber you plan on interviewing, create a folder for them. Inside the folder place a check list. On this check list write: License, Insurance, Bond, Training, References. You many want to create a separate page for references in-case you need to take notes. Have a set of plans available for the plumber to evaluate. Write down any questions that you want to ask. Now you can make your calls. Once both parties have agreed on a time and date, write it on the folder and a calendar. Ask the plumber to bring a copy of their license, insurance,eight to ten references, and bond. A legitimate qualified plumber will have no problem providing this paperwork. When you finished the interviews, verify all of the paperwork and references to ensure they are current. The contact information should be available on each listed item. After the verifying the paperwork, pick the top two plumbers with the best reference checks. From this point, choose the one plumber that you liked them most. By following this information, you will be able to choose a great qualified plumber.
Author Bio: Christina enjoys writing about home improvement resources. If you’re looking for a residential plumber in Houston make sure and visit http://www.texaspowerplumbing.com.
Category: Home Management
Keywords: houston plumber, plumbing, residential