Finding a great plumber can be tough. The worst part is that many people only start looking for a plumber when there’s an emergency. Plumbing emergencies can be very serious too. Under stress, many end up hiring the wrong people or accelerating the selection process, and this is often when they make some crucial mistakes. Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes people make when they’re looking for a plumber, and how to avoid them.
Choosing Based on Price Only
Do not hire a plumber just because he gives you the lowest quote. Not only could you be paying for subpar work, but they might add some things in there at the last minute. This is especially true if they give you a phone estimate. In this case, quotes don’t mean much and could only be a way to get through the door.
Giving Too Much Cash Upfront
Scammers know that for some people, paying 50% upfront for a job makes sense. After all, they have to get the money for materials. But there is no case where you should be paying anywhere close to that amount before they get the work done – it should be around 10%. Anyone who’s asking for much more is either suspicious or operating illegally as it’s forbidden in certain states to do so.
Working with too Many Plumbers
It’s much more important to keep a solid and ongoing relationship with one plumber instead of having them constantly competing with others. A good Brick NJ plumber won’t work too much on keeping you as a client since they have so many options, and if you disrespect their work by constantly flip-flopping, don’t expect them to do you any favors. By staying with the same plumber, you’ll know what level of quality you can expect. You know the procedure, and they might put you at the top of the list if you have an emergency. A good plumber is an invaluable resource, so be loyal to those who offer good service.
Not Having Everything Down in Writing
This is probably the worst mistake that you can make with a plumber. Agreeing to anything at face value is asking for trouble, and some plumbers won’t hesitate to take advantage of that. Everything in the quote needs to be clear and you have to make sure that you use payment methods that will allow you to keep a verifiable record in case anything goes wrong.
While verbal agreements can be argued in court, you are making things unnecessarily difficult for you by sticking to the honor system. Another thing you have to make sure of is that the plumber is ready to guarantee their work and that this guarantee is down on paper as well.
These are all mistakes that you should avoid when looking for a plumber. Make sure that you check their credentials, but also make sure that you have all of your bases covered in case something goes wrong.
