Let’s face it: when it comes to hire a contractor or a tradesman, it’s hard to know who we can trust. The truth is that most of us have no idea what to look for or to ask, and that’s a recipe for being scammed by unscrupulous contractors. If you need help to find a plumber, here are 6 steps that you can do to help you make the best decision.
Do You Really Need a Plumber in the First Place?
This may sound like a dumb question, but considering the price these guys charge (which isn’t saying that they don’t deserve it), you want to be really sure you need a plumber before calling one. If the repair is very minimal and require almost no skill or specialized tool, we’d recommend to arm yourself with patience and to do the job yourself. However, if you need a plumber, you need to make sure that you’re able to identify and describe your issue before picking up the phone. Is it to fix something broken like a pipe or a low-pressure issue? To clean up a mess at your place, like a flooding? Before calling anybody, make sure that you’re able to describe clearly the issue you’re having so that he or she can understand you more easily.
Ask Your Friends and Family
In case you have friends that know plumbers or have had experiences with a plumbing company not long ago, consider asking them for advice of which one to choose. Make sure to ask a number of questions to have a better idea of the reason that particular service is recommended by them. You may ask other companies, or your landlord, because these guys tend to be friends with some of the peers in different areas. In the event you even have a neighborhood company you can trust or know somebody, consider asking them to get a referral also.
Think About Money
As we pointed out earlier, plumbers don’t work free of charge, therefore be certain you take a look at your financial situation and also consider your financial plan just before you commence looking for solutions to your problems. Indeed, you may not need the services of the best plumber in town to take a look at the old faucet in your backyard or at fixtures that serve no essential purpose in your household. Once you’ve established the level of urgency and importance of the task at hand, you’ll be able to choose a plumber like Toronto plumbers that won’t hurt your wallet too much.
Do Your Due Diligence
While browsing their website, you should always look for the license and the certifications of a plumbing company you’re considering doing business with. If they don’t have the required qualifications, they may be operating illegally (depending on where you live) and therefore you should stay clear of them. While you’re browsing the Web, look for reviews of the differents plumbing companies to get a sense of the quality of their service.
Ask the Right Questions
Once you’ve selected a couple of plumbers that may suit your needs, now is time to pick up the phone to ask them some questions.. One of the first you should ask is whether they are able to give you a flat fixed quotes that are clear and transparent, or if they insist on flexible pricing. Now there are legitimate reasons to no give a quote upfront (if the extent of the work required can’t be known at the time), but all things being equal, you should be wary of a plumber that doesn’t seem willing to be straight about his price.
Follow Your Instinct
Finding an ideal plumber entails finding a person that can actually help you in the very long run, perhaps not merely for an unique job. Having a good relationship with the person fixing your pipes may be beneficial, so if anything strikes you as impolite or odd in regards to the plumber on the phone, dismiss them and select an alternative firm. The fact that you probably don’t know much about plumbing isn’t a reason to ignore your instinct.
As you can see, common sense will be your greater ally when you’re going to look for a plumber, so use it, do your due diligence and ask questions!
