Plumbing is one of the features that makes a home functional, and an ineffective or subpar system can cause untold frustration for residents of a building. That is why it is important to have proper fixtures and fittings in the plumbing/ water system of any home or building. That being said, no matter how well fitted or properly laid the water system in a home or building is, there comes a time when there will either be a need for repair or maintenance or even an upgrade.
You can save yourself stress, time and money when you have competent professionals who can handle any plumbing issue that arises in your home. Imagine having a clogged drain, leaky faucet or a serious emergency with your water system and you do not have a reliable plumbing company that can come to your rescue. It is therefore important that you have the contact of professionals on speed dial so that you are never stranded in the event of an emergency.
We know that every plumber or company that sets up shop will advertise as the best; however, not all offer the same quality of service. That is why it is important to vet any plumbing company that you want to hire to work for you.
In this article therefore, we will share some tips that will help you with the vetting process.
Tips for Vetting a Plumbing Company
The following are basic factors to consider and questions to ask before engaging any workman/firm to handle your water system:
Check for Proper Licensing and Insurance
It is very crucial that you ascertain that the company you want to work with are duly licensed and insured. This is because it is the license that validates the legitimacy of the company and assures you that they have met all the qualifications and skill requirement to operate in that field and that they also adhere to laid down industry standards.
Insurance on the other hand, indemnifies you from any damage to your property or injuries to workers int the course of executing your project.
How to Check
- Ask the prospective hire about their license.
- Verify with the licensing board of the state that the license is authentic and valid.
- Make sure you confirm their workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
Read Online Reviews and Testimonials
When considering the firm to hire, ensure that you visit their website not only to get a feel of what the company is about but also to read what their past customers have to say about them. These reviews help you to gauge the reputation of the firm and the level of customer satisfaction.
Apart from the company’s website, you can check out independent 3rd party review sites such as Yelp, Google Reviews, Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Social Media Platforms.
Note issues that are mentioned the most in every review; these include but not limited to customer service, the quality of job done and punctuality, also check out how the company handled negative customer feedback and how they resolved complaints. Bear in mind that some companies pay people to drop fake positive reviews or give them a 5-star rating. Visit this site: https://www.consumerreports.org/ for tips on how to spot fake reviews.
Evaluate Their Experience and Expertise
The importance of experience cannot be overemphasized in this profession. This is because years of experience exposes the workmen to different challenges and issues which they had to find viable solutions to. It is that knowledge that they now bring to your own project/job. That is why you should look out for a well-established company; avoid any flash-in-the-pan firm. It is recommended that you consider companies that have a minimum of 5 years’ experience and can point to a specific niche that they specialize in.
Questions to Ask
The following are questions that will give you insight into the level of experience of your prospective hire:
- How long have you been in business?
- What type of plumbing do you specialize in; commercial or residential?
- What are the plumbing issues or challenges that you deal with on a regular basis?
Compare Pricing and Get Written Estimates
Although price should not be the primary factor that will decide who you hire or not, it is an important factor. That is why you shouldn’t just hire the first company that catches your fancy. Take your time to compare and contrast prices to get the best for you.
Tips for Comparing Pricing
The following are tips for effective price comparison:
- Get written quotes from a minimum of 3 companies.
- Make sure these estimates include the cost for materials, labor and additional charges.
- Be wary of estimates that are way lower than the average or offers that are too good to be true. These kinds of ridiculously low estimates might indicate that the company will use low quality materials, or under-skilled or unskilled labor or there will be some hidden charges down the line.
- Make sure the company operates a transparent pricing system to avoid issues in future.
Check for Warranties and Guarantees
Make sure you ask for warranties and guarantees because they are signs that the company is confident of the quality of service they offer and the materials they use. Find out how long the warranties last and what they offer warranties on; labor and parts/materials or just labor or parts?
Steer clear of any company that doesn’t give warranties or one that you find out are not honest or transparent about redeeming warranties.
Click here to know the difference between a warranty and a guarantee.
Conclusion
It is important to take out time to vet anyone or company that you want to hire to handle plumbing issues in your home or commercial building. From the points we have raised in this article, you can attest to the fact that doing your due diligence will save you a lot of money, time and stress.
We have talked about checking licenses and insurance, reading reviews, finding out level of experience and expertise, comparing prices and asking for warrantees and guarantees. It is also important to evaluate customer service so that you don’t end up with an unresponsive service provider.
