If you own a home you will probably need to hire a plumber at some point. Homeowners who don't feel handy often get uncomfortable when hiring this type of skilled labor. Don't feel discouraged! In this article are some tips to help make this process go easier.
There are two different types of residential plumbers. The family plumber works on every day issues that can occur with aging, or even new plumbing. The types of jobs you want to hire a family plumber for are snaking drains, fixing leaky faucets, and swapping out fixtures. The family plumber is typically the plumber that responds to plumbing emergencies. It's good to know a trusted family plumber in case something happens in your house and you need help fast.
The other type of plumber specializes in remodeling work or new construction work. These types of plumbers often work closely with a general contractor and home builders. You would hire this type of plumber if you were considering adding on an addition with a bath, kitchen or wet-bar. Before calling a plumber, make sure you know the type that fits your project.
Next, make a trip through your house and note every slow drain, dripping faucet or leaky shower head. When you are paying a plumber by the hour, you want to be prepared and efficient to get the most value out of your plumbers visit.
Referrals are the best place to start your search for a plumber. This is a great short-cut versus flipping through the Yellow Pages and hoping you get lucky and call a good company. If you are new to the area, ask for referrals at your local hardware store, lumber yard or at the local real estate office. All of these places will know plumbers that they will confidently refer. Also, remember to tell the plumber that you were referred to them. This could get you better pricing and attention.
Contact more than one plumber for bids and let the plumber know that you will be comparing these bids. A little competition can go a long way in getting you a better price. Don't feel uncomfortable with this request, as it is a normal standard in their industry. Any good plumber should feel confident standing behind their bid. If they try to push you away from comparing bids, do not hire them.
Review all your bids and ask as many questions as possible. You want to get as close to comparing apples to apples as you can. Remember to ask about any warranties they provide and any extra costs that may not be included such as disposal costs. When you have a sense of the bids, hire the plumber that you felt most comfortable with that offers the best price. You are building a relationship as well, so it's important that you feel good about the person you hire.
