Top Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Plumber
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Before you hire any plumber outright, it's crucial that you take the time to find a reasonable plumber who is certified and licensed.
We'll go into some disaster scenarios that can occur when you hire the wrong plumber, and how to avoid them.
If you're ready to learn how to hire the right plumber, let's get started.
Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Plumber
1. Not Checking Licenses and Certifications
The biggest mistake when it comes to hiring a plumber or any service worker for that matter is not checking their licenses and certifications. Without the proper documents, it could potentially mean that the person you have hired is working unlawfully.
Not only that, without the proper training, you may be hiring someone who is about to cost you an arm and a leg. You won't have any recourse through government channels either if something were to go wrong.
A good way to verify a plumber (albeit not foolproof) is to check them out on social media. With social proof, you'll be able to identify who is and who isn't a plumber. The worst scenario is that you hire a no-name plumber, and they end up costing you thousands in damages with no recourse.
2. Choosing Based on Price
Low prices often come with high costs. If you shop around and find a plumber that severely undercuts the other estimates you've been given, then it may be that your plumber is cutting costs somewhere. Discounts can be had, but if it's too good to be true, it likely is.
Whether you get quotes from a local source like Anytime Plumbing of Santa Cruz or online, it's always a good idea to shop around to find what typical quotes look like. Anything too high or too low should cause warning flags to go up.
If you are unsure of what a certain job should cost, second opinions are always free. You'll never have to pay any money down simply to hear what an estimate would be, but be careful of bait and switch pricing tactics.
3. Not Inquiring About Insurance
Low bidders may often have the lowest insurance coverage out there. If that is the case, when push comes to shove, you'll have no recourse to recoup your lost investment. Or even worse, they aren't insured at all, meaning you are going to have to eat the damages yourself.
Low-quality plumbers can cost you thousands in losses if they end up causing a leak. And it can be a devastating result. It's always best to inquire about their insurance policy, who they are, and even to get documentation if possible.
4. No Written Estimate
While it may seem obvious, not having a written estimate can end up leading to a scenario where the bill is much higher than the estimate was. This is typically known as a "bait and switch," resulting in you having to pay a much larger bill than you originally thought.
Unfortunately, this does happen sometimes, but you can avoid this by getting a written estimate. If a plumber does not want to give you a written estimate, then you're better off avoiding this person and looking elsewhere. Any respectable plumber will have no problem issuing a standard written estimate for a typical job.
There are circumstances, however, where the final price is going to be unknown. An estimate is still that, an estimate, and prices can vary wildly. It's always best to vet your plumber in these scenarios as extra precautions.
5. Failing to Do Research
Not all review aggregators are going to give you a clear picture of whether a plumber is legitimate or not, but they can lead you in the right direction. You can't solely rely on reviews, but a plumber with a few reviews is going to have a much better outcome than one without any.
If they don't have a website or any way to find them online to see if they're running a legitimate business or not, it's a sign that you should avoid said plumber. You can take a few minutes to do some research online to read through reviews.
You can check popular platforms like Bing, Google, Yelp, and even your local city's website to check if they have any reviews. Read through them, even the bad ones, and make a final decision if this plumber seems trustworthy or not. If they have a pattern of bad reviews, it's better to avoid them.
Conclusion
Hiring the right plumber is crucial for ensuring quality work and protecting your home from potential disasters. By avoiding these top five mistakes, you can significantly increase your chances of finding a reliable, professional plumber. Remember to always verify licenses and certifications, be wary of suspiciously low prices, inquire about insurance coverage, insist on written estimates, and conduct thorough research.
These steps will help you make an informed decision and avoid costly mistakes. Additionally, don't hesitate to ask for references or seek recommendations from trusted sources. By taking the time to carefully vet your plumber, you can save yourself from headaches, property damage, and financial losses in the long run. Ultimately, investing effort in finding the right plumber will pay off in quality workmanship and peace of mind.
