How To Find A Reputable Plumber

Finding a reputable plumber in a sea of contractors can be an irksome and tedious task. It can also become intimidating because the wrong choice can cost you a substantial sum of money and cause you needless inconvenience. Also, you will then be back to square one in your search for a good residential or commercial plumbing service.

While it would be great if you could take your time finding the right contractor by spending days on research to minimize the risks, plumbing issues often require immediate action. After all, you cannot just let a clogged drain or burst pipe be. So, while not much can be done now, it is best to find a reputable plumbing company that you can call every time you need some work done.

Here is how you can find a reputable plumber.

1. Take recommendations

Perhaps the quickest way to find a good contractor is to ask around for recommendations. Someone in your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, or acquaintances has bound to have gotten some work done on their plumbing. Although this may seem like a reliable way to find a plumber, do not just follow their recommendation blindly. You still need to do your own screening as their experience and task may be different from yours. Also, do not hire a friend or relation because money is bound to sour things up between you.

2. Search online directories

The internet has a wealth of information, including the numbers of over a dozen plumbers in your area. You can jot down the list and move on to the next step – screening.

3. Ask for references

It does not matter how you got to this step, but the important thing is that you got here. Whether you are running a check on a recommended or random plumber, one of the first things you need to do when initiating contact is to ask for references. A reputable plumber who carries out all projects with diligence will be confident about giving you valid and up-to-date references. They will not give you the names and contact details of random family members or friends, but that of clients they recently did work for. Also, they will not make excuses or try to get out of giving you the references because they will be sure you will get positive feedback. However, asking for references is not the only thing you need to do. You actually need to get in touch with those people and verify.

4. Find out about their experience and qualifications

Do not blindly trust everything that comes out of the horse’s mouth, or in this case, the plumber’s mouth. Check their website, company details, and company profile on social media to find out if they can handle your project. Many even have their diplomas or degrees hanging on their office walls, if you visit them perchance.

5. Verify if they are licensed

Every professional plumbing contractor has a valid contractor’s license. However, just asking your contractor if they are licensed is not enough because, like Dr. House says in the TV series House MD, “everyone lies.” The authority issuing contractor’s licenses in your state can easily verify if the person you are planning to hire has a license or not. Most allow you to check the license status online, but you can call too.

6. Check online reviews

While there is no guarantee that all the reviews online are genuine, you can probably identify the fakes (try to avoid both blatant slanders and embellished posts), especially when you check the reviews given on multiple social media platforms and are able to find a pattern or similarity in opinions by different users. Also, do not believe the testimonials on company websites.

7. Take feedback from previous clients

Another surefire way of finding out exactly the kind of service and results you should expect from a plumbing firm is by asking former clients. You can ask around if anyone has employed the services of that particular contractor. Whether you put your question on an online forum or ask in your church group, you are bound to get an idea about the reputation the plumber has in your community.

Bill’s Plumbing & Sewer Inc. offers a wide range of premium plumbing solutions at affordable rates in Evanston, IL. Get your free estimate for your project, or contact us to put forward your queries.

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