There’s nothing quite like the stench of a clogged drain or pipe to alert you that you need plumbing services fast! But where do you even begin, how are you supposed to know if this person will do the job right and not rip you off? The first thing that you need to do is to check if his papers are in order, and this includes membership in a recognized trade association. Next, utilize your online skillset and find a plumber whom most people recommend and have no problems with. This means checking their reviews and going for the one with the most positive ones.
You may be a little old school still, and want to consider a local plumber. But you may still worry about him not doing a better job than one from a company.
Here is what you need to know to help you feel more confident in your decision.
Choose a Qualified Plumber
No one wants to pay money to have something fixed, only to have to pay more money to have it fixed again. So you need someone qualified and whose work is of high standards. The following trade associations cover good plumbers: Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), Gas Safe Register and Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). Any plumber registered with the above-mentioned associations will be great at his job.
Price
The local plumber won’t be as rigid as one hired by a company when it comes to price. While a company plumber may be open to some negotiation and convincing, he has to follow orders and his amount will stick, no matter how much you try.
Reputation and Local Reviews
A local plumber runs his own business, so if he doesn’t do the job well he is aware that this will mean less business for him. He relies on the community for work, whereas plumbers who work for a company aren’t responsible for their own business; the company is. Therefore, the local plumber’s reputation is built mainly on word of mouth, and if word on the street is that he’s good, then it’s probably true.
Supporting Local Business
The local plumber is from your community and you want to support your community. The more you support local businesses, the better for your hometown’s economy.
Benefits of Hiring a National Company
National companies have their own benefits too. For one, their service may be quicker than that of the local plumber because they have more workers. They train their staff, thus getting ripped off is unlikely. In case you had a problem with the job or the plumber, they will have a customer service representative ready to handle the matter to ensure that you are satisfied and such problems never happen again.
They might even give you a discount on the original rate. Remember that prices differ per plumbing job, so whatever your decision is, it needs to be made with your own parameters and circumstances in mind.