Hiring a Plumber: A Guide To Success and Happiness

Hiring a plumber need not be any more complicated than calling the first guy you find in the phone book. However, while that will get you a professional, it's no guarantee that you'll get somebody good. And the law of averages states that you stand just as good a chance at hiring a real loser as you do someone who will know the meaning of customer service and professionalism. Of course, if you're in the middle of a verified plumbing emergency, you won't be in any position to do a background check on every possible company. That's why it's a good idea to find a great company before you have water bursting out of every pipe.

Emergency Services

When you have water flooding onto the floor, you're not in any mood for taking your time and searching for a good plumber. You want someone out to your house as soon as possible. If you had a working relationship with a good company who provides emergency services, you would have an easy choice. Call the company up and they would be only too happy to serve a loyal customer. To put yourself in this enviable position, look for companies that offer such services, even when you don't need them. If disaster strikes, you'll know who to call.

Fees

It's not terribly unusual to find a plumber who charges a fee just to come out and look at an issue, but that doesn't mean you have to settle. This is not only a way for them to make money before they even convince a customer to hire them, but it puts a subtle sort of pressure on the individual to hire them for the job. After all, you feel weird paying someone for something they didn't even do. Well, maybe you shouldn't. There are plumbing companies out there who will give you a free quote, so don't bother with those that don't.

Conditions

This is where customer reviews really come in handy. It's up to a good plumber to clean up after himself after he's finished working. So many companies don't seem to get this. They will do a decent job, but then leave the bathroom looking as if a tornado came through and made a mess. It shouldn't be up to you to clean up after their work. It may seem like a minor annoyance, but it is symbolic of how seriously the company takes customer service. And it is one of those things that customers will complain about online, so take the time to read some reviews before you hire someone.