Plumbing Contractors – Avoid Being Taken Advantage Of

For the most part, the average plumbing contractor you call to work on your home is going to give you a fair, honest deal. However, you do need to be on the lookout for those who might want to take advantage of your lack of knowledge about the pipes and faucets in your home. These tips will help you avoid being scammed when hiring a plumber.

Know What You Need and Want Done

Many contractors, even honest ones, will try to make the job a little more lucrative by finding other aspects of your home’s issues that could be fixed or tweaked. You may or may not want these additional services, and they may not be fully necessary. Before you call contractors for quotes, have a list of what you need to have done and fixed while they are there, and do a little research to determine what the job should entail. Do-it-yourself websites can be invaluable resources as you research the task at hand.

Call the Contractors Directly

Avoid working with contractors that call you, no matter how competent they may sound. You should call the contractors directly and interview them, not the other way around. Those who are actively seeking work likely need the work for an obvious reason. This is less common work than other types of jobs, like roofing or siding, that the contractor can see need to be done from the street.

Check References

Once you have found a plumber you are interested in using, ask for and check his or her references. If the plumber has no references, you should wonder why. Don’t just ask for the references either. Take the time to call one or two to confirm that the contractor does a quality plumbing job.

The Written Bid and Contract

When the plumbing contractor comes to your home to give you an estimate, request a written statement about that estimate, and have the contractor date it. This will allow you to compare the bids from several plumbers, and will also give you a recourse if the plumber decides to raise the rate after you accept the bid.

When you do accept a bid, make sure to get all of the payment and job details in a written contract. This ensures that the contractor knows exactly what you want to have done, and it also gives you proof if the contractor takes advantage of you. Someone who is willing to write out the details of the job and the payment structure is far less likely to scam you than someone who asks for your outright trust. Have the plumber put details about warranties offered in the contract as well.

The key when hiring a contractor is to take your time, do your research, and trust your instincts. It’s not hard to find a qualified, quality plumber, but you do need to be thorough when checking them out. By taking a little extra time to do your homework now, you will find a skilled plumber you can call whenever you have a problem with your pipes.