"If I had my life to live over again, Id be a plumber."
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955), Physicist.
Albert Einstein has been widely considered as the most brilliant man to have walked on this planet in the last 100 years. His intention to change professions may have been said in a humorous vein, but theres no denying the importance of the plumber in everyday life , an importance as much as Einsteins is to physics. And since the ability of a plumber can make or break the integrity of a home and the happiness of the homeowner, its important to consider several points when choosing the man for the job .
When you are faced with an emergency, its useful to have options. Hiring a plumbing company instead of an independent plumber gives you those options, especially if the latter is tied up elsewhere and unable to respond immediately . Now that you have decided on hiring a company instead of an individual, there are certain things to be considered before you open your wallet . The first thing to check would be business permits and insurance policies in accordance with state and local regulations. Ideally , there should be a general liability insurance policy, bond insurance and compensation policy for the plumbers.
The next thing you should check is reputation. There are quite a few ways to do this. You can call an acquaintance who has dealt with plumbing companies and ask for recommendations. Another source of information is the local contractor. Contractors deal with plumbers frequently and usually have informed opinions of quality of work and competitiveness of pricing. If you have recently purchased your home , you can call the real estate salesperson you dealt with. They often recommend plumbers and other subcontractors to their clients and would be happy to do the same for you.
After you are satisfied on the permits, insurance and reputation fronts, its time to pay attention to the pricing. Traditionally, plumbers have sold the toilets, sinks, faucets etc. that they install. Typically they get the items at discounted prices while selling them at full prices to clients. However , with a lot of home center stores opening up in the recent past, you may get to buy plumbing fixtures at rates that are even lower than the contractor prices that plumbers pay their suppliers. This is a good way to save on plumbing costs. Also, remember to ask for a price before work begins. Most reputable plumbing companies will give you a bid, or at least an estimate with a ceiling price. If they are unable to come up with an accurate assessment, ask for a "worst-case scenario" price .
As the popular saying goes, the best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Consequently, ensure that you are well-prepared by hiring a plumbing company as soon as possible and not when you are faced with a leaky toilet or leaking ceiling. The above tips will help you make the right choice.
Albert Einstein has been widely considered as the most brilliant man to have walked on this planet in the last 100 years. His intention to change professions may have been said in a humorous vein, but theres no denying the importance of the plumber in everyday life , an importance as much as Einsteins is to physics. And since the ability of a plumber can make or break the integrity of a home and the happiness of the homeowner, its important to consider several points when choosing the man for the job .
When you are faced with an emergency, its useful to have options. Hiring a plumbing company instead of an independent plumber gives you those options, especially if the latter is tied up elsewhere and unable to respond immediately . Now that you have decided on hiring a company instead of an individual, there are certain things to be considered before you open your wallet . The first thing to check would be business permits and insurance policies in accordance with state and local regulations. Ideally , there should be a general liability insurance policy, bond insurance and compensation policy for the plumbers.
The next thing you should check is reputation. There are quite a few ways to do this. You can call an acquaintance who has dealt with plumbing companies and ask for recommendations. Another source of information is the local contractor. Contractors deal with plumbers frequently and usually have informed opinions of quality of work and competitiveness of pricing. If you have recently purchased your home , you can call the real estate salesperson you dealt with. They often recommend plumbers and other subcontractors to their clients and would be happy to do the same for you.
After you are satisfied on the permits, insurance and reputation fronts, its time to pay attention to the pricing. Traditionally, plumbers have sold the toilets, sinks, faucets etc. that they install. Typically they get the items at discounted prices while selling them at full prices to clients. However , with a lot of home center stores opening up in the recent past, you may get to buy plumbing fixtures at rates that are even lower than the contractor prices that plumbers pay their suppliers. This is a good way to save on plumbing costs. Also, remember to ask for a price before work begins. Most reputable plumbing companies will give you a bid, or at least an estimate with a ceiling price. If they are unable to come up with an accurate assessment, ask for a "worst-case scenario" price .
As the popular saying goes, the best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Consequently, ensure that you are well-prepared by hiring a plumbing company as soon as possible and not when you are faced with a leaky toilet or leaking ceiling. The above tips will help you make the right choice.
