Hiring a Plumber: 5 Questions to Ask Beforehand | Knoxville, TN
Thursday, September 10th, 2020
Photo By ljubaphoto at istock
Are you dealing with some type of plumbing problem or emergency? You might feel tempted to agree to the terms and conditions of any service agreement if you are stressed. You might also find a professional from an ad in a newspaper or a flyer that was dropped off at your home. This may open you up to some expensive plumbing services or shoddy work. Before you hire anyone, you want to make sure that you ask the professional several questions to get a better idea of their work and their company.
If you’re dealing with any type of plumbing problem in Knoxville, TN, consider giving My Professional Plumbers a call at 865-248-2549. Our licensed technicians have years of experience in dealing with a variety of plumbing issues. We’d be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you have.
With that said, here are 5 questions that you should ask any plumbing company that you get in contact with.
#1. Are You Licensed and Insured?
This should be the first question that anybody asks a plumber. Unfortunately, it often isn’t. You want to know whether the plumber is licensed and insured. if they are licensed, then you know that they have adequate training in dealing with various plumbing problems. But, most importantly, you want to make sure that they have adequate insurance coverage should anything go wrong. Mistakes with the plumbing can easily become a headache and can easily cost a fortune. If the professional accidentally bursts a pipe, it could lead to significant water damage throughout your entire home.
#2. What Is the Total Cost of the Service?
The total cost of the service is also another question to ask about. You want to make sure that the cost that you see advertised online or in the newspaper is the actual cost that you will be paying. Some companies may tack on additional charges for overtime work or for the cleaning fee. Ask the plumber to include every fee that you’ll be paying into the total cost, so there are no surprises with the bill. This will also allow you to compare quotes from different companies.
To understand the value of the package that is being offered, you must compare the total cost of the service with what you are getting. For example, while one company may offer you a higher quote, they may guarantee their work for a longer period of time. Or, they may have included the cleaning cost with the total cost of the service. As a result, you won’t need to do any subsequent work at all. Keep in mind that garbage fees can be quite expensive.
#3. Will You Be Doing the Work?
This is also another question that most people don’t consider. If you’re working with a relatively small plumbing company, the professional who is giving you a quote for the job will also likely be the professional who is completing the job. However, this may not always be the case with larger companies. Some companies may hire many plumbers, and the individual who is offering you a quote may not be the same person who is going to show up to get the job done.
While this may not necessarily bother you, it’s still something that you might want to be aware of upfront. If another individual will be doing the work, you may want to inquire about the amount of experience that particular individual may have.
#4. When Is Payment Due?
When it comes to simple plumbing jobs, you won’t necessarily have to worry about setting up a payment schedule. However, you may still want to know when payment is due. For example, you may want to know whether you are expected to pay for the services before the plumber gets everything started or whether you can pay for the services after everything is done
With that said, for more expensive jobs, you will want to know what the terms are upfront. For example, if you are remodeling your home and doing a lot of plumbing jobs, you may want to set up some type of payment schedule based on when everything will be done. Mini cameras will require that you make a payment of 10 to 15% upfront for larger jobs. Another 50% should be paid before the job is started.
Knowing when you’re going to need to pay for your services may affect your hiring decision. Other than setting up a payment plan, you may also want to know about the different payment methods that are accepted. Many plumbing companies accept credit cards nowadays.
#5. Is Your Work Guaranteed?
Last but not least, you want to find out the specifics of the guarantees that a plumber can offer before signing any contract. If the professionals make any verbal promises, make sure that you get it in writing; otherwise, it might not hold up at all. Ask the professionals about what they are able to guarantee. Some professionals may be able to guarantee their work for up to a year. If anything goes wrong during that time, they will come back out to fix the issue. If the part is defective or if there is something wrong with the quality of their work, they’ll cover the repair costs.
Give My Professional Plumber a Call Today!
A reputable company will be more than happy to walk you through all of your questions and concerns. They’ll make sure that you are comfortable with what they’re offering, and they won’t rush you into any decision at all (although they might highlight the urgency of which you should get some things looked at before the situation worsens).
If you are looking for a reputable plumbing company, consider giving My Professional Plumber a call. We service many cities, like Knoxville, TN, and offer great prices and high quality work. If you are looking for a plumbing company you can’t go wrong with us!