For the average do-it-yourselfer, they can easily handle some plumbing problems; while for others, it’s best to leave it to your top-notch plumber. Most homeowners don’t have a relationship already established with a plumbing company. If something goes wrong with their plumbing, they start to scramble. We usually jump online, check Google My Business or Facebook and start searching. It boils down to this – We want our plumbing issues resolved with the best outcome, without costing an arm and a leg. Finding that plumbing company with a top-notch plumber doesn’t have to be a wild goose chase. Welcome to the 21st Century, where we have access to almost any information we need.
Ask Friends, Family If They Know A Top-Notch Plumber
Nothing is better than a personal recommendation from someone you know and trust. We all have a network of friends, family, and neighbors that have used a top-notch plumber in the past. In our day and age, if a plumbing company doesn’t provide excellent service at fair value, it won’t last. Providing great service is the best advertising a company can get. Excellent service generates referrals and repeats business. It’s easier to provide excellent service and keep a customer for life than to constantly go out to find new customers. For a plumbing company, referrals and repeat business are the best way to build a business.
Check Out Reviews And Other Sources
We live in the 21st Century. If you want to get the low down on a plumbing company, it’s not hard to do. We have so much information at our fingertips that finding a top-notch plumber shouldn’t be too complicated.
- Look up the company on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB still provides a wealth of information. Accredited companies with the BBB hold themselves to strict accountability.
- Check Yelp, Google My Business, and Facebook reviews. Don’t hire a company with just a few reviews. Look for a company that has lots of reviews. When a company has lots of reviews, it’s because they take the time to ask their customers to write a review.
- Check the Contractor’s State Licensing Board (CSLB). The CSLB provides a wealth of information on a company, and it’s only a couple of clicks away.
Even if it’s an emergency plumbing problem, here are three quick questions for your plumbing company. Ask your plumbing company if they are:
- A licensed contractor then get their phone number
- Insured and bonded
- Insured with workman’s compensation for their plumbers
With a contractor’s license number, you can easily check the license, bond, and insurance status. There are many imposters in the plumbing trade. When reading reviews, make sure you read reviews on your specific job requirements. For example, if you need a new water heater, but all the reviews you’re reading are on drain cleaning, then move on. Some plumbing companies will get your job and have another company complete the work. A plumbing company may get hired for hydro jetting, but they don’t have a hydro jetting machine. They farm that job out to another plumbing company, and that company gets a referral fee.
Ask Questions:
When you make the call, have a list of questions or concerns ready for the plumbing company. Hiring a plumbing company is much like conducting a short interview.
- How many years have you been in business?
- Are you a licensed plumbing contractor?
- What is your contractor’s number?
- Have your plumbers had a background check?
- Will their company be completing the job from start to finish?
You can get an idea of how the company conducts business from the first call. Did they answer the phone, or did it go to voicemail? How long did it take them to return your call? Was the customer service representative friendly and courteous? Were they knowledgeable, and did they answer all your questions?
How Much Will It Cost?
Everyone wants to save a buck, but don’t make the determining factor solely on cost. A good deal doesn’t mean finding the cheapest plumber to do your job. Cost should only be ONE determining factor. Consider this. If you’re comfortable with a plumbing company, but they cost slightly more than the competitors, ask them if they will come down a little or even price match.
About Big B’s Plumbing
Big B’s Plumbing is a licensed, insured, and bonded full-service plumbing contractor, license #986152. We’re an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. We’ve been in business for over a decade serving San Diego, Riverside, and the Inland Empire. We have hundreds of 5-star reviews on Facebook, Yelp, and Google My Business. We provide service around the clock 24/7, and we answer every phone call. Let us become “Your Top-Notch Plumber for Life.”
My husband and I just moved to a new neighborhood and we are looking for a new plumber for any emergencies that might come up. I love the tip about asking how many years the plumber has been in business. We would definitely prefer to have someone that has been in business a while.
My parents\’ kitchen faucet is broken and they are hoping to hire a professional plumber to repair it. Thanks for your suggestion to ask potential plumbers about how long they have been in business and if they are licensed. I\’ll make sure that my parents only hire a plumber that has many years of experience and is properly licensed.
Thanks for the questions to ask a plumber. I want to fix my leaky faucet soon. I should hire a plumber to fix it soon.