How to find a Trustworthy Plumber?

Ponder over the following predicament for a moment: a pipe bursts in your home, and you need a plumber ASAP. You ring up a plumber you chanced upon online, and then you wait. Unfortunately, they don’t show up. You try their number again and again, but there’s no answer.

Or, they eventually pick up the phone and offer you a truckload of excuses. You give up and look for another plumber. Fortunately, this time round, you find an inner city plumber most residents trust. If only you hadn’t wasted your time.

Well, that’s how some homeowners bark up the wrong tree. And usually, it happens because they don’t know how to find a trustworthy plumber. However, finding an Inner City plumbing contractor who won’t drop the ball is easier said than done, especially with so many plumbers to choose from. To ensure you pick the right candidate, consider following the approach we’re about to outline below:

1. Check Online Reviews

Before hiring any contractor, check out their online reviews. Platforms such as Google and Yelp can help you understand what other homeowners think about a plumbing professional.

If you come across several bad reviews, that’s a red flag, and you should look elsewhere. Similarly, the absence of reviews is also a cause for concern, as it may imply the plumber is new to the scene. Sure, you could take your chances with such a plumber, but what are the odds they’ll deliver?

Instead, ensure the pro you settle for has a solid track record, as evidenced by the reviews they’ve garnered online. Otherwise, you might be courting disaster.

2. Confirm Licensure and Certification

Licensure implies the plumber has met the minimum requirements for practicing in a given area. On the other hand, certification is voluntary and demonstrates a plumbing contractor’s commitment to their trade.

When searching for a plumbing professional, ensure they have both. If not, find someone else. In fact, it’s illegal to operate without a license in most places. So, unless you’re okay with working with an unlicensed contractor, only consider licensed and certified plumbers.

Plus, one of the best ways to confirm a plumber’s credentials is by asking to see their license. If they hesitate or refuse, it would be in your best interest not to consider hiring them.

3. Get Referrals

The best contractors are usually referral-based. In other words, they get most of their clients through word-of-mouth marketing. So, if you know anyone who has hired an Inner City plumber, ask for referrals.

Your relatives, friends, and neighbors are a good place to start. Even co-workers and business associates could give you some great leads. Once you get a few names, research the candidates thoroughly, which brings us to our next point.

4. Ask for References

Ask each plumber on your list for references. A reputable plumbing contractor should have no qualms about sharing references with you. If they do, they could be hiding something, and it’s best not to want to find out. Hence, explore other options. Who knows, you could have dodged a bullet!

Once you have the references, call them and inquire about their experience working with the contractor in question. If they had a great experience, so could you. While at it, here’re some questions you can ask them – to help shed light on a plumbing contractor’s trustworthiness:

• Did they show up on time?
• Were they polite and professional?
• Did they complete the job as agreed?
• How much did they charge?
• Would you hire them again?

5. Consider Experience

The ideal candidate should be vastly experienced. If they’re a novice, you would be ill-advised to hire them. But that doesn’t mean they won’t do a good job – it’s just that experienced plumbers are more likely to deliver quality results.

Moreover, an experienced contractor will have established relationships with other industry professionals. If anything goes south during your project, they can always ask for help from their counterparts. That way, they can resolve your plumbing issue in no time, and you won’t have to wait for days.

Similarly, they are more likely to have seen and handled everything under the sun. As such, they’re better equipped to deal with potential problems. Also, an inexperienced plumber could make rookie mistakes, which could end up costing you a pretty penny down the road. While some newbies have what it takes to deliver outstanding results, most are still learning the ropes. Would you have them use your project as a learning ground?

Overall, trust is earned over time, requiring a certain amount of experience and a mix of other variables. Thus, as you scope out Inner City plumbing contractors, consider the factors we’ve discussed to see if they measure up.