How many times have you been asked if you know of a good plumber? While a fast search on the internet will yield a plethora of local plumbers, it can seem that finding a reputable one is akin to looking for a needle in a haystack.
Whether it’s a minor repair or a big project, hiring the wrong plumber will not only cause inconvenience for you and your family, but it can also cost you money. Rather than selecting someone at random, it is well worth the effort to do some homework to ensure that the job runs as seamlessly as possible
Here are 6 suggestions to help you find a good plumber.
Word of Mouth
A referral from someone you trust is the best way to find a reputable plumber. Inquire with your relatives, friends, neighbours, and employers if they know of a plumber who has done great work for them in the past. If you know any tradesman, such as an electrician or a contractor, they may have strong contacts in other professions. Be sure to tell the plumber who referred you; they might even give you a discount in exchange!
Official Tradesman Schemes
Check to see if the plumber is a member of a scheme that is exclusively for tradespeople who have been screened and shown to have the requisite skills for the job. Buy with Confidence, Trustmark, and Approved Trader Scheme are just a few instances; these organizations are either operated in collaboration with Trading Standards or by government-approved agents. Their sites frequently have online archive of plumbers, so you can see who is listed in your region by having to type in your postal code.
Online Review Sites
This is basically an extended “ask around” hunt. Anyone who works on these platforms should work hard to keep their ratings up. Anyone who is not on these pages, on the other hand, may be attempting to conceal something. The system isn’t flawless, as plumbers can build fake accounts and give oneself positive reviews. It’s also worth noting that most internet reviews are at the extremes – either 1 star or 5 stars. These should be averaged out in the overall ranking, but each individual analysis should be taken with a grain of salt.
Social Media
Many businesses now see past customers using social networks to voice their concerns or compliments on how they were handled by a company. Check your plumber’s or piping company’s Page on Facebook and Twitter account to see how they communicate with their customers if they have one.
The Internet has everything. If you want to a plumber in Altona, you’ll be sure to find one online.
Get Quotations on the Phone
When it comes to hiring a tradesman, the budget is often the most critical factor to remember. Get at least 3 quotations or price averages over the internet, and if a quote is unusually high or low, you might question whether their price is so high or low in relation to the others.
Although a plumber will not be able to provide an exact cost until they inspect your house, the estimates provided by plumbers at this point will enable you to determine which one provides the best overall plumbing service for the least amount of money.