Whether you’re in Scottsdale, Gilbert, Chandler or Mesa, a good plumber is hard to find.
Here are some tips to help you find the right plumbing repair solution in your Arizona town:
- Insured and licensed. You’ll want to know your prospective plumbing contractor has the right training and credentials. In Arizona, the Registrar of Contractors has a simple search that lets you confirm licensing and verify credentials. View it here to begin your search: http://azroc.gov/forms/contractorsearch.html
Typically, licensed plumbers who own their own business carry insurance. After all, even the best plumbers know to be prepared, just in case. When in doubt, ask.
- Now with Facebook pages and Twitter feeds, it’s easy to find references, view previous jobs and get into contact with previous customers. Pay special attention to projects that s
eem bigger, but you’ll also want to know how well your prospective plumber handles small projects, too. For example, check out water heater replacements and water softener installation as well as major plumbing repairs like township backflow prevention.
You might want to talk to other types of contractors as well. Construction owners as well as electricians often work closely with other trades on new builds or even on restoration projects, and get to know other contractors. Trades people can usually tell you if a plumber takes time to do the project right and is detailed and thorough.
- How long has the plumbing company been in business? What’s the rating with the Better Business Bureau? Brand-new plumbing companies won’t have a rating, but check references by the plumber’s name. You’ll learn how long he or she’s been licensed and maybe some additional information on references, too.
- Talk to more than one plumber and set up a time for them to review your job in person. Even if you’re a former plumber yourself, you know that seeing for yourself is better than having someone describe it to you in an email or over the
phone. You might think you’re in the market for a brand-new reverse osmosis system, when a smaller replacement part could be the answer. Face-to-face interviews are important when you want to find the right person for the job.
- Get more than one quote, and get it in writing. That way, you can compare the line items, ask questions and talk through any parts of the job that concern you. If money is going to be your deciding factor, make sure that the quotes you’re comparing are for the same amount of work. If there’s a big price difference between them, ask why so you understand how pricing can differ – it could be as simple as the quality of parts, or as complicated as a new company low-balling a bid just to get the work. When in doubt, ASK.
