The time that most people require a plumber is when there is an emergency. However, the panicked decision made then is most certainly not the best way to choose the best. Sure, you may get lucky, but then again you may not, and can you afford to take the chance?
Contacting a plumber at the last moment puts you at a disadvantage. He knows straight away that you are desperate and so can charge you more or less anything he likes. Furthermore, you know nothing about him, his work or his reputation. All you have to rely on is his advertisement in the local press of Yellow Pages, and all that will tell you is how good and reliable he is. And that is hardly surprising as he wrote it.
Dodgy plumbing can be fatal to the fabric of a building. Poor joints and leaks allow water to infiltrate, potentially causing colossal damage. It is even worse if the problem lies undetected for a few months. The result is a very expensive repair operation.
The safest approach is to prepare yourself in advance. This means doing research into the market well before any possible plumbing event. By doing this, you can call up your plumber with confidence whenever you have the misfortune to need his services.
Begin your search by consulting with friends and neighbors. A personal recommendation is always good, and it is fairly certain that someone you ask will know of a good person. Even if that method draws a blank, you should certainly hear of a few names that you needn't consider any longer.
Next, consult local newspaper advertisements and Yellow Pages. Take a careful note how the phone is answered. If it is done in a professional manner, proceed to the next step. However, if it is answered by a child or someone who seems a bit vague, forget it.
Tell the plumber what you require and ask him to give you a quote on a job. You'll have to invent something here, but it doesn't matter as you are only making a test. Go through the rest of your list and do exactly the same. When you have finished, you'll be able to compare costings and strike out those who are too expensive. Next, you should enquire about qualifications and licenses, if required where you live. Having satisfied yourself so far, and having drawn up a short list, choose the one you like the best and meet with him to get a feel for the person. If it's good, your search is over. If it isn't, keep going down your list until you are happy.
plumber
Contacting a plumber at the last moment puts you at a disadvantage. He knows straight away that you are desperate and so can charge you more or less anything he likes. Furthermore, you know nothing about him, his work or his reputation. All you have to rely on is his advertisement in the local press of Yellow Pages, and all that will tell you is how good and reliable he is. And that is hardly surprising as he wrote it.
Dodgy plumbing can be fatal to the fabric of a building. Poor joints and leaks allow water to infiltrate, potentially causing colossal damage. It is even worse if the problem lies undetected for a few months. The result is a very expensive repair operation.
The safest approach is to prepare yourself in advance. This means doing research into the market well before any possible plumbing event. By doing this, you can call up your plumber with confidence whenever you have the misfortune to need his services.
Begin your search by consulting with friends and neighbors. A personal recommendation is always good, and it is fairly certain that someone you ask will know of a good person. Even if that method draws a blank, you should certainly hear of a few names that you needn't consider any longer.
Next, consult local newspaper advertisements and Yellow Pages. Take a careful note how the phone is answered. If it is done in a professional manner, proceed to the next step. However, if it is answered by a child or someone who seems a bit vague, forget it.
Tell the plumber what you require and ask him to give you a quote on a job. You'll have to invent something here, but it doesn't matter as you are only making a test. Go through the rest of your list and do exactly the same. When you have finished, you'll be able to compare costings and strike out those who are too expensive. Next, you should enquire about qualifications and licenses, if required where you live. Having satisfied yourself so far, and having drawn up a short list, choose the one you like the best and meet with him to get a feel for the person. If it's good, your search is over. If it isn't, keep going down your list until you are happy.
plumber
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