Hiring a plumber is often difficult when doing it for the first time. Determining the difference between a good one and a bad one is often more than meets the eye. Whilst sometimes it can be a DIY job, there are many instances when doing it yourself can be a risky option and may not return long term results.
With so many professionals available for plumbing jobs throughout the Sydney region, there are a lot of options and making the right choice is important. There are a few simple steps that can be followed in order to ensure that you make the right choice for the job.
- Ask for a recommendation
This has to be the first step before hiring any professional. Friends and family are always going to want what is best for you so this makes them a great point of call for any recommendation. They are going to give you the best advice on who to hire and will likely be able to give an example of their own experiences.
- Do they have a licence?
Whilst they can operate without a licence, it is in your best interests to hire a plumber who does have one. Those operating without a licence may well have extensive experience and could even be cheaper than a licence professional.
However, the downfall comes when there are any issues with the work as hiring an un-licenced plumber to do your work significantly reduces their legal obligations. Make sure to ask them for their licence before they start working and don’t just take their word for it.
- What sort of experience do they have?
Lots of professionals will have experience in the industry and many will say so when you first make contact with them. The important part is to not assume that thei means they have experience with all jobs.
Each job is different and therefore requires a slightly different set of skills and problem solving ability. Make sure to ask whether or not they have done a job like this or similar before and have them explain it to you. This ensures that they know what they are doing and won’t be charging you any extra than is necessary for potential mistakes created along the way.
- Do they have insurance?
Homeowners insurance may offer a small level of protection but it likely isn’t enough should the plumber be injured whilst working onsite. Make sure that the professional you hire does have workers insurance to cover both you and them in the event an accident does occur.
The last thing you want is to be liable for anything that happens when they are fixing the plumbing issue.
- Determine the cost
Asking for a quote, or at least an approximation of the cost, prior to the commencement of the work provides a safety net around the eventual cost of the job. It reduces the likelihood of being overcharged and/or charged for any mistakes made along the way.
Make sure that the provided estimate includes all costs such as materials, labour and contingency so that it doesn’t increase when it comes to the completion of the job due to materials that were previously not included.
- Is there warranty on the job?
It is important that the plumber can guarantee the quality of their work and the parts used for it. You want to job top last when hiring a professional so make sure that they can guarantee at least one year warranty on the job before commencing so that you can know you are getting your money’s worth.
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