Need to hire a plumber for an upcoming project? Before you bring this plumber on board, you’ll want to take time to ask questions. There are basically five questions that you need to ask a plumber whom you have contacted to give you an estimate.  What you want to do by asking these questions is assure that your would-be plumber is experienced, communicative, and has the proper credentials.

1. How do you estimate the cost of a project like mine?

Like any professional who will be working for you, the plumber is going to base his price on materials needed, the complexity of the work, and the time it will take to complete the project.  The price of materials is pretty well fixed.  Remember that your plumber will quite probably get his materials at contractors’ price. Determining the difficulty of the job assigned is relatively straight forward, but the plumber will also have to consider any unforeseen problems that might raise their ugly heads.  The time required can be fairly accurately estimated by an experienced plumber, but no repair or home improvement job is going to go exactly as it is planned.

2. About how long do you think this job will take to complete?

This question relates to the first, but deserves to be addressed individually.  Again, if the plumber you are interviewing has been around the block a few times, he can take a look at the project and calculate a rough time-table.  The main variable is that there are frequently unforeseen difficulties.  These could include, but most certainly are not limited to, the breaking of an aging rusty pipe or a slow leak in a pipe that has gone unnoticed.  The contract you sign will have, if the plumber knows what he is doing, a contingency amendment that covers this.  The extra work involved will be logged and any extra materials needed will be listed separately.

3. Will the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room that is being worked on be useable in the evenings if the work continues over several days?

For some home improvement projects this might not be such an important question.  When it comes to a plumbing job, this question is extremely relevant.  Being completely shut out of the kitchen over several days, or having your water shut off for a period of time, for example, can make a family very unhappy.

4. Are you bonded, licensed and insured?

Any home professional entering your home and doing work on your property should be professionally licensed, bonded and insured as required by your state. This protects the professional, their employees as well as the homeowner and property. On Porch, you can verify this information on their profile page.

5. May I have the names and telephone numbers of a few of your former clients?

Don’t be shy about this.  A professional plumber gets this question all the time.  If he balks, that’s a sign that he may not be the plumber for you.  If he has a few numbers on him and is delighted to share them with you that is a step in the right direction.

Need to find a plumber who has worked in your neighborhood? Find one on Porch today!