Tips for Hiring a Plumber

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There are many companies claiming that they will do great work, but how well do you know them?  If you are unsure about hiring a company to do any work in your house or business, here are some questions you should ask:

  1. Check out the company on Better Business Bureau. http://www.bbb.org/
  2. Look up the business on the Illinois state website. They have to be listed; if not, they are not a legit business or they’re not paying their taxes. http://www.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/
  3. If they are a plumber, ask them for their plumber’s card.  No-one should be doing any plumbing work if they are NOT a licensed plumber by the state of Illinois.  Sometimes they use a real plumber’s certification paper to approve a permit, but it is not the same person doing the work. They MUST show you their license if you ask.
  4. When doing any work, the company should send you a copy of their insurance.  If they don’t have insurance and something happens, you will be faulted.
  5. Ask if they hire sub-contractors. This means that an individual or in many cases a business signs a contract to perform part of the obligations of another’s contract. The contractor you hire originally won’t be able to help you if something goes wrong with the sub-contractor. Find a company that is insured and only uses their own employees.
  6. Check out the website: most contractor websites will not have professional photos of their work. If their photos look too “picture perfect,” then they probably are.
  7. Ask for references of past clients. If they value their work, they will have no fear in providing you with phone numbers.
  8. Ask them if they have all the machines and tools for the job. Sometimes you will get charged extra for them to rent out what they need. Places that own their machines and trucks are more reliable and dedicated to their business.
  9. Get 3 estimates. Don’t jump to the lowest bid right away. Make sure that the lowest bid has everything included so there are no hidden costs. Compare what you are getting from each estimate.
  10. Ask who will be in charge on the job sites. Some contractors will barely check on the job once it’s started. If you have any questions while the job is in progress, who will you talk to?
  11. Check to see if the person you hired works out of a building. Many plumbers, contractors, HVAC guys work from home. If they have their own building, you are assured better quality, service, and trust.