Before hiring a professional plumber in Australia, there are plenty of considerations to ensure that you get your money’s worth and avoid scams. Many people may be pretending to be a licensed professional or perhaps lie about their expertise just so they can get the job, but in the long run, you will suffer the consequences.
Take time to ask the following questions from your prospective plumbers so you can pick the one that fits your criteria.
QUESTION #1: ARE YOU LICENSED?
Make sure you only deal with a licensed plumber before hiring them to do the job. This ensures that they have the right knowledge, training, and certification in their chosen field. You are also guaranteed that they are up to date with building codes ensuring that they are very knowledgeable about current building practices.
When you hire an unlicensed plumber, they might charge you cheap rates but you cannot get permits, making your project illegal and susceptible to fines. Ask for their license number and look it up to verify its authenticity before considering moving forward.
QUESTION #2: DO YOU HAVE AN INSURANCE?
Work only with plumbers who have updated insurances. No matter how experienced a plumber is, there are still unexpected things that happen from time to time. Insurance gives you peace of mind that injuries or damages that resulted during the plumbing activity in your home are covered.
QUESTION #3: DO YOU HAVE AN AREA OF SPECIALTY?
Plumbers in general can do all the basic plumbing works yet there are types of work that would need specialised skills. Some may be excellent as a blocked drain plumber but may not be that good in repairs. Depending on the type of work that you might require, ask the plumber for his specialty to make sure that you are working with the right guy with the right skill set.
QUESTION #4: HOW DO YOU CHARGE YOUR SERVICE FEES?
Does he charge hourly or flat rate? It is important to know this information before signing a contract with your plumber. A plumber who charges per hour might not be inclined to work efficiently so they can keep coming back and charge you more.
It is highly recommended to work with flat rate plumbers. They are more efficient and faster because they would not want to spend too much time on one project.
QUESTION #5: CAN YOU PROVIDE A DETAILED ESTIMATE?
A plumber can usually give you a ballpark estimate of your project, but it is best to get an exact price after he has taken a look and reviewed the scope of work that needs to be done. This will ensure that you are working within your budget and prevent future” hold-ups”.
QUESTION #6: DO YOU HAVE A WARRANTY ON YOUR WORKMANSHIP?
A legitimate plumber always offers a warranty for their work. They offer repairs and replacements for any problems that are directly related to their work within a specific time frame after the service has been rendered. This provides a guarantee that their work is done with utmost professionalism. If there are certain services or parts that they can’t guarantee they are usually upfront about it to manage expectations.
QUESTION #7: DO YOU HAVE REFERENCES YOU CAN PROVIDE?
Just like in a typical job interview, we always ask for references of the applicants. This helps us get to know our candidate better and is a great way to gather opinions of previous clients. It can also provide us with information about what the plumber has done before and how he fared.
There might be more questions in your mind, feel free to ask them. It is important that you are comfortable with your plumber before accepting his services.
