How can you tell if you’re being ripped off by a plumber? The answer to that question isn’t just black or white. The reality is, the value that you receive as a client determines what the cost will be. A service that one person finds valuable may not be important at all to somebody else. Here’s what I mean.
Let’s say a plumber is running around in an old pickup truck without any stock. They aren’t equipped with the items they’ll probably need to take care of your home’s plumbing. They aren’t insured or licensed and they haven’t pulled the necessary permits. They also don’t have a call center for you to reach them any time that you have a problem.
That plumber may offer a much lower cost to their clients. However, all of those things add value, security, and peace of mind. Most people don’t have extensive knowledge about plumbing, but there are a few things you can pay attention to. If you ask a few key questions, you’ll get an idea about whether or not a plumber is providing the value that you need.
1. Knowledge
Is the person that you’re hiring knowledgeable? Do they know how to fix your problem correctly the first time? If they do make a mistake, what can you do? Are they going to stand behind their work? If they don’t, you’re taking a risk—even if they might offer a lower cost initially, you’ll end up paying more money in the long run to fix their mistakes.
2. Efficiency
Is the plumber’s truck stocked? Time is money. If you have a company that is prepared to take on a job, they’ll get it done in half the time. They are simply more efficient—they have the systems and components in place to get things done quickly and effectively. Think about how much of a difference it makes when a plumbing company has a well-stocked truck and competent people. Most of our clients appreciate spending less time away from work. The quicker we can get the job done, the less money is spent away from work or other activities.
3. Availability
I’ve talked in past blog posts about how important it is to get a hold of someone when you’re having a plumbing issue. It isn’t a situation where you are just happy to leave a message. If you have a stopped up drain or leaking pipe, you want to be able to call someone. Call centers have associated costs with them. A plumbing company may be able to offer a lower price without one, but it will come at the expense of availability.
4. Reputation
Look at the company’s reviews to see what kind of reputation they have. How long have they been in business? Do they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and what do their guarantees/warranties actually mean? (Don’t make any assumptions about a plumber’s warranty.) You might end up becoming very frustrated when you try to exercise a warranty and end up finding out that you aren’t covered.
To Wisler Plumbing, our satisfaction guarantee means that we don’t expect you to pay until you are satisfied. Our six year warranty on a standard water heater means that if you have any problems within the warranty period, just call us and you won’t pay an extra penny for us to come out and fix it.
Remember, the value that a plumber provides is highly subjective. Some clients may not find efficiency important to them. Someone who is retired and at home all day won’t mind if the plumber took a long time to fix their issue. Look at the aspects of a plumber that you find most important. By asking these questions, you’ll be certain of whether or not you’re being ripped off.
If you’d like to learn more about the value we provide our clients, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 685-0366.
