If I had to pick the number one tip for hiring a plumber, I think reputation is the most important criteria. In this age of technology that we live in today, so many things get shared and posted online. It can get out of hand very quickly—the amount of information available at our fingertips about someone’s reputation is really a double-edged sword. It can be good or bad depending on how we use it.
I think you have to use discretion whenever looking at someone’s reputation online, especially around social media. Try to make sense out of all the information by checking the reviews. By and large, if there is a high quantity of positive feedback for a company, it can really build confidence. But you have to look at what the majority of people are saying and don’t let the minority sway your judgement. A lot of times there can be a very vocal minority. Even though a company can work hard to please everyone, there will inevitably be a few misunderstandings and mistakes. Keep that in mind when looking at the whole picture.
Another thing to consider is the responsiveness and punctualness of a company. There’s nothing more frustrating than for a homeowner to not be able to get a hold of someone when it’s an urgent matter. It’s a bad experience if a company is disrespectful of an individual’s time. If you see reviews that specifically mention that the plumber did show up on time, that should build some confidence when it comes to punctuality.
You should also see if the company has a process or system that they follow to make sure they execute the same way every time. It could involve things like the pricing system or diagnostic check of the plumbing that is performed before making any recommendations. The unfortunate thing about companies that don’t have a process or system is that homeowners are often left to however the plumber is feeling that particular day. They might decide to just rush through recommendation without performing a check, or even give a price that’s much higher than what they gave to someone else.
Every plumbing company is going to make mistakes, but what’s important is how they respond to the situation. You can really uncover someone’s underlying intentions by looking at how they handle a mistake or miscommunication. If you’re reading through feedback from clients, pay attention if they describe how the team responded after an issue occurred. That can be a real eye-opener when it comes to a company’s true heart.
If you have any questions, reach out to us today by contacting us online or giving us a call at 540-483-9382.
