We've talked about telephone directories, referrals, Internet, direct advertising so where to now? 

The next place that you can search for a reliable plumber is the BBB, that is you can pick a plumber out from any of the above and check their credentials with the BBB.  Don't rely solely on this though because some times no record doesn't necessarily mean that the plumber is a good one. Sometimes plumbers or any other contractors have managed to fly under the radar or their company is so new that it doesn't have a track record.  Another source is to call your local or State PHCC or other trade organizations, you can also check with your Secretary of State department, most of them control and regulate professional licensing.  With the SOS you can check licenses and plumbers out to see if they have any disciplinary actions against them. 

Your local Chamber of Commerce is another source of good referrals, they are connected with most local reputable businesses.  Referrals from another trade that you already use, personally I like these the best, let me explain why.

The referring agent whether it be an HVAC man in your home or a carpenter or roofer has a stake in referring you to another trade that will represent them as well.  Most trade professionals know a hack when they see them.  They understand what a professional looks like and are more willing to refer that kind of person to you.  When The Plumbers Incorporated plumbers are asked for a referral to another trade the company has an approved list that they must use.  Why?  Because our name is inextricably linked to that referral, bad referral, bad for business.  We will refuse a referral for a customer of we have never dealt with a specific trade or company.  Our opinion is important to our trust relationship with our clients.

Have a good weekend.

Ted Melko

President

The Plumbers Inc.

www.theplumbersinc.com 

.....of course I'm speaking of the Internet!  That glowing visage of endless information, a.k.a. your computer, is a great source for finding a competent, caring, frugal, local plumber.   The Internet offers something that the phone directories don't, feed back.  Yes, you can get great referrals and feed back from previous customers of the plumbing contractor that you are searching out.  Many of the listings provide a place for customers to offer their opinion on services rendered and if they don't, just Google the name of the company and in no time at all you will get a litany of listings and articles on that company.  It really is that easy. 

Now just to be fair to the contractor make sure that you take the time to read a few comments on the contractor.  You may read one negative comment and be tempted to stop there but please press on and get a feel for who this company is.  Anyone can get a bad mark now and then it just plays to the old axiom of "you can't please everyone all the time" .  Sometimes people don't mix well, I know, I've been there.  I've run into the client that I could just not make happy so I gave him a total refund and asked him to please not use us again.  Now mind you this man got a free water heater out of the deal completely installed for free.  His big complaint is that when he had a leak on the relief line we discovered that his pressure reducing valve was bad on his house making the relief valve release excessive pressure.  He felt that because we installed the heater that we should cover the Pressure reducing valve on his house, a totally separate issue.  Well there was no talking to this guy so I gave him his money back and walked away before I forgot my Christianity.  The man went a blasted us on the web after he got a full refund and a new water heater.....you just can't make everyone happy! 

The Internet can be a very frugal way to advertise a business this is a good sign for you and a good way to check your potential plumber.

......... in our next post, What other ways can you find a plumber?

Have a great day!

Ted Melko

The Plumbers Incorporated

www.theplumbersinc.com

4 days ago I told you to stay away from large yellow paper ads, today I'm going to advise you to go ahead and use the small yellow paper ads.

I advised you to stay away from the high cost associated with full page and double page ads in the telephone directory so you're probably asking yourself, "self, where do I go to find a plumber then".  My answer;

1. The telephone directory!  Alright close your mouth and stop thinking those derogatory comments about me, you don't even know me that well.  Open your directory and go to the smaller ads, 1/2 page and less and make sure that you are calling someone who doesn't also have a large ad.  Next look for a local company if they don't list their address call and ask. Why is locality important?  I'm sure you want to deal with someone that is in your community, it gives you as a consumer more clout.  The plumber knows that if he doesn't do well with people in the community where his business is located word will spread quickly and he will be forced to drive further and advertise more.  Plus a local plumber is more accessible to you chances are when you need him he's not coming from across town.

A local Plumber will be familiar with your local building department and plumbing inspector.  He will know what to expect form the plumbing inspector and what his preferences are for code compliance.  This will make your life as a home owner much easier.  Having a local company also allows you to support your community by allowing the plumber to stay in business and grow his company you also allow him to contribute to the community.  Many local companies sponsor kids baseball, parades, shows, and various functions like that.   

There are many phone directories to choose from, one of my favorites is a little book that is privately distributed to churches called "The Shepherd's Guide".  We advertise in this book because it caters to a very specific market and it is very reasonable to advertise in.  It serves our clientele well because it keeps expenses at The Plumbers Incorporated down to a minimum.  They distribute all over our Atlanta market and we have good return on the product.  There are many little books like this that have many companies in them poised to serve you.

In our next edition...........  Surfing!     Dude........

Have a great day!

Ted Melko

President

The Plumbers Inc.

www.theplumbersinc.com 

       1.  Are you licensed?

This is a crucial question!  A licensed plumber has taken the time to study your area's law's and codes.  It means that your jurisdictional area recognizes his competence as a plumber and has awarded him a license.  It means that since he studied the laws and codes of the area he knows what is right and what is wrong, he knows what is safe and what is unsafe.   In many areas it means that the plumber has to undergo yearly continuing education to keep up with changes in the local codes and health and safety issues.  A license is critical and if your choice of plumbing contractor doesn't have one move on to someone else.

     2.   Will the plumber that you send to my home be licensed?

Just as above you want to make sure that not only does the shop have a license through its owner but that the plumber that actually comes to your home has a license.  At The Plumbers Incorporated we only hire plumbers that have their journeyman's license.  It means that the man coming to your home is at least competent.

     3.  Is the plumber that you'll send to my home your employee or a sub-contractor?

While subcontractors are not necessarily a bad thing it is more difficult to make sure that they are beholding to the company and that they have you as a client as their number one priority.  Subs, as we call them in the industry, are like mercenaries.  They are paid warriors that go out and accomplish a set task for pay but are not involved with the consequences that their actions create.  So I steer away form subs when hiring any company.

     4.  What kind of Insurance do you carry?

It is critical that you see a copy of their insurance.  Workers comp, to make sure that any injuries that occur on your property are covered by the contractors policy and not your home owners policy or worse, your bank account.  Many people have been sued when the supposed reputable contractor that they allowed  to work on their home injured themselves on their premises, it really happens and the home owner really pays......not pretty.  You also want to make sure that the amount of liability that they cover is adequate to cover your home.  This way if their soldering and happen to burn down your house you're covered.

     5.  How long have you been in business?

Longevity is important because it shows stability within a community.  Businesses that rip people off and do shoddy work don't stay in business long.  Businesses with bad management don't stay in business long.   When making a purchase of a large item like a water heater or even a smaller item like a faucet, you want to know that the contractor will be around to service anything that might happen to the item they installed later on.  It is a pain to go through the manufacturer to back the warranty and then most of them don't cover labor so you will end up getting it stuck to you by another plumber.

In our next post................. Other sources for finding a plumbing contractor.

Thanks for reading,

Ted Melko

President

The Plumbers Inc.

www.theplumbersinc.com 

2.  I can hear you now, "but I trust my friend", and you should. The question you need to ask is, do you value that friendship?  After your friend refers this plumber to you to repair your water heater on January 1st at 8 AM in Atlanta and he comes in and really screws up your job, how will you feel about that referral?  Will that create friction between you and your friend?  Hopefully not, but why put that to the test?

"We call that person who has lost his father, an orphan; and a widower that man who has lost his wife. But that man who has known the immense unhappiness of losing a friend, by what name do we call him? Here every language is silent and holds its peace in impotence."
Joseph Roux

I'm not saying to not ask your friend but you need to make your own assessment before using the plumber for an emergency.  Get your referral, call the plumber when you don't have an emergency and talk to the company, talk to the owner, ask questions.  In short get to know your plumber, I know this sounds cliche but it's not taking him to dinner it's just talking.  You really can learn alot about someone just from talking, heck if he is really attentive he may even agree to stop by for a visit with you. 

You should be catching a theme developing within this topic by now, act don't react.  That's right an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, be proactive, put the remote down and do your homework or no play time later.  Uncomfortable with just talking to the plumber (I used to be too) then schedule a small repair or inspection as a meet and greet event.  Make it something small and make them give you a price before they do anything. Then you can casually interact with the plumber and see if he will be working for you when you really need him.  Please, don't hold a bad referral against your friend, they really didn't mean bad by it.

......tomorrow, What to ask the plumber when you make initial contact and what to look for.

Have a great weekend!

Ted Melko,

President

The Plumbers Inc.

www.theplumbersinc.com      

OK, put down the steak knife and quit thinking about gouging your eyes out,

I'm Ted Melko from The Plumbers Incorporated located in Atlanta Georgia and I am here to teach you how to choose wisely.  Let's start from the beginning, you know, the day before last week when that Ark floating flood you're looking at now was just a small drip.   That's when you start your due diligence, don't put it off, better yet do it now before that small drip starts.  I know, I know, your still clamoring about how to start, never fear I'm going to take you step by step.

1.  Stay away from the double page ads in the phone directories!  Do you know how much those huge ads cost????   Let me put it this way, for the extra you'll spend supporting one of those behemoths you could probably take your spouse out for a nice dinner, no, not at Mc D's, a nice dinner.  Those ads cost upward of five thousand per month.  Who do you think pays for that large piece of yellow paper?  Hint:  YOU DO!   Come to think of it stay away from those single page ads in the big books as well.  In fact I would counsel you to stay away from the phone directories all together as they are a reflection of the lack of creativity and intelligence of the company that you are trying to hire.  Phone directories are the biggest rip off in the advertising world and if your plumber is advertising in them you better reevaluate your relationship with them!

Tomorrow........... If not a phone directory where should I go?

Ted Melko

www.theplumbersinc.com