We get it. Experiencing plumbing problems as a homeowner is never the funnest of times. Whether that be in regards to the water heater, faucet, sewer line or anything else, having a plumbing issue pop up can be a real inconvenience. As a plumbing business that offers both residential and commercial services, we understand this and always try to get things resolved in as stress-free of a manner as possible. That could be in regards to the timeliness in which a technician comes out, the personal experience a homeowner has on-site with our plumber or a number of other items. The one common denominator is that you should be receiving timely, affordable and reliable plumbing services.
As we often do here on our blog, we always like to provide real-world plumbing tips that any homeowner can implement. From tasks that can potentially be completed as DIY jobs to advice on reputable plumbing brands, there are certainly plenty of topics to talk about! On this week’s blog, we’re going to provide you with a few qualities you’ll want to consider prior to hiring your next plumber. If you’re in the Kansas City area and are needing plumbing help, we would be more than happy to have the opportunity to earn your trust! Just give us a call at (816) 348-3481 and we’ll see what we can do to help. However, for those blog readers from outside the KC area, hopefully this blog will provide you with some reassurance and some tips to ensure you hire a knowledgeable plumber!
Service Offerings
As you can likely guess, your home’s plumbing system is made up of quite a few different components. You obviously have all of the piping throughout that does a lot of the heavy lifting, but there are also all of the various fixtures that are extremely important as well. Long story short, when evaluating potential plumbing contractors, make sure they offer a wide range of services. For residential services, this should include everything from sewer lines and water heaters to faucets, water softeners and so on. Now this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re experienced in everything they advertise, but knowing what services are available is a good starting point in your search for the perfect plumber.
Price
Ever heard the quote, “You get what you paid for?” Well, this statement is certainly one worth taking into consideration when hiring a plumbing company. Particularly with larger repairs, chances are you may get a few quotes from different companies before signing any contract. This will help give you the peace of mind that you’re getting a fair price for the project. Having said that, the next thing you’ll want to look for before hiring your next plumber is pricing. If they’re quite a bit cheaper than the other local companies, then that could possibly raise some red flags. Likewise, if their bid came in much higher than the others, that might not be too appealing either. Long story short, there is definitely a sweet spot when it comes to pricing. Every company is going to be a little different, and it’s important to hire a company that’s both experienced and within your budget!
Reviews and Digital Presence
It’s safe to say that we live in a digital world, right? With that being the case, homeowners can learn a lot about a plumber by how they look online. For starters, reviews are an excellent place to get a glimpse at past customer’s experience with a company. While there are a number of different websites where you can go to gauge these reviews, Google Reviews are a great place to start. Google even recently added a feature where customers can pick the service they had completed by that particular company. Another place where you can get some more insight into the professionalism of a plumber is by checking out their social media pages. Whether it be Facebook, Instagram or any of the other platforms, social media is an excellent way for businesses to showcase their work and interact with followers. Speaking from personal experience, our team at Stine-Nichols has had a blast utilizing social media to not only provide examples of the various projects our team works on, but also educate homeowners on different plumbing-related topics (preferred faucet brands, water heater tips and so on).
Referrals
It goes without saying that plenty of homeowners will hire a home services contractor that may have been referred by a family member or friend. Especially if you’ve never needed a plumber in the past, asking those close to you who they’ve used in the past is a terrific way to get some quality recommendations. They can tell you what services they used the company for, what their pricing is like and of course, the quality of the work. All in all, word-of-mouth referrals have always been and will continue to be a major source of business for many home service companies.
Licensed, Insured and Bonded
Unsurprisingly, it’s important for any plumbing company to have the appropriate licenses, insurance and bonding. Each of these serves a unique purpose, but in full, they essentially ensure that the business you hire (1) knows what they’re doing and have the proper training, (2) possess the necessary liability and worker’s compensation insurance and (3) keep the customer protected against any potential financial ramifications. While you might assume that all businesses have each of these, it never hurts to ask to ease any doubts you may have.
Experience
The final quality that I’ll discuss is actually one that’s intertwined throughout many of the points mentioned above. As is the case with any other trade, experience is something that just comes over time. Knowing how to troubleshoot unique situations, having an understanding of which fixture brands provide the best ROI, having the ability to determine the most efficient and long-lasting route, the list goes on. As we close out this week’s blog, I would just like to emphasize the importance of experience. In the residential plumbing world, every jobsite can be a little different and many of these routine services don’t always look exactly the same depending on the existing set-up in a particular home. With that being said, don’t undervalue the role that experience plays!
Need a Reliable Plumber in Kansas City?
To sum it all up, when it comes to hiring a plumber, there are going to be a number of variables that come into play. From pricing and service offerings to digital presence and so on, it’s always best to conduct a little due diligence prior to hiring someone (especially for bigger projects). Not to mention, if you live in a bigger city (Kansas City included), you’ll quickly notice there are no shortage of options either. After all, just Google “Kansas City plumbing company” and see how many results populate.
Nonetheless, if you’ve been searching for a reliable plumbing company in the Kansas City area, our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing is always here to help! No matter if it’s residential or commercial, we take pride in providing just about any plumbing service you could possibly need. Drain cleaning, water heater installation, remodeling, faucet repair, you name it! In addition to that, we always strive to give our customers competitive prices and reliable results to ensure your plumbing problems don’t escalate into an even bigger headache. If you’re ever interested in receiving a free estimate on a potential project, don’t hesitate to fill out the form HERE and a member of our team will be in touch.