What to expect when calling a plumber
Have you ever needed to call a residential service plumber? Do you know what to expect when you call? If you’re a plumber, do you know the right way to respond to a call?
A lot of people will want to know right up front how much things are going to cost. But you know what, that’s not actually realistic. While you may think you know what the problem is, you still need someone to come out and check it out. A plumber can’t quote a job if they don’t know what the full scope of the job will be.
Now I know a lot of people have issues with plumbers charging service fees. Let me tell you why I think plumbers SHOULD charge a service fee.
First of all, plumbing companies have overhead they have to cover. If they’re sending a plumber out in a van, sometimes with a helper, they’re already covering the cost of the plumber, the gas, the insurance, and the plumber’s time. Not to mention the rent for their office, the call center representative who took your call, the dispatcher, and anyone else they may have on staff. And yes, business expenses get passed on to the consumer.
But more importantly, the service fee is actually a win-win. It lets the plumbing company know you are a legitimate customer, not someone who is just looking for the cheapest price in town. And it allows the plumbing company to hire quality professionals, people who are going to do the job right. You should feel confident that with that service fee comes a well trained plumber who will take good care of you, not just some guy with a wrench. It really is a way to ensure quality service.
So when the plumber comes out, what are your first impressions? Where did he park? Was that a good spot? How is he dressed? Is he clean? Does he smell like cigarette smoke? How does he talk to you? Is he respectful and courteous? A true professional will look and act like a professional.
Also, and this is just me, I prefer to knock rather than ring the doorbell. I’m much less likely to wake a sleeping baby or rile up a dog with a knock. And then I’m going to step back so you can get a good look at me. I don’t want to be all up in your face as soon as you answer the door.
I also really like credibility statements. I want to know why this guy does what he does, why he works where he works, and why it’s important to him. If I’m looking for a 5 star review from you, I want to make it clear up front that I am going to do the best job for you that I can.
Once I get there, I want to hear from you exactly what the problem is. I don’t want it to get lost in translation, and we all know how that old game of Telephone goes. I want to hear it directly from you.
Also, while I’m there I want to do a full inspection of your entire system. You may have an issue that shows up in one place, but it could be just a symptom of a larger issue. I also want to make sure you don’t have anything else we need to address.
Once I’ve done an inspection and taken a look at your system, I’ll be ready to talk about options. Sometimes we need to do a quick fix right now, then address the larger issues later. Sometimes we need to tackle those big issues right away. But I’m going to come to you with a plan, and with options. No pressure, just an honest assessment of your plumbing needs.
Now here’s something you as a homeowner can do to help. Wherever your problem area is, please have things cleared away so the plumber can get to it. A leaky pipe in a lower cabinet? Please have that emptied out. A leaky water heater in the attic? Please make sure the path to get there is clear. The less the plumber has to clear away, the better.
Because when the plumber is done, they are going to clean up after themselves and leave it better than how they found it. At least the plumbers that worked for me sure did. They should also walk you through everything they did, showing you so that you understand and are satisfied.
And if they do all of that, please give them a great review! We all like to know our work is appreciated, and giving your plumber a great review is the best way to do that.