One, Plumbers in Athens OH and electricians possess, or pretend to possess, a skill most of us lack. After all, if we knew how to fix a broken pipe or wire the unfinished bonus room we wouldn’t need a good plumber or an electrician in first place.
Our ignorance not only makes us desperate for their services it also makes us vulnerable to their scams, cons, and thievery-not to mention their plain old shoddy work. To make matters worse, it’s usually an emergency that forces us to call a plumber or an electrician. In our panic for their help, we tend to let our guard down which makes us even more susceptible to their tricks and dirty tactics.
Furthermore, due to the nature of the business, it’s hard to prosecute a bad plumber or electrician. If you’re lucky enough to find them after they’ve swindled you out of your money, the plumber or electrician can usually claim-and do so well within the law-that they did everything you asked them to do; it’s their word against yours. In many cases the home owner is left with no recourse while the plumber or electrician moves onto their next victim.
REFERRAL MADNESS- Finding a good plumber or electrician is difficult but not impossible. You probably already know the first step of process: find a plumber or electrician via word of mouth. Newspapers, phone books, and Web sites can be nothing but lies and exaggerations, but referrals, well, they tell a much more accurate story. Still, they are far from foolproof.
That’s why in order to find yourself a competent plumber or electrician you’re going to have to do more than just get a sound referral from a friend or colleague. You’re going to have to do six other things as well. Those six things are: research, put everything in writing, grow a backbone, be prepared, watch them work, and be careful with your money.
THE RESEARCH IS ON- Once you get a referral from a friend or trusted colleague it’s time to go to work. First and foremost you need proof that the prospective plumber or electrician has insurance, both worker’s compensation and general liability. Don’t just take their word for it, call the insurance company and get a Certificate of Insurance. Getting that certificate is the most important thing you can do in your quest to acquire a good plumber or electrician.
Next, you’re going to want at least a half dozen references and you’re going to call them all. You will also want to know all the professional associations they belong too. Next, take some time to do some internet research. Google the plumber or the electrician’s name to see what you can find. You’ve probably spent hours on the internet researching that $50 MP3 player you use on the treadmill. So why not do the same thorough research on the plumbers and electricians that will be working on your home?
FIRST CONTRACT- Once you’ve finished your homework and selected a plumber or electrician, make sure you both sign a detailed contract. The document should not only outline exactly what you want done but it should also contain ground rules for working in your home (whether or not they can listen to the radio, whether or not they can use your bathroom, stuff like that). Obviously, you’ll have to be flexible if it’s an emergency, but you should still have something in writing.
If the plumber or electrician balks at the idea, or tries to talk you out of signing a contract, then they have done you a big favor. They have just taken themselves out of the running to be your plumber or electrician. Professionals will gladly sign a detailed contract because they know it benefits you just as much as it benefits them.
HANGING TOUGH- You can’t tell it from watching the evening news and seeing the countless horror stories about man’s inhumanity towards man, but most people in the world want to avoid conflict. That’s great when everyone wants to sing “Kumbaya,” but not so great when a plumber or electrician is trying to cheat you out of your hard earned money.