Why it’s important to hire a licensed plumbing contractor

By Bill Aldridge

A Plumber at work. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you scan the newsfeeds like I do every day then you see all kinds of crazy stories about people getting burned by unlicensed contractors.  Like most people, the motivation behind hiring an unlicensed contractor has to do with saving money.  While this is an excellent reason to look before you leap, more often than not the people who hire unlicensed contractors wind up paying more instead of less.  This is due to the fact that while unlicensed contractors talk a good game many wind up being unable or unwilling to complete the job. 

Case in point:

3 unlicensed Contractors Banned in N Dakota

Nelson received $40,825 from three consumers to repair sewer lines and install heating and cooling systems, but failed to properly install the appliances or finish the projects. He has been criminally charged with 19 counts of failure to have a plumber's license.

What will happen here is that the homeowner or business owner will now be forced to pay twice for the same job.  While this sounds like a case of a hard lesson learned, this is by no means the worst case scenario.  Worse than having an unlicensed contractor abscond with the deposit or do a partial repair would be for them to perform the job improperly, in which case either of the following two conditions will prevail:

      1.      The repair will have to be repaired

      2.      The repair will fail and cause damage to the structure.

In either of the above mentioned situations the cost to rectify the problems created by an unlicensed contractor can be extremely expensive.  In many cases the damage done isn’t covered under the homeowner’s policy and you can rest assured that the unlicensed contractor doesn’t have any.  More importantly, there is a better way to get the job done while saving money at the same time.  You see, just as licensed contractors such as I have to put in long hours of study and practical experience to become licensed, knowing how to choose the right contractor for the job is an acquired skill as well.

Step 1: The Pre-Interview

With the advent of the Internet you don’t have to take a contractor’s word that they are honest, courteous and reliable.  You can check out their credentials at the click of a mouse.  To start off, do a search and start checking out plumber websites.  See if they have any videos that tell you what they are all about, as well as testimonials from customers.  Next go to Google Local and type in the name of their business and see for yourself if they have any positive or negative reviews by former customers.  If they have a blog, read a few posts so that you will get to know the type of people with whom you will be dealing.  You will be surprised at what you can learn online nowadays.

Step 2: The Phone Interview

Before allowing prospective contractors to set foot inside your door, you should ask if they are licensed and how much liability insurance they carry.  The last thing you want is to have your property damaged during a repair only to find out that the contractor is either not insured or under insured.

Step 3: The Interview

Once you feel comfortable about your choice of contractors, line up a few and invite them over.  When asking for a quote, make sure that it is in writing.  Also make sure that you ask them about their experience with the intended repair, as well as he length of time they estimate it will take to complete the job.  Also ask the contractor if the quote includes all materials or whether you will be charged an additional fee for needed parts and supplies after the fact. 

Step 4: Permitting

While many plumbing jobs do not require a permit to be pulled, some do.  If you are unsure, make sure you ask the prospective contractor s if a permit is going to be required, who is going to pull the permit, and whether you will have to miss time from work in order to let the inspector onto your property.

Step5: References

While a plumber’s website may have a number of glowing testimonials, it is always a good idea to also ask any potential contractor for three references that you can call.  Don’t assume that the clean cut, soft-spoken young man that shows up to give you a quote is going to be the person tasked to do the work.  You could be in for a rude awakening.  When calling a contractor’s references, ask if the plumbers sent to do the repair were courteous.  Did they arrive promptly?  Did they clean up after themselves?  Also do not be afraid to ask point blank if there was any reason that they would be reluctant to work with this contractor in the future.  While getting a deal on a repair or remodeling job might look good on paper, if the contractor is consistently late, if their subcontractors are noisy or messy, or if the repair or remodeling leaves a lot to be desired, then you could find out after the fact that maybe the lowest price isn’t always the best deal.

Step 6: The Contract

Once you select a contractor with which to work, you need to see a contract that defines the task in its entirety.  All the I’s need to be dotted and the T’s need to be crossed.  If there is anything in the job description that seems a little fuzzy, or if the contractor is unwilling to put any part of the repair or remodel in writing, then it’s time to move onto another candidate.  They don’t call them contractors for nothing.  If it isn’t in the contract then you can rest assured that it is not covered.  Period.

The bottom line is that if you master the skill of choosing the right contractor then you will always be able to save money in the long run.  Since most people own their home for many years, this little policy will always pay big dividends.  And that’s like money in the bank.

Bill Aldridge is the Doctor of Plumbology at Aldridge and Sons Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida.  For more helpful plumbing tips and helpful how-to videos, visit http:// aldridgesonsplumbing.com