As a trained professional, plumbers are equipped to handle almost any plumbing problem that may arise. Unfortunately, not all plumbers are created...
As a trained professional, plumbers are equipped to handle almost any plumbing problem that may arise. Unfortunately, not all plumbers are created...
View Plumbing Guide RSS feedHiring a plumber is serious business. This article offers tips on hiring a plumber.
Even if you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer you may need to someday hire a plumber. As a trained professional, plumbers are equipped to handle almost any plumbing problem that may arise. Unfortunately, not all plumbers are created equal. When hiring a plumber, there are a few things that you should consider.
Before hiring a plumber, you should always make sure that they are licensed and insured. If a plumber has a license, it guarantees that he or she has been professionally trained and tested by the state.
Insurance is also very important; accidents can sometime happen when a plumber is working. If the plumber is soldering a pipe and accidentally burns a hole in your carpet, but has no insurance, who do you think will end up paying for it?
In order to be licensed and insured, a plumber must have a significant amount of experience, but that does not mean that everyone on the plumbing crew does. When contacting a plumbing company, inquire specifically about the service professionals who will be visiting your house.
The best way to find a plumber is to ask around. Talk to friends, family and co-workers to get names of trustworthy plumbers. While you're checking, you'll probably also end up getting a list of plumbers to stay away from.
You can also ask the plumber for references. They should be able to supply you with several written or verbal references from current customers. If a plumber cannot supply references, you should be very leery. Either they have no happy customers or they haven't been in business very long.
Most plumbers charge by the hour. You might think that hiring a plumber with the lowest hourly rate is the best way to go, but that may not necessarily be true. Not all plumbers count hours the same. For example, some count drive time, while some do not. Also, the hourly rate may depend on their level of experience or the number of service professionals that are sent on the job.
You will also find that some plumbers charge a flat rate for certain jobs, rather than charging by the hour. Depending on what the rate is, this type of charging could be easier on the pocketbook than hourly rates.
No matter how a plumber charges, you should always try to get a written estimate. A written estimate will protect you from hidden charges and unexpected expenses.
The final thing that you should consider when hiring a plumber is the response time. Once you hire a plumber, it will be nice to be able to call on them in an emergency. Ask the plumber what their emergency response time is, so you know what to expect in the future.
The housing crisis is a big issue for many voters. Not surprisingly, John McCain and Barack Obama offer vastly different plans to solve it. Let's see where they stand.
Falling prices are eroding the value of U.S. homes. According to a new Fed report, the equity that Americans have in their homes has dropped to the lowest level on record.
A survey commissioned by a national federation of state and local apartment associations shows that most renters will not be jumping into the U.S. housing market anytime soon. Has renting become the smart decision?
Some politicians are in favor of providing assistance to the millions of homeowners who are facing default as a result of poor decision-making and falling home prices. Others are dead set against it. Let's see where the American people stand.
Small banks and big ones alike are on the verge of bankruptcy, due to all of the bad loans that have been approved over the past few years. Although people tend to assume that their money will be safe even if their banks fail, history has shown that this isn't always the case. Find out if your hard-earned cash is at risk.
When it comes to home prices, location matters. Consider this: a $210,000 home in Atlanta, GA would be worth $1.4 million in Beverly Hills. The same home would be worth $509,000 in Washington D.C. and $207,000 in Phoenix. Find out how much homes might be worth in different cities in this home price comparison.
An open letter to all of the lawmakers and taxpayers who think a mortgage bailout is what we need to solve the housing crisis.
A national survey found that Stamford, Connecticut has most expensive rents among other U.S. cities. Residents need a household wage of $31.58 to afford fair market rent on a two-bedroom rental unit. Find out which other metro areas and states have high housing costs.
To get borrowers to leave a house--and leave it in good condition--mortgage lenders around the nation have begun offering cash for keys. Some lenders are paying out upwards of $3,000.