We live in an age of information onslaught and the sheer volume of data that we see and hear each day makes it very easy to distinguish fact from fiction. From motivational speakers who promise several hundred thousand dollars of passive income a month to vloggers who leave you feeling sour about your mundane life, the internet has it all.
And then come the DIY gurus who make everything seem like a breeze. Professional carpenters, mechanics, fabricators, etc make the most difficult of projects seem like child’s play. You can watch a live edge dining table — that would take weeks to complete otherwise — come to life in a 10-minute video. Presentations like these make anyone feel inclined to pick up an axe and head out to find a tree trunk of his or her own. Trouble is, such experiments often go down badly because one, the people performing the jobs in those videos are seasoned professionals, and two, they have the right tools, equipment, and know-how to perform those herculean tasks.
One of the most common problems many households face on almost a monthly basis is troublesome plumbing, which makes it a job most experimented with by enterprising homeowners. Sadly, such enthusiasts often exacerbate the problem. You see, plumbing is a highly skilled job that needs much more than a pipe wrench. It requires precision, ingenuity, and understanding of the lengths and breadths of the trade, literally.
So be careful. Your plan to save up on minor labour costs may end up causing you much more trouble. If you too are facing problems with plumbing at your home, we suggest you seek professional help. To make matters easier, we have compiled a list of key factors to consider that will help you reach the best plumbing contractor in London.
Job Expertise
As we mentioned earlier, plumbing is a job that requires a unique skill set and familiarity with a diverse range of equipment, including boilers and related electrical and gas components. Hiring an inexperienced contractor to manage the installation or maintenance of your home’s plumbing setup is nothing short of inviting an accident. Be sure to check out past projects when browsing through the website of various contractors to get an idea of how well a contractor can perform on the job.
Permits and allowances
While conducting your research for a contractor, always shortlist the ones who have the necessary allowances like licences and permits to operate as a certified contractor. This way, you will make sure that the person or company being hired is a certified professional who knows how to go about the task at hand. Hiring a contractor that does not have the right permissions from authorities will not only make you complicit in breaking the law, it means you are putting some unapproved contractor responsible for managing a highly complex job. That is as dangerous a behaviour as it gets.
Customer Service
Testimonials and reviews are a great way of knowing about the quality of work being performed by the contractor. Customers who receive quality services hardly shy away from expressing their delight over the services performed and vice versa. It is an important measure, and the easiest way, of gauging the efficacy of a contractor and the services rendered. Also, try to find out the times during which the contractor operates. A service provider who is available round the clock can be trusted to have your back in case an emergency strikes at an odd hour.
Time Management
Nothing could be more true than the saying “time is money”. And in the case of contractual work, more time actually means more money, for the service provider, at least. When looking for various plumbing services, be sure to ask the contractor for quotes regarding the time the job would require. By comparing it with similar quotes from other contractors, you can always take a guess about the actual time needed to complete the job. This would give you a better understanding of the potential efficiency with which the contractor would be able to perform and help you make an informed decision.
Pricing
One of the most important factors in making or breaking a deal is pricing. It is one of the most contentious of issues between a homeowner and a contractor, and often the reason for major disputes. When looking for contractors, do not hesitate to ask for quotations from as many contractors as you may like. The plumbing service is a highly competitive space and only the contractors that offer the best services with the most reasonable rates are certain to survive.
Safety
Plumbing involves managing the water and heating supply in your home and any minor faults have the potential of turning into full-blown accidents. This makes safety extremely important. While assigning work to a contractor, you are in fact making him or her responsible for the safety of your home and your family, so make the decision after proper research. Always look for contractors who put safety first before all else and have the equipment and expertise to back up their claims.
With these handy tips, you are sure to find the right plumbing contractor in London, or anywhere else in the world, the next time you decide to hire one.