Leaky pipes or leaky wallet: 5 tricks of substandard plumbers

Leaky pipes or leaky wallet: 5 tricks of substandard plumbers Chances are you want a plumber in anyone's life on a regular basis. " Likewise, they are able to switch out high grade materials for a lower grade, increasing profit margins without the customer being familiar with the short-change in goods. If you're plumbing a brand new home, that's a big job and typically more than one plumber will be on the premises to get the work done in a timely manner. Bait and Switch. Dave warns, "In the long run, the customer ends up paying higher hourly standard rates than a reputable plumber quoted them originally. " Buteau says he charges flat-rate fees for standard work and gets calls regularly from people complaining about plumbers who quotation them the smallest price, but end up charging twice as much for "additional work" in the long run. Cure: Unless you've got an emergency situation, take the time to get several estimates and make sure the scope of services is clearly outlined, so you aren't comparing apples to oranges. He admits, "The hardest part of the job is convincing a potential customer that a low-ball quotation is probably not an accurate reflection of the work involved. Cure: While you can't fault a plumber for charging a minimum labor charge to cover his time and travel, you can take advantage of that full hour of labor you're paying for by having him resolve any small problems or perform routine maintenance work to get your money's worth. Also, common sense dictates need - if you're having a sink or faucet replaced, it's certainly not a job requiring more than one plumber. Markups in Affluent Neighborhoods. Most of the time, quotes at extreme ends reflect inaccurate estimations of labor time. Some specialize in commercial or domestic projects, or in a particular kind of plumbing application, such as natural gas lines or fire suppression systems. Here are the most common problems and recommended cures to prevent a leaky wallet. "If a plumber is training an apprentice, that's one thing," he adds, "but you shouldn't be charged extra if the job only requires one person to do the work. While you should allow your plumber a slight mark-up to cover his overhead and operating expenses, stay away companies which consistently charge more than ten to fifteen percent more than the cost of materials. High Cost for the First Hour of Labor. Most plumbing supplies to carry out household repairs cost little - such as washers, gaskets, and O-rings - so you ought to watch out for exorbitant material fees. Leaky pipes or leaky wallet: 5 tricks of substandard plumbers Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 06/05/2012