Good questions when:

Hiring a Plumber

• How long have you been a plumber?
• How much experience have you had with my type of situation?
• Is the majority of your work in repairs, remodeling or new construction?
• Are you licensed or certified?

• Most trades are licensed through a state governmental agency such as a "home improvement commission". You'll need to find the agency in your state and verify that the tradesmen is, in fact, licensed and in good standing.

• Do you provide drain-cleaning services, underground pipe locating, water jetting of clogged lines or video line inspection?

• You may not need all of these services, but the answers will provide you information about whether the plumber is knowledgeable and up to date on the latest procedures.

• Do you work out of an office or another permanent place of business?

• A pick up truck is not an acceptable answer.

• How do you price your services?

• Tradesmen such as plumbers can quote prices in three distinct ways:\0121. Time and Material - an hourly rate plus the cost of the materials (which may be marked up).\0122. Flat rate - e.g. install a garbage disposal $200\0123. Bid - tradesman provides a comprehensive quote upfront for what the charges will be which includes all labor and material charges.

• What sets you apart from other plumbers?