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Let The Doctor Solve Your.
Plumbing & Heating Dilemmas: This Week SSIA'S BEWARE |
Are you thinking of using your SSIA money for home improvements read on? How can you avoid the "cowboy" we've all heard horror stories. The topic is popular with television programs highlighting Heating and Plumbing contractors, who may show up a week later, and try too charge you over the odds and may not even complete the job.
In an ideal world you would expect others to be totally honest in there dealings with you. Unfortunately, this is not always the case some people will promise the sun, moon and stars without any intention or the ability to deliver same.
A lot of "cowboy" will present an image to you of confidence and friendliness; this can make it very hard to question their abilities and promises to deliver. Always remember, it is your hard earned money that they intend to take; do not be afraid to stand up for your rights. At the end of the day they are not doing you any favors if you are going to pay them to do the work.
If you find reading this article disturbing, think on to the affect that a “COWBOY” could have on your property and your bank account. Inflated quotations and bad workmanship are typical of this type of contractor. If you have no written quotation, you as the consumer have little or no comeback if it all goes badly wrong.
If your central heating boiler has seen better days and you want to update it, or you have a plumbing emergency, how can you be sure that the Heating and Plumbing contractor you call is reliable and competent? It's tempting to just reach for the Golden Pages and phone the first name you came across but, as Kevin Farrelly the Plumbing Doctor explains Buyer Beware, there are a lot of cowboys out there and it pays to be very careful.
Answer: Choose only a Professional Heating And Plumbing Contractor.
Guidelines
The five main guidelines in order of importance are:
Quality of workmanship.
Ask for references.
Former customers are an excellent source of information.
Written Quotation.
Specification.
Payment.
These guidelines are aimed at making you think before you choose a Heating and Plumbing contractor so that you will minimize the risk of hiring a “cowboy”.
Quality
Quality is always remembered long after price is forgotten. The key to comfort with any central heating or plumbing system is a quality installation.
If a central heating system is correctly sized, designed and installed, it will operate at peak efficiency and give you years of carefree comfort.
So, when the time comes to repair or replace a central heating system, I would strongly recommend you take extra time and care in choosing your contractor.
In some cases, you may already have a preference for a certain manufacturer of heating product's based upon a favorable experience or that of a friend or neighbor.
In that case, look for a contractor that sells and installs that particular brand and product.
Explain to your Heating and Plumbing contractor about any problems you're experiencing with your current central heating or plumbing system so that the contractor can properly evaluate your needs.
References
Make sure that all the quotations reflect the same job/work specification. Ask people you trust (family, friends, neighbors etc.) if they can recommend a Heating and Plumbing contractor. If they have had work done by the Heating and Plumbing contractor, make sure it is of a similar type to what you require. Do not stop with the first recommendation you receive, try to get two or three names of clients who have had similar types of installations carried out in your area.
Quotations
Get a written Quotation preferable three. Having met each contractor and received the quotes, you may be able make a first assessment.
Try to keep personal feelings out of the decision.
Beware of any central Heating and Plumbing contractor that simply takes your information over the phone and then Quote's a price for the job.
If one of the quotes is widely different (either higher or lower) from the other two, try to find out why. It may not reflect the standard of workmanship, a contractor with little or no work may put in a low quote just to keep working while a busy contractor who does not really need the work may put in a much higher quotation.
Specification
The work to be carried out a 'works specification'. this needs to be more than just some notes you have written down or a list of what you needs to have done, it requires to be defined. When the work is to commence and be completed make sure you specify who is going to be responsible for removing any rubbish and making “good' after the work
Payments.
Ask for details of the required payments. For all jobs, the Heating and Plumbing contractor may ask for payments at specific stages of the work. When you have decided on a contractor, draw up a written agreement.
The cost of the work and when/how it is to be paid. If the job is being funded by a loan and released to you at fixed stages of the work, make sure that the contractor understands this and the actual time at which funds will be released.
I hope this information helps you to choose a professional Heating and Plumbing contractor - if you would like to contact the doctor please, e-mail info@findaplumber.ie
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