Our plumbers can make your project watertight

Our excellent plumbers are available to help with all your plumbing needs. Whether you have a new appliance or fitting that needs plumbing, some soaking wet emergency repairs, a geyser that needs replacing or you want a plumbing inspection so you can get a COC, we have a Fix Forward home pro to help.

Plumbing projects we handle:

Hiring a plumber – Find the right fit

For many people calling a plumber is something that only happens in an emergency. A burst pipe, or a dodgy geyser are the type of crisis most homeowners are familiar with on some level. But plumbing is not always about emergencies – and even when it is, you should have your person who you know and can call.

So how do you find the right person? How do you differentiate between the real deal and a man with a plunger? Here are a few key tips to help you.

Plumber hire – Track record

Plumbing is not always a very glamorous profession. When you hire a person to take your place completing a job that is elbows deep in blocked drains and malfunctioning sewer pipes almost anyone is prepared to give a good reference. But beware, the ‘rather him than me’ reference doesn’t necessarily mean that the plumber did a good job – it simply means that they saved somebody else from a smelly job.

So be discerning when looking into the plumber’s record. Look for multiple references that you get correspond to the type of job that needs to be done. In other words, if you need to plumb your new kitchen, a guy who got a glowing reference for unblocking a toilet might not be the best fit.

Ask around and if possible go and have a look at the work that the plumber has done elsewhere. Did they finish things nicely? Did they work well with the other home pros? Were there any issues with the work they did?

Find a plumber online

Go online and do a bit of research. The internet offers a wealth of resources, some subjective and some more objective. If you are going to look at sites like Hellopeter or Facebook, remember that consumers are far more likely to comment on work they are unhappy with, rather than work they liked. So, you will often find reputable home pros with some bad reviews.

Obviously you will also find bad home pros with bad reviews. Usually the number of bad reviews translates into two things – the size of the company and the quality if the work.

But there are also objective online platforms like us, at Fix Forward, whose goal is to take some of the pain out of finding the right person. Platforms like ours vet home pros. They make sure that the person is capable of doing what they say they will.

It is an endorsement of skill compiled by people who know the industry and who are willing to stake their reputation on recommending the right plumber. It’s not infallible but we are confident that we have developed a great resource and starting point to help you with your quest.

Get plumber referrals

The adage that one swallow doesn’t make a summer is never more true than when it comes to hiring a plumber. Everyone has done at least one good job once. So getting a positive reference shouldn’t be too hard for a plumber to obtain. Look to obtain multiple references – and also make sure that they are recent.

Sure, doing a stellar job five years ago speaks to longevity in the industry and quality if work, but surely there are more recent jobs that you can check on as well? Remember that if plumbing goes wrong you will be landed with a flood and that is something you need to avoid at all costs – you really cannot be to thorough in your vetting process – especially if it is a big job.

The best referrals are ones that come from people you know – preferably people who know a bit a DIY and contracting work. You will know which of your friends and contacts are more practical than others and they should be your go-to people when sourcing a reference.

Plumber hire – Summary

Who will do the actual work? Many plumbers look to hire other plumbers to come and work for them. It can be a great way to build a business but what it does mean is that the people doing the work are often a little less invested in the job than they would be if they were the actual company owner.

This is not a deal breaker, but it is always worth looking into – so often the quality of work, the focus and dedication to the job is that much better if the business owner is actually involved in the job. No, he doesn’t need to do everything and yes, of course he can have a team of helpers, but if he is on site and involved, you can almost bet on the fact that there will be fewer complications or issues when the work is finally concluded.