Choosing a plumber

highly-qualified plumbers and heating engineers are specialists in their fields and often fix issues quickly, neatly and efficiently.

Choosing a reliable tradesperson

Picture this: a leak springs up in your house.

You don’t feel equipped to deal with it, maybe it’s your first home, or you have never dealt with anything related to the inner workings of your house before.

Ideally, you want the problem solved as quickly as possible, but you must be careful when choosing a tradesperson or plumber.

Do your research

It can be tempting to choose the first person or company that appears when you search online, but research is imperative to make sure you choose a reputable tradesperson.

You might wonder, if someone is working as a plumber, does that not mean they are all equally qualified?

In theory, yes, but there are unfortunately rogue tradespeople who may do an arguably poor job of fixing the problem, just to make some easy money.

What makes a good tradesperson/plumber?

If you ask friends and family, it can be a bit of minefield when determining what makes a good tradesperson, but there are a few handy tips to keep in mind.

Even if you are dealing with a plumbing emergency, take the time to find a reputable plumber, if you live in London try J&P.

Some directories do not ask for proper certification or undertake the appropriate background checks before listing a tradesperson, which can make it extremely difficult to find a reputable plumber.

Online directories may also offer paid-for listings, meaning tradespeople can simply create a profile and work without any thorough checks.

Choose experience

You should try to find an agency or company that sets a benchmark of experience for its workers.

Most companies will not take on engineers without a minimum of five years’ experience in their relevant trades and they must all undergo a thorough background and qualification check.

If you find an independent plumber, it is fine to ask to see evidence of qualifications and training.

Reviews can also be helpful to scope out whether a plumber has provided a good service, but it is important to look out for fake reviews.

If all the reviews sound like they have been written by the same person, or those reviewing have only ever posted one review, this might be grounds for suspicion.

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