I'm definitely a DIY gal, trying to fix my own things around the house whenever possible, but sometimes things are beyond my level of expertise, so I hire a professional. Here's some great times from Jim Brown, filled with ideas I hadn't thought of before, but are definitely useful ways to save money when hiring professional handymen.
When it comes to your home's plumbing and electrical work, you need the assistance and guidance of a professional plumber and electrician that can aid you in fixing things and installing certain items in your home. Finding the perfect people for the job can be a little tough, but with the right mindset and plan, you can start hiring the right people for very good deals, too. So, in this article, we will take a look at some of the things you need to consider in situations like these.
DIY Methods Don't Always Pay Off
Most people believe that if they do something themselves, then they will save a lot of money in the process, that is not entirely true in a lot of cases. You will understand soon enough the value of hiring qualified and professional help; the amount of time, effort, and money you'd save would be considerable and can make you regret not doing it in the first place. Understandably, some people like to feel in control and have power over certain things, but when it gets dangerous or hazardous to you or your family, then you should consider a much safer option.
The experts you'd hire would be well-trained and would have seen many different things through their experience and years of service, so the time they'd take to fix or replace something would be a lot less than what it would take you to do it. Also, the extra parts they would get might be a lot cheaper for them because of their inside deals with suppliers, so you'd save money on that and avoid getting stuffed yourself. There is just too much at stake when you fix electrical or plumbing issues yourself; you're a lot better off hiring people that know what they're doing.
Check the Different Rates
As we all know, not every contractor is the same; most charge differently, and some charge you the lowest fee possible for a visit. It just depends on where you are and how well you have researched your options. Because most people don't know any better, the contractors can just charge people outrageous prices and get away with it, and people would assume this is the normal pricing for their services. You need to start comparing and finding the best deals ever when it comes to the work done by plumbers and electricians.
Also, you need to calculate which type of rate is best for you; do you want a rate where they charge a flat price or by the hour? These are things to consider, and you should ask the contractors about how you'd get charged. If the total cost of the work isn't final, then is there a possibility of change due to labor costs and the cost of materials? All of these questions can be answered once you negotiate, or look for different electricians and plumbers.
Review Their Work
This is another important thing to do; you need to look up other people's opinions and first-hand experience. You can do this anywhere in the world, from Canada to New Zealand, no matter where you live. Speaking of New Zealand, the plumbers and electricians at Laser Group suggest that you get the best electrical installation service and quality plumbing work, and you will be able to find very good ones through people's reviews and testimonials. The people will give their honest opinions about whether it is good or bad, especially if something noteworthy has happened. These ratings that you'd find, and whether they're good or bad can be a major factor in your decision.
There is another way to check someone's work, and that's through experiencing it first-hand yourself. When you find a nice and reputable contractor, whether it's for plumbing or electrical work, you will be able to see with your own eyes just how good or sloppy work would be. It is still a costly trial, but an effective way to decide if you hire the right person or not, so later you would know if you are going to hire them again or search for a better contractor.
Make Sure They're Licensed
This is extremely important for your overall safety, guaranteeing better services and protection against possible fraud, sloppy work, and property damage. The benefit of hiring a contractor that has a proper license is that they’ll be highly trained and more than qualified to do this type of work, providing the services that abide by the standards and codes of conduct of the government's department of public health. And it gives you the reassurance you need when they enter your home and work on stuff.
The different risks of hiring an unlicensed electrician or plumber are too great; you need to avoid any possible scams or unethical behavior. Also, not licensed means they are not insured, so you can't get the coverage for any damage, injury, or possible disastrous accidents. Faulty services and deceptive contractors can cause a lot of legal problems too, which cost a lot of money and need more effort in handling. But you can avoid all that if you hire someone with proper licensing.
Some Level of Transparency Is Needed
There must always be dialogue and a good chance to communicate properly with your contractor; it helps them understand what you really want and how they can work the way you want to satisfy your needs. It also helps you learn about what happened exactly if something broke because of user error, so you can, try not to repeat the action again in the future. Contractors explaining any plumbing or electrical issue in depth means they are knowledgeable and worth the money you paid for their work.
And speaking of money, there should be no hidden pricing involved; everything about the cost of certain repairs or upgrades should be confidently mentioned up front. A professional would be able to estimate how much everything will cost before they start working, and it gives the homeowner an idea of what they should expect to pay. There should also be room for price negotiation; together, you need to come up with the best deal possible that makes everyone happy.
Offer Them Value and Better Opportunities
If you're trying to get cheaper deals that are followed by the best quality of work, then you should consider helping the plumbers and electricians by spreading the word and recommending them to family members, friends, and other acquaintances. This means they have better chances of getting more work and possible clients, and in return, they can lower their fees when they do stuff for your home. They know they will get more clients and more work done, so that means more money for them in the long run.
It's an amazing way of saving some money and getting this proper discount; just make sure that whoever you recommended them to get the chance to mention that they are your referral. This builds a certain level of trust and mutual understanding, making the relationship stronger—and the work done would be the best there is. When contractors know that you are worth their while, they will definitely shave some numbers off the initial asking price for you.
Get Package Deals
This is another way of getting great deals and prices for work done in your home; it's always great to get three, four, or more things changed and upgraded at once. It's much cheaper this way than doing it one thing at a time if you calculate the cost of each job individually, and this is where the communication and negotiation skills would come in handy. If the plumber or electrician doesn't have a package deal, then it's worth mentioning that there are others who do. This convinces them to consider the opportunity and give you the best deal that both parties are comfortable with.
This is great when you have a couple of outlets that are damaged after years of wear and tear, so instead of replacing just those two, you can change every outlet in your home to make it safer and have better, upgraded outlets that won't be damaged anytime soon. The same goes for your pipes, fittings, and fixtures. Instead of upgrading one or two of them, you can upgrade everything to a much better-looking and less-rusty version of them for a better price.
Avoid Any Extra Chargeable Time
Unfortunately, you'd pay a lot more if and when there is time wasted, especially if you are charged with an hourly rate. So, if you don't want higher costs of different projects, then you should do everything in your power to make starting the job much easier and quicker. Also, before you even consider calling a contractor, you should check everything in your home that could need some attention; this way, they don't have to waste time testing stuff and checking if things are working properly or not.
You should go around your home and check every outlet, socket, panel, faucet, drain, pipe, and much more. Figure out what things are leaking, dripping, clogged, faulty, shorted out, or dangerous. So, when you finally call the right person for the job, you will explain everything to them so they can do their work properly and efficiently. This greatly saves time and money, and you don't have to pay for any extra charges for multiple trips.
Save Money on Better Layouts and Material
When you're about to replace or upgrade something, the installation costs can be greatly reduced if you minimize the lengths of circuits and wiring. A much smarter layout can mean a lot for you in the long run, and it's much easier to handle and install; this leads to the electrician having an easier time working on the job, and the costs of his/her work wouldn't be too much. You might think that smart and efficient layout that saves energy is expensive, but if you calculate the lowered utility bills, installation costs, and maintenance prices, then you will notice that you've made the right decision and saved a lot of money.
The same goes for your plumbing replacements and upgrades. Most of the older faucets, drains, or fittings are made from materials that aren't manufactured anymore, and for a good reason. An experienced plumber would advise you on getting the new and state-of-the-art items that can turn out to be much more durable over the years and easier to maintain. This saves you a lot of money in the long run because you will get fewer visits this way, as you won't be needing them.
The Average Costs for Reference
Many people have no idea how much these services actual cost, which is why a great deal of research is needed to determine if you're overpaying or not. Most electricians charge people 75 dollars just to enter their homes for inspections, and if they charge an hourly rate, then it's usually about 50 to 100 dollars per hour. Depending on how big the repairs or replacements are, you might be looking at 300 to 350 dollars per visit, which includes labor fees and additional costs for materials and parts.
As for your potential plumbers, they might charge you 45 to 200 dollars per hour, and if you have a lot of work being done, then you might be looking at 250 to 700 dollars per visit. The specific repairs might vary depending on how bad the leaks, clogs, or state of the pipes are. But overall, these are just an estimate of the prices you should expect from any of the reputable contractors.
It's important to find people that are knowledgeable and highly capable of handling your home's plumbing and electrical work. Repairing burst pipes, leaks, outlet problems, or upgrading panels can be done easily when you hire these licensed and reliable contractors. So, look around and figure out which one works best for you—one that suits your budget and needs. Hopefully, in the end, you will find the best deal you could possibly imagine, and save a lot of money in the process.