Before You Hire the Sewer Repair Contractor – Follow These 5 Recommendations
Table of Contents
- 1. License and Insurance
- Specialty insurance
- 2. A Written Estimate
- » Contingency
- » Unconditional and Long-Term Guarantees
- 3. A Formal Contract
- 4. References and Reviews
- 5. Other Qualities to look for Sewer Repair Contractor
- How to Check If Sewer Contractor Is Licensed
1. License and Insurance
Any plumber, including a sewer repair specialized plumber in Ventura County, should be licensed and insured. Ventura County has placed this vital information on the county website or makes a quick phone call to the county office, and they can tell you what you need to know.
The job of a sewer repair contractor has specialized certification demands. You’ll want them to provide you proof they are legally permitted to handle your sewer line repair and that every technician on the job has been trained and certified. Individual employees are required to be licensed by local code as well, and the following is an illustration for sewer line repair special requirements for a sewer line repair contractor:
» Specialty insurance
The insurance that a sewer repair contractor is required has inclusive requirements. Such as having coverage for incidentals excavation work stated explicitly as their principal job type within their policy, especially for a Trenchless Sewer Repair job. Trenchless Sewer Repair requires a different level of training and equipment. Even if you don’t need this liability, you want a contractor that has everything he needs. Having and providing proof of insurance is symbolic of their integrity as a business. They should not have any issue with you asking for an insurance certificate to assure you they are a company and contractor you can trust.
2. A Written Estimate
Never hire any contractor without a dated and signed written estimate. A sewer line repair contractor should offer you a written and signed estimate, but if they don’t offer one, ask and request it is signed on the spot. Included in the written estimate should have the following information included:
- Cost of equipment (Trenchless Sewer Repair requires different equipment)
- Labor
- Materials to be used for the job
- Any associated items related to the job
» Contingency
Additionally, this written estimate should include a state of contingency for possible additional work. Sewer line repair is not cheap, and you need to know what you’re going to be expected to pay when the job is completed with an accurate and quote. A written, detailed, or expressly all-inclusive quote that itemizes all charges is more substantial than a verbal agreement.
» Unconditional and Long-Term Guarantees
Homeowners need to have a more formal and written guarantee for a sewer repair contractor’s work to be completed. It would help if you always insisted on securing a period like a 10-year unconditional guarantee on a Sewer Line Replacement that can give them peace of mind. One should not get confused a “warranty” with a “guarantee,” as a warranty is pro-rated and becomes less valuable as time moves along.
Further, you should seek assurance that there will not be any remaining damage, holes, or cracks to your areas where the sewer job needs to be completed, or else the contractor team would promptly restore the disturbed area.
3. A Formal Contract
A formal contract in writing should be standard practice for a Sewer Repair Contractor. Take the time to read the contract before signing it and ask questions thoroughly. If there is a mistake in the contract from what your verbal discussion indicated, have it explained or corrected before signing it. If the Sewer Repair Contractor doesn’t offer a contract, look for another contractor.
4. References and Reviews
These may be one of the most important things you can have –recent references and reviews will give you an idea of this contractor’s reputation in the business. Take the time to call and speak to these customers. Regardless of how much advertising this sewer repair contractor has or how fancy their website, nothing can tell you more about them than recent business references and reviews. Do some research on your own and check with the Better Business Bureau, Facebook, Google, Yelp, and other websites.
5. Other Qualities to look for Sewer Repair Contractor before Hiring Them
Every component of your home is just as important, including the sewer lines. Never use anyone other than a professional sewer repair contractor to service your home. The qualities you should expect from a contractor should include their current license with the specification of their Expertise. Suppose a contractor can’t provide you the proper documentation of licenses, insurance, and bond, as well as their membership to significant trade associations. In that case, this is not the contractor you want to hire.
Another quality you need to look at before hiring a sewer repair contractor is their Knowledge about City-Specific Requirements. The contractor should know the city’s strict regulations and codes for sewer work. They should be familiar with the code requirements for the type, size, and grade of sewer pipes necessary to complete jobs. They should know how to handle the DEP inspection process for you so that your sewer repair work will be approved faster.
Additionally, you always want to have a contractor who provides High-Quality Customer Service that cannot be underestimated. Quality customer service means having a representative who will be available anytime to answer your calls, even during off-hours. Furthermore, quality customer service demands multiple ways to contact the company, whether by phone, through the website, or any option you need to get in touch with.
Gallegos Plumbing is your trusted Sewer Repair Contractor in Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and Ventura County. Contact us online or call us now at (805) 243-2622 for professional sewer line repair or other plumbing services.
How to Check If Sewer Contractor Is Licensed
Hiring a contractor that isn’t licensed or insured can have devastating consequences, and the officials of Ventura County, California, appreciate those concerns. Ventura County has made it easy to check and verify a Sewer Repair Contractor’s legitimacy, or any contractor, online to protect their residents. You can either click this link or enter it in the web browser and get a license check for free: https://www.countyoffice.org/ca-ventura-county-business-license-search/. This free search allows you to perform a free public business license search that includes business lookups, business registries, entity searches, and permit searches.
In Closing
Your home is an investment and a place you should be comfortable and safe. There are major repairs like drain cleaning, sewer line repair, or other plumbing services, never hiring a contractor, you haven’t thoroughly checked. Following the information that we have provided here is one way to make sure you have hired a sewer line contractor to entrust this necessary component to repair.