Double Duty: Why You Should Choose A Contractor That Is Licensed AND Experienced
When it's time to hire a contractor for your home, the options are plentiful in Polk County. From the local handyman down the street, to the commercialized, big-box store contracted "professionals", you can find people willing to hop over to your home and install appliances, repair water damage, fix pipes, replace flooring, or offer a full renovation of a space in your home...but does that mean they're the best choice?
Obviously, there are factors to be considered when hiring a contractor that can greatly impact the job at hand. While we understand that cost is a big factor for you as the homeowner, going with the cheapest guy available and opting for the lowest quote usually means you'll end up with sub-par work, potential insurance issues down the road when that repair or replacement starts leaking, and likely, a bad experience all the way around. However, the most expensive contractor isn't always the top choice either. The balance is actually in the middle, and more than cost, there are two big requirements to look at when you hire a contractor to work on your home: licensure and experience.
A licensed contractor is one you can trust, since they have been made to pass a myriad of different criteria before acquiring that licensure. Additionally, they are usually insured (licensure and insurance typically go hand in hand) which protects you and your home from damages and/or injuries of the contractor and his team. Licensure alone though doesn't necessarily guarantee a great outcome. A newly licensed handyman can receive his official numbers, but if you have a particularly tough issue to tackle or are requesting a complex renovation, he might be a little off put by it and have a hard time coming up with the best solution. That's where experience comes in. An experienced contractor has a wide variety of clients backing him or her up, and can offer you a list of references from previous clients. These references not only give you a glimpse of the customer service provided by the contractor, but also give you an idea of what types of jobs he or she has handled in the past. The more experience, the better.
Dickens Plumbing Inc. is both licensed AND experienced, providing service for homeowners throughout Polk County and the surrounding areas. We specialize in plumbing repair, appliance installation, bathroom and kitchen work, and a variety of other "handyman" tasks that you want a professional contractor to handle. We provide a long list of references for your specific type of job, and our goal is to make you feel as confident as possible in your choice to use us for your project, before we ever pick up the tools to begin. Call us to schedule your estimate!