What's your experience using freelancers/handymen for plumbing jobs?
Question:Did they do a good job? What were you charged per hour including any "trip fee"?
I've had it with plumbing firms. I was charged $148. The bill included $59 for a 15 minute trip. The job required no parts and a half hour of actual work. My dentist charges less than this.
Answers:
I'm a Do It Yourselfer and able to take care of most of my plumbing and other repairs around my home (3rd SFH). We had a kitchen upgrade/remodel in mid-Dec 2006 with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, one which involved a gas cooktop reconnection.
Despite everything I read and buying all the gas connection parts from Lowes, my wife insisted we call an experienced plumber. I used Angies List (there is a $50 or so annual membership but the consumer feedback and categories are very good and well written). The plumber came in, installed what fittings I had bought and tested for leaks, and bill was only $69 <= By the way I did ask first, what the diagnostics and basic labor charge was upfront.
Recently I used Angies List again when we replaced an expensive Combo Microwave/Wall Oven in stainless after the microwave went) where the diagnostics was $49.95 plus labor. It was more difficult than owner had estimated and it took him like 2 hours so labor was $110. The owner (has 2 other employees) also repaired the icemaker on our side by side in 15-20 minutes and added $30 for labor and $58 for the part. Total bill was $251.80
In Metro Wash DC besides Angies List, there is a magazine published twice a year called WASHINGTON CHECKBOOK (that originally rec'd grant from Consumer Reports) that is also a great source for various services that will rate firms by QUALITY OF WORK and PRICE...
Do you know him? Do you trust him to stand behind his work? And do you know for sure that he's competent to hold a pipe wrench, let alone solder pipe in your whole house?
It all depends on the handyman. I like to think I do pretty good work--but I also know when I'm getting in too deep. The best freelancers or handymen are the ones who are honest about their capabilities, and don't rush into a job they can't complete simply because they "think they can figure it out".
The guy from your plumbing shop is probably a Union plumber with Union training--you know you're getting good work. And yeah, you're gonna pay for it.
Use the handyman for the simple jobs. Don't let him plumb your whole house.
Did your dentist come out to the house, bringing his drill, X-ray machine, tools, and such?
I've had no positive experience with freelancers or handymen types. Most often, they didn't know what the cause of the problem was, did *something* so they could charge me, and the problem was no better and quite often worse. They also had no idea what my city's building codes were, so that later I had to pay a competent professional to undo what they'd done.
In one case, a flexible gas line used by a freelance guy was so openly dangerous that when the meter reader came, he turned off the gas to the house until we could get it replaced with rigid pipe. Great, January, no heat, and another $100 bucks on top of what we paid the handyman.
Ever since, I go with licensed, bonded people, most often authorized service companies for the brand of whatever needs fixing. Yes, the up-front cost is more, but it's done right the first time, and they stand behind their work.
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That is about right. If you don't like it fix it yourself next time.
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