Nathan Conner
10-18-2007, 9:18 AM
I'll try to keep this short and simple.
We've been having internet issues for a week, and Qwest was unable to diagnose the problem after 5 visits. Finally, the Qwest guy and I crawled under my 15-year-old 2000 sf single-story house to discover Niagra Falls in the crawlspace. We have all copper plumbing, and are on a well with enough acidity that it's destroying the copper. There are at least 15, maybe 20 pinholes everywhere in the copper. So, that was the DSL issue, water in the phone lines, and we've got some SERIOUS plumbing problems.
Our neighbor had this same issue last year, similarly aged house, and we share the well. He paid $2500 to get his two-story house re-plumbed. I called 17 plumbers yesterday, got 3 to come out to give bids. The others weren't interested in crawlspace work.
The first guy to come out was an expensive but recommended local company. He didn't even look under the house, just looked around inside, and commented that there was a lot of work. I mentioned my $2500 price objective, and he shook his head, and said, "You're closer to $3,000 on this one". No problem. We can deal with that, but it's gonna hurt. He said he'd get back to me on the bid.
The second guy comes out - has a look, and I mention the ballpark price the first guy was looking at. He hissed through his teeth, shook his head, shook my hand, and said, "Good luck." as he left. Next guy, same thing - I mentioned the price, he crawled around underneath, and told me, "If you can get it done for that, go for it. I can't touch this for $3,000." And he left, too.
So, I'm left with the single bid, it comes back later in the day not at $3,000, but at $3,950. (*grrrr*) I told them I'd think about it. Here's where it gets touchy. They said they'd send a guy out to repair the issues TODAY and get us so we're not leaking, then send a crew of 5 out next Friday and replace everything from the pipe coming in to each of the faucets...absolutely everything. So, we'd be taken care of right now, and they'll stand behind their work.
My wife insisted that I call her dad. I did, he recommended a guy who he said, "Does great work." So, I call this guy Bob, and explain the situation. He knows Steve, the guy with the only bid I have, and says, "Ok, I'll do the job next Thursday and Friday for an even $2,000...cash." After some discussion, he agrees to come out tomorrow and have a look at the job, first, but says he knows Steve, and knows what he gets paid, and he's willing to take less. They get supplies from the same place, so parts aren't an issue. Sounds like Bob's willing to do the same job, minus the repair work. He'll just come fix it all next week. He just needs $500 for materials. I explain that it's not a problem, and I can cut him a check Friday for materials, and he said, "Actually, that's a problem. I really need cash only." Oh, ok.
So, Bob seems like a nice guy, and the price sounds right, but am I just BEGGING FOR TROUBLE? I don't Bob from Adam, the FIL has been mildly ok with recommendations, but not a perfect record. Bob says he's a licensed and bonded plumber, but how do I check that out? Gees, this whole thing is making me crazy. $1950 savings is $1950 in the pocket. That'd buy me a hell of a nice shaper or a truckload of nice hardwood.
I'm really, really losing sleep over this. On the one hand I can take the risk and save the cash, but is it going to cost me WAY more in the long run if something goes south, or if he "hurts his back" and sues me, or if he doesn't show up for day two and we're left without water, or if...or if...
Any opinions? I need to make a decision fast so I can get on the schedule, and meanwhile, the crawlspace is filling with water, and there's no functional shutoff valve I can use without turning off my neighbor, too. (That's job number 1 for either plumber - install a shutoff)
Help!
We've been having internet issues for a week, and Qwest was unable to diagnose the problem after 5 visits. Finally, the Qwest guy and I crawled under my 15-year-old 2000 sf single-story house to discover Niagra Falls in the crawlspace. We have all copper plumbing, and are on a well with enough acidity that it's destroying the copper. There are at least 15, maybe 20 pinholes everywhere in the copper. So, that was the DSL issue, water in the phone lines, and we've got some SERIOUS plumbing problems.
Our neighbor had this same issue last year, similarly aged house, and we share the well. He paid $2500 to get his two-story house re-plumbed. I called 17 plumbers yesterday, got 3 to come out to give bids. The others weren't interested in crawlspace work.
The first guy to come out was an expensive but recommended local company. He didn't even look under the house, just looked around inside, and commented that there was a lot of work. I mentioned my $2500 price objective, and he shook his head, and said, "You're closer to $3,000 on this one". No problem. We can deal with that, but it's gonna hurt. He said he'd get back to me on the bid.
The second guy comes out - has a look, and I mention the ballpark price the first guy was looking at. He hissed through his teeth, shook his head, shook my hand, and said, "Good luck." as he left. Next guy, same thing - I mentioned the price, he crawled around underneath, and told me, "If you can get it done for that, go for it. I can't touch this for $3,000." And he left, too.
So, I'm left with the single bid, it comes back later in the day not at $3,000, but at $3,950. (*grrrr*) I told them I'd think about it. Here's where it gets touchy. They said they'd send a guy out to repair the issues TODAY and get us so we're not leaking, then send a crew of 5 out next Friday and replace everything from the pipe coming in to each of the faucets...absolutely everything. So, we'd be taken care of right now, and they'll stand behind their work.
My wife insisted that I call her dad. I did, he recommended a guy who he said, "Does great work." So, I call this guy Bob, and explain the situation. He knows Steve, the guy with the only bid I have, and says, "Ok, I'll do the job next Thursday and Friday for an even $2,000...cash." After some discussion, he agrees to come out tomorrow and have a look at the job, first, but says he knows Steve, and knows what he gets paid, and he's willing to take less. They get supplies from the same place, so parts aren't an issue. Sounds like Bob's willing to do the same job, minus the repair work. He'll just come fix it all next week. He just needs $500 for materials. I explain that it's not a problem, and I can cut him a check Friday for materials, and he said, "Actually, that's a problem. I really need cash only." Oh, ok.
So, Bob seems like a nice guy, and the price sounds right, but am I just BEGGING FOR TROUBLE? I don't Bob from Adam, the FIL has been mildly ok with recommendations, but not a perfect record. Bob says he's a licensed and bonded plumber, but how do I check that out? Gees, this whole thing is making me crazy. $1950 savings is $1950 in the pocket. That'd buy me a hell of a nice shaper or a truckload of nice hardwood.
I'm really, really losing sleep over this. On the one hand I can take the risk and save the cash, but is it going to cost me WAY more in the long run if something goes south, or if he "hurts his back" and sues me, or if he doesn't show up for day two and we're left without water, or if...or if...
Any opinions? I need to make a decision fast so I can get on the schedule, and meanwhile, the crawlspace is filling with water, and there's no functional shutoff valve I can use without turning off my neighbor, too. (That's job number 1 for either plumber - install a shutoff)
Help!