First, here is a http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/248654_checkbook17.html to a P-I article entitled, Listing Offers Lowdown on Plumbers. If I knew then, what I know now.
Let me tell you about how it took me two weeks and cost me $50.00 just to have four plumbers look at a project in a vacant apartment in my Ballard 4-plex.
About a month ago my husband called Aurora, Fischer and Best, at the urging of our owner-partner. We did. Turns out only the latter two work on commercial properties, so we scheduled times for technicians to come out. Fischer showed up, on time and turned around a bid in a timely fashion. It was higher than we expected so we kept looking. Best was up next. Note: they require an appointment window (8-12 or 1-5 or something like that) to look at the job and will charge for the appointment. We were charged $50.00. The technician was late and talked over my head. The bid was promised for the next day, but was not returned for three additional working days. The bid was very high.
By the way, neither Best or Fischer have followed up on their bids.
About this time the P-I ran the above noted article. Thankfully we caught it and on a whim called Jim Button who came out two days later, looked at the job at no charge (and even helped my husband replace our kitchen faucet during the call) and returned a reasonable bid in a timely manner, in spite of the fact that he had to attend a funeral for a friend in the meanwhile. We booked him and the work will be completed in a week.
I also stumbled (via Morgans in Crown Hill) on Scott at Simple Solutions. I talked to him, but he was booked solid. I liked that he used to work at Morgans and that they spoke highly of his work and customer service. It gave me the feeling of that "I know where you live" leverage.
I've been saving this story for just this moment. Good luck.
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