When you are buying a home or business, the last thing on your mind is the plumbing. However, plumbing issues can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to resolve. The cost of repairs can be even higher if it forces you to miss a few days of work or school. When faced with these types of scenarios, many people immediately jump to the conclusion that they will have to pay for everything out of pocket. The truth is, there are many ways to mitigate these costs or even get out of paying for them altogether. In order to avoid being stuck with a big plumbing bill down the road, you need to get an accurate estimate before you commit to any work. There are various ways to get accurate estimates for plumbing repair, replacement or installation. The good news is that you don't need a contractor or plumber on site to get a written estimate from an expert.

CHECK ON LOCAL PLUMBING CODES

Before you even pick up the phone to call for a plumbing estimate, be sure to check on the local plumbing code. While it may not seem like it matters much now, but it will help you understand what type of plumbing work you can and can’t do. Even if you don’t plan on doing any work at the moment, you can still get an estimate by calling a plumber. While most of the time you will want to call an expert that is familiar with the local plumbing code, it’s also a good idea to call a general contractor to get an estimate.

ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS

While you are at it, ask your neighbors if they have ever had any plumbing issues or if they know anyone that has recently had to fix their pipes due to a disaster. You can even try posting a notice on your front door asking folks if they have had any plumbing issues in the past year. This will help you get a better idea of what common issues are in your neighborhood. You can even go a step further and ask if anyone has ever had an estimate from a plumber.

ASK THE LANDLORD

If you are considering purchasing a home, you may want to ask the current owners if they have had any plumbing issues. If they have, you can ask them if they hired a plumber to fix the issue. If they did, you can ask for the name of their plumber and their estimate. If they didn’t hire a plumber, you can ask if they know any reliable contractors in the area that could help you with your plumbing issues. If you are renting, you may not have as many options. However, you can always ask if the landlord has had any plumbing issues in the past year.

CALL A PLUMBING CONTRACTOR

While you can’t technically call a plumber to give you an estimate, you can call a plumbing contractor. These contractors are experts in all things related to plumbing, from installing new pipes to repairing old ones. You can find plumbing contractors near you by visiting the American Plumbing Association website. Once you have a list of contractors in your area, you can call and request an estimate for your upcoming project.

CONTACT A GENERAL CONTRACTOR

If you are considering renovating or building a new home, you will want to hire a general contractor to oversee the job. While a general contractor will probably be the one doing the plumbing work, they will likely be in charge of hiring the plumbing contractor. If your contractor is not affiliated with a plumbing contractor, they will likely have the same rates as a plumbing contractor. However, if your contractor is already working with a plumbing contractor, they may not be able to give you an estimate. In that case, you will need to contact the plumbing contractor directly.

BROWSE ONLINE AND FIND ESTIMATES

If your home or business is currently in good working condition, you may not need to get an estimate from a plumbing contractor. However, if you are in the process of purchasing a new home, you may want to hire a general contractor to do the plumbing work. You may also want to consider getting an estimate for a future project. You can easily find estimates online by doing a Google search for “plumbing estimate.” You can also visit websites like Angie’s list and ask for recommendations. Once you find a few reputable plumbing contractors, you can request an estimate from them.

BOTTOM LINE

You don’t want to be in a situation where you are paying for a plumbing repair from your savings account because you couldn’t get an estimate. While you may not think it matters now, there will be plenty of times in the future when it will. Get an estimate before you make a decision about any plumbing work and you won’t have to worry about being stuck with a large bill.