Last week we received a desperate call from a woman who had just been the victim of a low-life scam artist.  The lady owns a duplex, and when a toilet leak, turned into a floor replacement, and then ultimately a complete renovation, she found herself in need of some help.  She decided to turn to Craigslist as so many people seem to do these days.  We have found Craigslist to be very beneficial ourselves to reach a large number of customers.  The problem is, so do a large number of unlicensed, unprofessional, and unscrupulous con men.  The main reason for this is that it is free to advertise there.  Anybody can post anything they want, everyday.  She claims he quoted her $400 in plumbing work.  She gave him $200 up front, saw him “piddle around” for a few hours, and never heard from him again.  This is when we came into the picture.  She had us out to take a look at what needed to be done, and we gave her a quote of $950 to do exactly what the last guy said he was going to do.  She was quite shocked with that number, which is not surprising given the first estimate she received.  She was equally as shocked when she came by the next afternoon while we were working and saw the progress we had made and the professionalism in the work.  I think she suddenly realized the value of the money she was now spending.  There are a few morals or warnings to this story.  The first is as old as money itself: You get what you pay for.  There are many legit and quality contractors on Craigslist, but unfortunately, there may be an equal number of fly-by-night bums.  Don’t go with the lowest or highest bid.  You should generally try and take somebody in the middle.  The lowest bid has probably forgot something, is inexperienced, or will try and cut corners.  Also, plumbing is not painting, it is not carpentry, and it is not flooring.  Plumbing is a live working system!  There is much more to it than just appearance.  The function of the system and the safety of your home and family are at stake!  This is no time to be frugal and try and save a buck or two.  Even if you were to hire a handyman to do something very simple, is he going to have the knowledge and skills to resolve a bigger problem that may arise?  In the State of Michigan, it is illegal for any unlicensed person to alter a plumbing system.  By law, a handyman cannot cut into your water or drain lines anyway, this includes water heaters.  They can only fix things, such as a faucet or toilet. Another thing to keep in mind, you can always ask for and check the credentials of any contractor claiming to be licensed at http://www7.dleg.state.mi.us/bcclicense/ Our license information is listed on our homepage, and in every Craigslist ad we post.  Lastly, don’t give anybody money up front!  No legit contractor will ever ask for money up front.  It is a nice thought, especially since we as contractors can be victimized ourselves by homeowners that will not pay after the job is completed.  By providing excellent service, and always being honest and fair, we hope to keep those types of situations few and far between.

Best Wishes!