Hiring GuidesHow to choose a plumber
What to confirm before you hire a plumber, how to compare quotes fairly, and the questions that separate a clear estimate from a vague one.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated August 26, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
Confirm licensing and insurance for your state, get the scope in writing, and compare quotes on the same defined work rather than on the headline number. Ask how the company charges (flat rate or hourly), who actually performs the work, what the warranty covers, and how change orders are handled if the job opens up.
Key points
- Verify licensing and insurance yourself. Requirements are set by your state or municipality.
- An itemized estimate is easier to compare and harder to inflate later.
- The cheapest quote is only comparable when it covers the same scope.
Confirm the basics first
- Current license as required where you live, and general liability plus workers compensation coverage
- A business name and address you can actually find
- Written estimates rather than a number quoted over the phone for unseen work
- Clarity on whether an employee or a subcontractor will be doing the work
Questions to ask before you accept a quote
- Is this flat rate or hourly, and what does the trip or diagnostic fee cover?
- What exactly is included, and what would count as extra?
- Who pulls the permit if this work requires one?
- What is the warranty on labor, and separately on parts?
- How do you handle problems found once the wall or floor is open?
Ready to compare plumbers?
Start a plumbing requestComparing estimates fairly
Line the quotes up side by side on scope, materials and warranty. A higher quote that replaces a failing shutoff valve while the wall is open may cost less over five years than a lower quote that leaves it. Watch for estimates that describe the work only in general terms, because those are the ones that change once work begins.
Reasonable caution
- Pressure to decide immediately on non urgent work
- Large deposits requested before any work is scheduled
- No written scope at all
- A refusal to put the warranty in writing
Common questions
- Does Hire Best Pros verify licensing?
- No. Hire Best Pros connects you with professionals and does not perform the work or verify credentials on your behalf. Confirm licensing and insurance independently before you hire.
- How many quotes should I get?
- For planned work, comparing a few is normally enough to see whether one estimate is unusual in scope or price. For an active leak or a sewage backup, speed matters more than shopping.