WHEN DOES WORK TO BE COMPLETED REQUIRE A LICENSED PLUMBER?

• A homeowner may complete work in their own home if it does not require a plumbing permit by the City of Omaha.
• Therefore a homeowner may change-out an old toilet or faucet, repair a leaky faucet or toilet, but cannot repair any plumbing pipes located in walls or change the location of any plumbing fixture or even replace a water heater.
• Additionally, if you hire anyone to complete plumbing work at your home or office, even if it is to repair a leaky toilet or faucet, they must be a licensed Master Plumber or a licensed Journeyman Plumber, working under a Master Plumber.  BE SURE TO ASK THAT "HANDYMAN" FOR HIS PLUMBING LICENSE NUMBER!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "UP-FRONT PRICING" VS. HOURLY RATES?

• Most companies, like JMP, charge by the hour.  This means you pay only for the time the plumber is working for you.
• "Up-front Pricing" is a method where the plumber comes to your home and "Diagnosis" the problem first and tells you how much it will cost to fix it.  If you agree to the price, the plumber completes the work and you pay the previously agreed upon amount.  What they don't tell you is, if you don't want them to do the work, you will be charged a dispatch fee ranging between $40 and $60.00, plus tax, and you still are left with the problem!
• Having worked for an "Up-front Pricing" plumbing company years ago, personal experience has provided insight to this system of billing.  1.  These companies take the "Worst Case Scenario" of what the job could entail and charge accordingly so they don't lose money.  2.  The plumber completing the work will also try to sell you some sort of "Service Contract" since he is working on commission sales.
• The majority of service calls range between (1) and (2) hours labor, plus materials.
• Just because you know the price up-front does not make it cheaper, in most cases it makes it more expensive.