After seeing Bob's business card posted in my real estate office stating that he does a great job, I was totally shocked at the experiences I had using him on two jobs for my clients, which were done in the same time period.
#1 Property- The bathtub faucet in the clawfoot tub was leaking in the back, and needed replaced. Also, the washing machine drainline was not plumbed in properly under the previous owner, and needed corrected with a proper trap installed.
Bob fixed the laundry drainline, and then came back to do the tub faucet when it came in after ordered.
After the work was completed, I received 2 invoices:
-$1,072 to install new tub faucet($220 of total) and 2 new shut-off valves.... also had to move clawfoot tub to access. And, I found out later that the tub faucet he had installed was not a match to the one that was in before, and had a shower riser. It was understood that he ordered matching faucet with riser.
-$848(after discount!) to cut a 1' x 3' section of wall to access laundry plumbing to repipe with mechanical vent and run drain
The amount was extremely high in price compared to other plumbing invoices I have seen over the years. So, I contacted Bob and asked what his hourly rates are. His response was that he charges a 'Flat Rate'.... by the job only, and not hourly. He then said that his rate fees were on his website. I went to the website and did not find any rate sheet. So then, he began taking pictures of a 'plumbing labor manual'(?) with his finger pointing to prices and emailing them to me. I let him know that it was not clear what I was actually seeing with the pictures he sent. I then let him know that I was going to go out the next morning to look at the work he did, and then I was going to call a few plumbers to find out what they would charge for the same work. I told him that I wanted to resolve the situation as soon as possible, and GET HIM PAID.
The next morning I go to the residence, and find that Bob had gone back into the occupied rental- WITHOUT notifying the tenant, and cut out all of the work that he had done! Evidently, he didn't want anyone to see what he claims was over $1,500 worth of labor- even after I expressed that we wanted to get the situation resolved and pay him asap!
Another licensed plumber was hired to come back and complete the work again- the cost was $650, including the tub faucet that matched the previous one. PRICE DIFFERENCE OF $1,270!
#2 Property- There was no water pressure at the house, and the sump pump was constantly running.
Bob came out that evening to analyze the cause of the problem, and was there approximately 15-30 minutes according to the owner/tenant who were present. He looked in the meter pit and the basement, and said there was a water main break near the front porch and about 6' down. He doesn't do excavating, and so we would need to have it dug out for him to come back and repair. I found a company that was able to do both the excavating and repair. Since it was the day before Thanksgiving, I went ahead and had them get the job done for the tenants. I then let Bob know, and told him that we wanted to pay him his service fee for coming out.
He sent an invoice for $317.00! I asked him if he had used any professional equipment and how long he was at the house. HE DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTIONS and then again sent me a picture from a 'plumbing labor manual'(?) that said it is $272.00 for 'minor leak detection'. My client went ahead and paid him $45 for the service call.
Bob the Plumber's invoice states, 'Get the price before the work is done and save money $$$$'
There was obviously a reason these prices were not given to me before the work was done! :(
