The vetting checklist that separates flat-rate professionals from coupon-bait operations — with the answers you should hear.
1. 'What's the flat price for my specific clog?' — the right company quotes a firm number or a tight range for your described job before booking; 'depends what we find' as a complete answer is a meter waiting to run. 2. 'Is that the price nights and weekends too?' — flat-rate shops say yes. 3. 'What happens if you can't clear it?' — the answer you want: you don't pay. Pay-for-results pricing keeps everyone honest.
4. 'What size cable and head will you use for this line?' — you don't need to grade the answer; you're testing whether one exists. 5. 'Do you flow-test before leaving?' — full-volume testing is the difference between cleared and pierced. 6. 'Is camera verification available, and do I get the footage?' — footage belongs to you, always. 7. 'Do you use chemical openers?' — the correct answer is never.
8. 'Are you licensed, insured and bonded — and can you send certificates?' — professionals send them without friction. 9. 'What's your guarantee, in writing?' — a 30-day clog-free guarantee is the industry mark of full-bore work. 10. 'Will you tell me the cause, not just clear it?' — a company that can't explain why it clogged is guessing about whether it will again, and a recurring clog without a diagnosis is a subscription.
Prices that can't be discussed until someone's in your basement. $49-style coupons with fine print. Excavation recommendations without camera footage you get to keep. Pressure tactics with tonight-only pricing. And reviews that mention a low quote and a high invoice in the same sentence — the pattern is the product.
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