I'm very, very late in submitting this review. I hired Steve Fox Plumbing in December 2013 to install a tankless water heater and whole-house filtration & softener system. As a disabled vet, I suffer from chronic ear infections caused by Staph bacteria in our tap water. My ear specialist felt that if I did this filtration system, it would go a long way to preventing the infections. I decided my little remaining hearing was worth the investment and started doing some research.
I purchased the systems myself after months of research. Steve had no issue with that..he was happy to install what I had purchased, even though I didn't buy the appliances from him. I felt he was genuinely more interested in my comfort and well-being than he was in the minimal mark-up he would do on the appliances had I purchased them from him..
Steve was the third plumbing contractor I had out to the house to give me an estimate. The others gave me estimates, but spent more time bragging themselves up on other jobs they had done rather than give me the attention to details that I wanted. I knew I had a tricky situation on my hands with 1/2" piping and new appliances that required 3/4" inlets on a house that just hit 50 years old. (I know enough about plumbing to be dangerous, but not enough to be professional.) The other guys didn't even bother to take measurements and told me everything they thought I wanted to hear and came in with some really good numbers....numbers that were very tempting.
Steve came out on a Saturday morning because I just couldn't take time off from work. He spent 2 1/2 hours , VERY METICULOUSLY, taking measurements and assessing everything he thought he would have to affect to do this install for me. He spoke very directly, gave me recommendations he felt would be beneficial, and gave me some cheaper alternative ideas....even though he'd not yet completed his estimate.
Steve's estimate was not the cheapest. As a business manager, I completely understand the costs of doing business...labor, insurance, overhead, profit margin, etc. He was not the cheapest, but he was the most thorough. He offered me alternatives, and recommendations. I HIRED HIM ON THE SPOT....though I had only asked for an estimate. The simple fact that he was SOOO meticulous in his assessment, very up front about his services, and NOT ONCE did he try to 'brag' about his work....he told me of similar jobs and the solutions he used. He kept the whole morning professional, yet very friendly, and I was completely confident that he would not come back to me half-way through the job and start to 'nickel and dime' me to death.
He and Pat (great guy!) started the following Monday. It was a huge job....as I knew it would be...but they tackled it with enthusiasm. They laid down their own throw rugs so as not to soil my floors (like I could tell the difference!). They were very respectful of my neighbors ensuring they did not intrude on parking and noise, and gave me a daily brief on their progress. Me being without water, for even an hour, was completely unacceptable to them. They ensured that I had all the comforts I needed each day when they left, even if it meant staying for several hours after shift to get to that point.
When they finished the job, with the exception of the new appliances and water lines, you could not tell they had even been on the place. INCREDIBLY THOROUGH and VERY SENSITIVE to you as a home-owner.
One more thing that just 'hooked' me on Steve Fox Plumbing: I had Steve install an in-wall washing machine hookup with drain. I mentioned to him that I have had osteo-arthritis in my hands since I was a kid but as I get older, I am continually losing strength in my hands. Shut off valves are very difficult for me. I have no strength left in my hands to turn them to seal them off...it's incredibly difficult. I told him I wanted quarter-turn valves installed so I could turn them off quickly. No problem, he did that. It wasn't until a few weeks later that I realized that he had changed out my hose spickets to quarter turn valves as well I didn't ask him to do it, he just did it....he looked around to see what he could do to help me....at no charge...and just took care of it. He has no idea what that means to me.
After this long diatribe, I just want to convey that this a small, family company with a lot of heart. The bottom line is not their end goal....it's you.
Thank you, Steve, and Pat, and Becky....you are now 'my' plumbers who get the only call when I need help.
HONESTY.....INTEGRITY.....OUTSTANDING SERVICE.....that is what you can expect from STEVE FOX PLUMBING. read more