I'm a licensed female GC working on my own investment house, and I hired Mr. Groovy (Joe) for a full rough-in. Joe is one of the best plumbers I have ever worked with. He takes everything into consideration: anticipated drywall and cement board, subfloor leveling, fixture locations. If something isn't perfect, he'll work until it is- for his own satisfaction. He is a plumbing wizard, and a good guy to have on a job site. His competent wife handles things behind the scenes, and it's rare to have such frequent, friendly, and value-added communication. When I brought up the sales tax exemption for capital improvements (which is something few people know about), Kelly took it upon herself to call friends and the actual government to clarify the requirements and establish the proper paperwork. With other bids, I stated I would be providing the fixtures, but other bids came in offering their preferred fixtures plus sales tax.
You'd think a one-man operation would slow things down, but what I experienced was a plumber who managed every aspect with a critical eye, versus relying on less experienced subs rushing through a job. I still don't know how he managed to perfectly set a 66" bathtub and a 90 lb slate shower base by himself, but Joe is a gentle giant who knows it all when it comes to plumbing. He works independently, and offered suggestions and tips I hadn't considered. He also listens to cool music and carried some heavy things for me after I twisted an ankle without blinking an eye (I'm not proud). Although plumbing isn't the sexiest job out there, once you see how much work he puts in, you'll understand that you're receiving platinum service for what is very reasonable pricing. I received nearly a dozen proposals for a comprehensive and annoying job, and Joe's was the one that included all the details of the work involved, while others focused on upselling fixtures and completely neglecting components of the job. As long as he'll work with me, I won't hire another plumber in OBX. read more
