When you buy a Ford, or a Chevy, or a Lexus, does the dealership tell you that they don’t provide service for it? No! And they're pretty darn big companies! Then why on earth would you accept that excuse from a pond builder? It’s unfortunate that we get calls all the time from people who hired a contractor or landscaper to build them a pond, but then when they needed help with it, were told that they don’t provide service. Really?!?! Why Don’t You Service What You Build?So, why do you suppose that someone would not service what they design & build? They’re “too big to do service work” is a cop-out! Is that what you can expect when you have a warranty claim, too – to be told that they don’t do service? So, why? One possible answer is that they can’t. They may not have systems in place, or trained personnel, or they’ve built something that is not really serviceable. Your guess is as good as ours! And since there are literally HUNDREDS of ways to build a “pond,” you better be sure that you know that what you’re getting can be cared for down the road – it’s a big investment. Shop SmartIt’s exciting, this thought of getting the pond you’ve always dreamed of having in your back yard! You’re excited, your spouse is excited, your kids are over the moon! It’s easy to get all caught up in that excitement and forget about the dirty details. As you go on your shopping journey for a pond or water feature, shop smart! Ask questions. Think about what can go wrong, and who would be responsible for taking care of that. We’ve put together 10 Questions to Ask A Contractor before you hire them. Hope it helps! Also, check out the contractor’s website, social media, and YouTube channel. Do they provide information? How are their reviews (Facebook and Google)? Do they leave people hanging? Are they there when folks need them? Everyone gets a bad review now and then, because you can’t make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time, but check the overall vibe of what people are saying. And by all means, visit their work in person! Photos can be deceiving. Photos can be copied or stolen. Hate to think this way, but it happens. Go see what they do, preferably something that’s at least a year old so you get a feel for how their work stands the test of time. Check their licensing! Hiring an unlicensed contractor is the fastest way to lose money. It’s actually illegal for anyone doing a project over $1,000 in Arizona to not have a contractor license and appropriate insurance. But it happens all the time. Yep, they can be cheaper than the above-board guy because their overhead is a lot lower. But you’re really taking your chances that nothing will go wrong. Of course, maybe you enjoy gambling with thousands of dollars. Need Help?If you’ve already found yourself in a situation where you have a pond or water feature that needs help or service, please contact us. If we’re not the right fit for some reason, we’ll be honest with you, and we can most certainly point you in the right direction for appropriate help. The Pond Gnome does not service ALL types of ponds and water features. Because our service techs are trained in biology, our specialization is living ecosystem ponds and water features. That’s what we build, and thus what we service most often. We have lots of information in our blog and on our website for service, cleaning, aquatic plants, water treatment, troubleshooting, etc. OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY MY POND PUMP QUIT! NOW WHAT? 7 TIPS TO KEEP POND WATER CLEAN POND WATER TREATMENT CHEAT SHEET Comments are closed.
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