How to Choose a Plumber in Melbourne: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Book

Why this matters

Plumbing is one of the few trades where the wrong choice can flood a house, void insurance, or fail a property sale years later. These 12 questions cost you nothing and tell you everything.

The 12 questions

1. What's your VBA licence number? (Should be on quote, van, invoice.)

2. Do you provide upfront pricing before starting?

3. Will I receive a Certificate of Compliance for any prescribed work?

4. What's your workmanship warranty, in writing?

5. Do you carry $20m public liability insurance?

6. Are you available 24/7 if something goes wrong after the job?

7. Will you send photos and CCTV footage of any concealed work?

8. Who actually does the work — the person quoting or a subcontractor?

9. What happens if you find something extra once you start?

10. Do you offer relining or only dig-and-replace? (Reveals modern capability.)

11. Can I see Google reviews and a recent example of similar work?

12. Do you guarantee a fixed price even on emergency jobs?

The three that scare cowboys away: 1, 3 and 12. A plumber unwilling to give a licence number, lodge a CCC, or hold a fixed price is telling you something important.

Green flags

Reviews mention names, suburbs and specific jobs (not just "great service").

Quote is itemised, not a single line.

Plumber asks before doing extras.

Wears branded uniform, drives a sign-written van.

Offers to email everything: quote, photos, certificate, warranty.

Red flags

"I'll work it out as we go."

No written quote.

Cash discount in exchange for skipping paperwork.

Refuses to show insurance or licence.

FAQ

Why does J.O. Plumbing publish prices online?

Because trust starts before we knock on the door. We'd rather lose the job than ambush you.

Are you available 24/7?

Yes — across all of Melbourne, with upfront pricing even at 2am.

Call to action

Ready to book Melbourne's most transparent plumber? Get an upfront price online or call us 24/7.

How to use these articles

These 10 articles complete the first 20-piece Big 5 library for J.O. Plumbing. Publish at a cadence of 2 per month for the next 5 months. Each article should: (a) link to its closest Selling 7 video, (b) link to a service page, (c) include a clear booking CTA, and (d) be promoted via SMS to the relevant past customer segment (e.g. hot-water articles to anyone who had a HWS service in the last 5 years).

Next batch (Articles 21–30) should focus on: stormwater water & flooding, rainwater tanks, bathroom renovations, kitchen rough-ins, backflow prevention, water meter & billing surprises, suburb-specific guides (Brunswick, Hawthorn, Frankston), commercial preventative maintenance, and end-of-life appliance signs.

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