Water choices

A while back I wrote about some plumbing work I required to be done at one of my houses; it wasn't something I was comfortable to do myself considering the nature and importance of the job as far as water management goes; buggering it up and flooding out my property wasn't something I was willing to risk just to save a few bucks.

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I was finding it difficult to get a quote done - people didn't want to turn up to quote - and I was getting annoyed until I finally got onto a plumbing group who filled me with confidence from the first call and throughout the inspection, assessment and quoting process. I haven't decided who I'll use yet but the group I mention are the frontrunners.

The problem, yeah there's always a problem, is that they're really expensive; far more costly than the others.

I'm the buy one cry once guy meaning I'd rather pay more for quality the first time than to buy poor quality and have to re-buy when it reveals the reason it was cheaper in the first place; it's a more costly way to go. How do I know my plumbing job, one that requires concrete cutting and replacement as well, will be done satisfactorily? Seeing a product prior to purchasing is one thing, but with services that's not always possible. I actually don't know the job will be done right but taking the time to choose what I believe to be the best group helps somewhat.

The good thing is that they took the time to explain the situation, why the scope of the work was a little more complex than I'd first thought and pointed out the dangers of doing a half-assed solution. I soon came to understand that the job the others would do, though cheaper, had the potential to come back and bite me on my taut and pleasing to look at ass later costing me even more. Do it right first time, is the plumbing group's ethos apparently and I appreciate that and their transparency so I'll be making a final decision this weekend...and I think I know who I'll be using already.

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What experiences have to had with having to make a choice between a more and less expensive option and did it go well or badly? Feel free to explain the situation in the comments below if you'd like.