Hiring A Good Electrician

by: Jim Christian

Hiring a company to do electrical contracting work for your home or business can be a very stressful decision. What if the costs soar half way the job and you can't afford to continue? This article attempts to provide a good step-by-step guide for choosing the right electrician for the job. Just follow the simple steps below and you will be well on your way.

STEP ONE: Get Appropriate Credentials

Electrician services companies working in your home must always be licensed and insured in case of problems. Every electrical worker you consider hiring should be bonded, licensed, and insured. They should be willing to let you know their individual state license number. Also, check to see if they have the appropriate insurance for workers comp and general liability.

TIP: The potential dangers of hiring an uninsured electrical contractor are enormous. What would happen if that acquaintance" of yours who has "watched a lot of tv remodeling shows" gets really injured while under your house or in the crawl space? Well, more often than not, it's you who would be held completely accountable for any injuries that they incurred while on your property.

STEP TWO: Check References

Don't be shy to ask for and check their references! You want to make sure that the company has a good reputation.

STEP THREE: Their Employees

Some of the more reputable electricians insist all of their electricians are regularly background checked and drug tested. This is a good indication that the electrician has your interests in mind before theirs. This process is quite an investment on their part, and it tells you right away that they have invested a great deal in their own employees.

TIP: See if the company is on any "best places to work" lists in your region. A great place to work means that the employees are treated well and respected.

STEP FOUR: Getting a Price Up Front

Take note, you won't get the best price by bidding the job around to multiple companies. Call ones that you are interested in working with, and get a feel for their customer service (a live person answering the telephone is always a good sign!) THEN call only one out to your home to prepare an estimate. Some of electrician companies are offering first time discounts for first customers, and if not may usually try to get your long-term business by cutting the costs of that first job.

TIP: You want to develop a good, long lasting relationship with an trusted electrician. The odds are that you will call them more than once during your time in your home.

STEP FIVE: Knowing you called the right one.

Look out for the following when that electrician comes to your door for the first job:

A good local electrician Always arrives at your door in a sparkling uniform. The top companies insist that their employees carry enough clean uniforms for every new job.

A stellar electricianwill have business cards with their telephone, company name, license number printed somewhere.

A good local electrician will NEVER start a job without getting the appropriate permits. Yes, you can usually get someone to do a job less expensively and faster by not pulling permits, but it puts you and yours at great risk when you do so. What happens if you don't acquire permits and something goes wrong, like an electrical fire? Usually your insurance company will investigate to make sure that the required permits were in place, and, if not, you may not be covered!

A great electrician will always call you back within 24 - hours or less, provide a through written estimate outlining all labor and materials, and put a deadline on the estimate as well.

TIP: What if the project unexpectedly gets out of hand at some point, and through no fault on anyone's part you have to dig into the wallet to get it done. A A great electrician company will stop and provide an written addendum to the original estimate so that you know all new costs before commencing..

A stellar local electrician will always listen to what you want to have done, and then make recommendations based on their expert opinion. There are many things that need to be taken into account for a rewiring job, such as: (total amperage usage, dedicated circuits for computers, high wattage kitchen work lights, vacuum cleaner usage, types of bulbs needed, existing wiring, etc etc)

A stellar local electrician will consider all of the extra things that you might not think about, explain them, and give you options on which direction you want to go.

An excellent electrician company will always wear those sanitary shoe covers when on the project. They also won’t ever leave a mess of dust and debris once they are done.

A stellar electrician company will install parts that are designed for long-term use and wear. Any time you have electrical work done, you should also keep in mind the resale value. Good contractor grade electrical materials will only add to the value of your home/office, and will insure a passing inspection report before you sell.

STEP SIX: Hiring your electrician

Before the project begins that you have a signed an official estimate approved by you and the contractor. Be sure that you have estimated enough time for the work to take place (major electrical projects the evening before a big party is not wise!) Be sure that all correct permits are in hand and posted appropriately.

EXPERT TIP: Don't let price alone determine which company is awarded the project. Trust with a company that you feel comfortable with, has good online references, and has open communication with you about the job. Good communication from an electrician is the best sign that they will do the job right, and that they can be trusted.

We sincerely hope that this article helps to find the right electrician for the project!