For a lot of people, hiring an experienced electrician might seem like an unnecessary cost, until they realize how much hiring a bad one can cost.
A cheap electrician won’t cost much initially but you’ll eventually have to pay a better one to fix the first one’s error. That’s why it’s best to get a skilled professional electrician the first time.
Make a list of all the good electricians in your area and ask them these six important questions.
How Long Will the Project Take?
No one likes having a bunch of machinery and strangers working in their home, so when choosing a residential electrician, ask them an estimate of how long the project could take and compare it with other electricians.
A skilled electrician should give you a realistic estimate and stick to it, without any unexpected delays or Emergency Electric Work due to lack of work experience or improper planning.
How Will You Handle Changes to the Project?
When dealing with an electrical contractor, it’s never a good idea to make changes to the project or add other renovations and repairs without discussing how it impacts the cost and time estimate for when the project will be complete.
Be sure to have this conversation with your electrician before the project starts so there are no problems or misunderstandings down the road.
What References Can I Contact?
An experienced and reputable residential electrician will have no problem handing over references of past customers that can speak about their good work and expertise.
Doing so shows that they are confident in their work and they value their customers. You can also check online reviews if you’re still not sure.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
One of the most important questions to ask the electrician is if they are licensed to do the electrical work they need to. In most states, electricians are required to have a license to operate. Hiring one with insurance also gives you protection from liabilities.
There are two levels of license for an electrician. The first is journeyman electricians and the second is master electricians, who have a minimum of two years of experience.
How Much Will You Charge?
Although price shouldn’t be the main factor when picking an electrician, it’s still important to figure it out so you know you’re not getting overcharged for the services.
Electrical work can get quite expensive, so make sure that there are no unexpected costs like travel expenses or clean-up costs. Get bids or estimates from multiple electricians to compare the price and services provided.
Who’s Performing the Work?
Knowing who will be working on the project entails whether the electrical contractor is working on it himself, or is it just their employees and hired subcontractors.
If there are going to be apprentices working as well, it’s important to make sure they’re supervised. You’ll also want at least a journeyman electrician servicing your project.
