Hiring a company to do electrical work in and around your home or business can be a really stressful decision. What if the costs increase half way through the project and you can't afford to continue? What of something goes wrong? This is a good step-by-step method for choosing the right electricians to work in your home.
STEP ONE: The Right Credentials
Electricians working in your home must be licensed and insured. Every electrician you consider hiring should be licensed, insured, and bonded. They should let you know their individual state license number, and check to see if they have the appropriate insurance for general liability and workers compensation.
TIP: The dangers of hiring an uninsured electrician are great. What would happen if that "friend" of yours who "thinks he's an electrician" gets badly hurt while under your house or in the crawl space of your office? Usually, it is you who would be held 100% responsible for any injuries that happened while on your property.
STEP TWO: References
Ask for and check their references! Also check online reviews. You want to be very sure that the company has a history of doing good work in the community.
STEP THREE: Their Employees
Some of the more reputable electrician companies make sure all of their employees are regularly drug-tested and background checked. This is a great indication that the company has your interests in mind before theirs. This process is very expensive, and it tells you right away that they have invested a great deal in their own employees.
TIP: A great place to work means that the employees are treated well and respected. See if the company is on any "best places to work" lists in your area.
STEP FOUR: Getting a Price Up Front
You won't get the best price by bidding the job around to a lot of companies. Call the companies you are interested in working with, and get a feel for their customer service (make sure it's a live person answering the phone!) A lot of companies are offering first time discounts for new customers, and if not will usually try to get your long-term business by cutting the costs of that first job.
TIP: You want to develop a long lasting relationship with an electrician. The odds are that you will call them more than once during your stay in your home or office.
STEP FIVE: Knowing that you have called (Not Hired YET!) the right electrician.
Here are a few things to look out for when that electrician comes to your door the first time:
An excellent electrician will ALWAYS arrive at your door in a clean uniform. The more professional companies insist that their electricians carry enough clean uniforms so that they can change after every job if one gets dirty.
An excellent electrician will have business cards with their company name, telephone number, and a license number on it.
A great electrician will NEVER perform a job without getting the appropriate permits. What happens if you don't pull permits and something goes wrong, like a fire? It is almost certain that your insurance company will make sure that the appropriate permits were in place, and, if not, you may not be covered!
An excellent electrician will always call you back within 24- hours or less, provide a well documented written estimate outlining all labor and materials, and put a timeframe on the estimate as well.
An excellent electrician will stop and provide an written addendum to the original estimate so that you know what to expect at the final bill.
An excellent 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 factored into a rewiring job, for instance: (total amperage usage, dedicated circuits for computers, high wattage kitchen work lights, vacuum cleaner usage, types of bulbs needed, existing wiring, etc etc)
An excellent electrician will always wear those funny shoe covers when coming into your home from the attic or the basement. They also won’t ever leave a mess of dust and debris once they are done.
An excellent electrician 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 of your home/office. Good contractor grade materials will only add to the value of your home/office, and will insure a great inspection report before the sale.
STEP SIX: Hiring your electrician
Make sure before work begins that you have signed an official estimate approved by you and the contractor. Make sure that you have allotted enough time for the work to take place (major electrical projects the night before a big party is not a great idea!) Make sure that all permits are in hand and posted appropriately.
That's it! We hope this helps in making the right decision for your electrical needs
