Top Questions To Ask Before Hiring An Electrician Around You

Finding the right electrician should be all about safety and getting the best value for your money. Since electrical faults are some of the leading causes of home fires, you should hire an electrician who is skilled, experienced and has excellent work ethics.

Asking the right and most important questions, such as, “Is there an expert electrician near me?” and, “How do I find the best electrician to address an electrical issue at home?” could spell the difference between just getting the job done and a job excellently done.

Below are the top questions to ask before hiring an electrician around you:

1. Do You Have References?

For new house construction or complex renovations, it is appropriate to ask the electrician for references. This gives you a chance to review the past assignments the electrician has performed, which enables you to validate their performance and work ethics. An electrician with a track record will provide you with a list of their past clients. Alternatively, you can ask around from family and friends to whom your chosen electrician might have previously provided their services. Once you have validated an electrician’s performance, you are more likely to trust them with your work, since trust is a vital component of any business relationship.

2. Are You Insured?

This is one of the deal-breaker questions. Electrical works can be hazardous. Hence it is better to know up front whether or not the electrician has an up-to-date public liability insurance policy. And, until the electrical contractor can show you valid insurance, you should never sign on the dotted line.

3. Are You Licensed?

Before you hire an electrician, you need to make sure that they have a valid electrical contractor license. This proves that the electrician has achieved all the necessary training and complied with all the requirements set by the national electrical code. A licensed electrician understands all the electrical regulations in your locality; thus, you are guaranteed of exemplary and legitimate service.

4. How Many Years Have You Been In The Field?

Akin to any contracting job, the experience should be highly regarded when hiring a domestic or a commercial electrician. Apart from being licensed and having insurance, you also need to know whether they have the necessary experience for them to carry out the job in a safe manner. Additionally, you want to hire an electrician; you can rely on for an extended period and not just on one single assignment. This can help you prevent the legwork of having to change electricians now and again, which compromises the quality of work and even the overall safety of your house.

5. Who Is Performing The Work?

Some electricians, despite being licensed and masters in their craft, tend to delegate the tasks to junior electricians and apprentices. Therefore, it should be up to you to confirm whether a licensed master electrician or a mentee will carry out the project. If the latter option doesn’t suit you well, the best thing for you to do is to hire another contractor.

6. Will You Provide A Detailed Estimate Of Costs?

In most cases, electricians will provide you with a fixed quote for their services. Nonetheless, issues may arise in the course of the project, and you may have to incur unexpected additional costs. The best way to get rid of such budget issues is to discuss with them the estimated expenses before the commencement of the work so that you don’t end up with surprise costs at billing time.

Some electricians intentionally use flat-rate pricing to increase their profits, making you, as a client, pay more. Therefore, it is also appropriate to get a breakdown of the fixed-rate charges so that you’ll be able to determine any hidden costs that might otherwise go unnoticed.

7. Do You Have Any Specialty?

Another thing to be aware of is their specialty. Unknown to many, knowing the electrician’s expertise is that little secret that can lead to the best results. With such an understanding, you can easily determine whether the specialization matches the type of work that needs to be done.

Conclusion

Before hiring an electrician, it’s always best to ask them specific questions before signing on the dotted line. You have the right to ask them for references, and the right to know if they are licensed and insured, if they’re the ones or their mentees who would do the work, as well as if how many years they have been working in the field and if they have specializations. It’s also important to ask for the estimated costs to save you from unexpected additional expenses in the end.