5 Critical Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician

Getting the best deal is one of the main reasons homeowners compare several electricians prior to hiring one, but it’s not the most important reason to hire a contractor of this nature. An electrician is a person who spends ample time in your home working on your electrical features, which is dangerous. Someone who isn’t capable of working with electrical wiring and features can cause substantial damage to your home as well as risk many lives. Finding a good electrician with the ample experience is the most important quality to look for, and there is a long list of questions all homeowners should ask prior to hiring any electrician to work on his or her home.

1- Ask for Proof of Insurance

“When someone comes into your home to do work for you, you want to know they’re insured,” said Arrow Electric, Inc. If they do something wrong, cause damage to your home, or cause damage to you, you want to know they’ve got the means to pay for it through their own insurance company. It’s not your responsibility. If an electrician can’t show you proof of insurance, don’t hire them.

2- Ask for References

You have every right to ask for a list of references before you call anyone back to work in your home. Don’t just ask, either. You want to pick up the phone and make the call. Ask previous customers whether they were happy with the work the electrician did and the service he or she provided. Use them to help make your final decision.

3- Do You Need Permits?

Not all electrical work requires permits, but you want an electrician who is open to getting the permits you require if you do. Someone who doesn’t work with permits could end up costing you more money in the long run. Ask the electrician if they get the permits for the job or if that’s a job for you. The standard practice is for all electricians to pull permits. If one asks you to do this, consider that a red flag and do not hire that electrician.

4- Ask to See Their License

Anyone can tell you they have a license, but not everyone can show you one they don’t have. The single most important question you’re going to ask your electrician is to see his or her license. Whether you hire his person or not depends on seeing this license and ensuring it’s valid. The electrician you hire might have a master license, which consists of a design and installation license. The other type of license you might see is a journeyman license, which means he or she is only licensed to install electric features.

5- Ask for an Estimate

You want to hire someone with insurance, a license, and experience, but you also want to hire someone you can afford. An electrician who quotes you too much is not worth your time. One who quotes well below the average price probably isn’t the best option. Someone who quotes a fair and competitive price is someone you can trust to do the work for you in a timely manner. Those who quote too much either think you’re too stupid to do the research to find out how something costs or they’re hoping you’ll just pay it out of desperation. Someone who charges too little might be desperate for work or not familiar with the work you want done.

There are many variables associated with hiring a quality electrician, but finding out whether someone is licensed and insured is at the top of the list every time. You can ask your own questions if you’d like, but you want to be sure you don’t forgo asking these important questions. It’s a good idea to call more than one electrician to discuss your work, receive quotes, and discuss the time frame it takes to do the work. Your choice might be different than someone else’s, but that’s the beauty of hiring subcontractors to come into your home to do work for you. Choose the electrician who answers your questions to your standards and your satisfaction.