Having some electrical faults in your
home?
Some folks think they’re better off fixing
it themselves, but there are several reasons to hire a professional, rather
than incurring an accident.
When it’s time to hire, you want someone
who has experience, fully insured and knows what type of work you need without
spending lots of time running up a bill. Quality contractors exist, but how do
you find them?
Check out our guide on the top seven questions
you need to ask before choosing an electrician. You’ll feel confident in their
abilities and know that you’ve selected the right person for the job.
1. Are You Insured?
This seems obvious, but many people worry
so much about the price that they forget to ask if their electrician is
insured. Insurance sounds like something unnecessary and extra–until you need
it.
Suppose your electrician accidentally
damages your property while working. Because they have insurance, this can
cover the damages caused to your property.
This means you can feel confident that
even if something happens, the damages can get fixed easily enough without you
losing additional money and time fixing them yourself.
When your electrician has insurance,
you’re protected in the event that a problem arises. Make sure your contractor
has insurance before you go a step further in the interview process, and you’ll
get on the right path to finding a quality professional.
2. What Kind of Licensing Do You Have?
Licensing is important since this is how
electricians are not only educated but also to protect you, much the same as
insurance. If something occurs, you’ll have a license number to work with,
whereas contractors who don’t have a license can disappear, leaving you high
and dry.
Just as you wouldn’t select an unlicensed
doctor to perform surgery on you, you shouldn’t pick an electrician who doesn’t
have state credentials and an education behind their name.
Consider this one of the basics, and take
it as a sign if your electrician of choice balks at you asking this question;
that means it’s time to find a new one.
3. When Trying to Find an Electrician Ask
“Does Your Company Have a Website?”
A website can tell you a lot about the
electrician and the company they work for. This includes factors such as:
The type of work they do or specialize in
How long they’ve been operating
Any specific experience of the owners and
their crew
How to get in touch
One such example of a quality website is
that of Elektriker Oslo. As long as you can find everything you need on a clear
and comprehensive website, consider this a step in the right direction.
4. Find Out: Do You Have References From
Previous Clients?
Even if everything else checks out so far,
part of knowing how to find a good electrician is checking their references
from previous clients. An electrician with a solid track record won’t hesitate
to give you the names and numbers of satisfied clients who had a good
experience with them.
Some basic questions to ask include:
What type of work was done
How much the contractor went over the
estimated cost if any
How long the work took for them to finish
When in doubt, check out reviews from the
Better Business Bureau, Yelp, or other review sites. Sure, you might run into
some dissatisfied people, but you’ll get an honest chance to see how the
electrician stacks up.
Consider asking for references just one of
the many steps in the process of discovering if the electrician you’ve selected
is the right person for you.
5. How Long Your Company Has Been In
Business?
Asking how long the company has been in
business needs to get considered carefully. Just because they’ve been around
for a long time does not make them good. Not all new companies are sub-par,
either.
But finding out how many years a company’s
been operating can provide you valuable insight into their abilities, how they
handle problems, and if they’re equipped to meet your needs.
If a company won’t state how long they’ve
been in business or you catch them in a lie, watch out, and look elsewhere.
Reviewing the company’s abilities and
skills is important before deciding if you’ll hire them, whether you’re looking
for a contractor to work on your business or your home.
6. Does Your Company Provide Pricing Up
Front?
You already know that if you’re hiring an
electrician, you won’t come away with a low price tag. Of course, quality work
is the most important consideration, but you deserve to know what you’ll need
to pay up front.
Certain types of work might qualify for a
quote that gets considered as a flat rate. Other companies or jobs charge by
the hour.
Review the prices carefully, since work by
the hour can cost more than you realize if the contractor works on it longer
than expected. Proceed with caution for any company that doesn’t provide their
prices up front, since you have high potential to walk away with a heavy price
tag.
7. Do You Need Permits Before You Can
Start Work?
Permits remain a common occurrence in the
electrical world, especially if an inspection’s required. Make a point to find
out if permits are needed before work begins.
Another warning sign that you’re working
with a less-than-quality electrician is someone who refuses to use permits or
asks you to get them. If you see this in your quest to find the right
professional, look for someone else.
Learn More
If you’re trying to find an electrician,
it can be a lengthy process if you don’t know what questions to ask. Once
you’ve effectively screened, it’s easier to ensure that you’ll get quality work
done, no matter what your needs.
When you’re trying to get your home ready
in preparation for winter, it’s hard to remember what all to do. Read our post
on pipe maintenance for winter, and learn how you can keep your house protected
all season long.
0 Comments