Finding the right electrical contractor for your home or business.
Posted: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
by Don Carter
groundfresh
Hiring a company to do electrical work for your home or business can be a very stressful decision. What if the costs soar during the job and you can't afford to continue? This article attempts to provide an easy step-by-step guide for choosing the right electrical company for the job. So take a deep breath... it will be just fine!
STEP ONE: Get Appropriate Credentials
TIP: The potential dangers of hiring an unlicensed, uninsured electrical contractor are enormous. What would happen if that "pal" of yours who has "watched a lot of tv remodeling shows" gets really hurt while on your property? Well, more often than not, it is you who would be held 100% responsible for any injuries that they incurred while in your house.
STEP TWO: References
Ask for and check their references! You want to make sure that the company has a history of doing good work in the community.
STEP THREE: Take a look at their employees.
More often than not, the more reputable electric service companies insist all of their electricians are regularly drug-tested and background checked. This is a great indication that the electrician has your interests in mind before theirs. This process is quite an investment on their part, and it tells you right away that they have invested a great deal in their own electricians.
TIP: See if the company is on any "best places to work" lists in your region. A great place to work means that the employees are treated well and respected.
STEP FOUR: Getting a Price Up Front
Usually you won't get the best price by bidding the job around to a lot of electricians. Contact ones that you are interested in working with, and get a sense for their customer service (a real person answering the phone is always a good sign!) THEN call one out to your residence to give you an estimate. A lot of companies are offering first time discounts for first customers, and if not will usually try to get your repeat business by cutting the costs of the first job.
TIP: Try to develop a good, long lasting relationship with an electrical services company. Chances are that you will call them more than once during your stay in your home.
STEP FIVE: Trusting your choice.
Here are a few things to look out for when that electrician comes to your home for the first job:
A good electrician Always arrives at your door in a sparkling uniform. The best electricians insist that their workers carry enough clean uniforms for every new job.
A great local electrician will have printed materials with their company name, telephone number, and a license number on it.
A great local electrician will NEVER perform a job without getting the required permits. Yes, you can always get someone to do the project cheaper and faster by not pulling permits, but it puts you and your family/employees at huge risk when you do. Also, what happens if you don't retain permits and something goes wrong, like a fire? Usually your insurance company will make sure that the required permits were in place, and, if not, you may not be covered!
A great electrician will always call you back within 24 - hours or less, provide a complete written estimate outlining all costs, and put a deadline on the estimate as well.
TIP: What if the project unexpectedly increases scope at some point, and through no fault on anyone's part you have to dig into the wallet to get it done. A An excellent local electrician will stop and provide an written addendum to the original estimate so that you know what to expect at the final bill.
A great electrician will certainly listen to what you need, and then make recommendations based on their qualifications. There are many things that need to be factored into an electrical 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)
A good local electrician will consider all of the extra things that you might not think about, explain them, and give you options on which direction you want to go.
A good electrician company will always wear those funny shoe covers when on the job. They also won't ever leave a mess of dust and debris when they are through.
An excellent local electrician will install equipment and parts that are designed for long-term use and wear. Any time you have an electrician in your home, you should also keep in mind the what happens if you want to sell the home. Good contractor grade electrical materials will only add to the value of your home/office, and will insure a passing inspection report before the sale.
STEP SIX: Hiring the electrician
Make sure before work begins that you have signed an official estimate approved by you and the electrician. Make sure that you have have enough time for the work to take place (major electrical jobs the evening before a big party is not wise!) Be sure that all permits are in hand and posted appropriately.
TIP: Don't let just the price determine who gets the project. Trust with a company that you feel comfortable with, has good online references, and has open communication with you about the job. Good communication from an electrical services company is the best signal that they will do the project right, and that they can be trusted.
We sincerely hope that this helps in finding the right company for the project!
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