Hiring a company to do electrician services for your home or business could be a very stressful decision. What if you choose the incorrect one then one disastrous happens down the line? What if the expenses soar half way through the project and you also can’t afford to continue? This article attempts to provide a good step-by-step method for deciding on the best electrician for the work. So take a breath… It will be okay!
STEP ONE: Appropriate Credentials Electrical services companies working in your home should be licensed and insured in the event of problems. Every electrician you consider hiring ought to be licensed, insured, and bonded. They must be very willing to let you know their individual state license number. Also, check to see if they have the correct insurance for general liability and workers compensation. TIP: The potential dangers of hiring an uninsured electrician are enormous. What would happen if that “friend” of yours who “knows a whole lot about electricity” gets badly hurt while under your house or in the crawl space of one’s office? Well, more often than not, it is you who would be held 100% in charge of any injuries that they incurred while on your property.
STEP TWO: References Require and check their references! You want to make sure that the company has a history of doing good work locally.
STEP THREE: Their Employees Some of the more reputable electric service companies make certain all of their employees are regularly drug-tested and background checked. This can be a great indication that the business has your interests in mind before theirs. This process is an expensive one, and it lets you know right away they have invested a great deal within their own employees. TIP: See if the business is on any “best places to work” lists in your town.
A great place to work means that the employees are treated well and respected. Good feelings between employee and employer will translate with their work as well. happy and also have your interests at heart above theirs.
STEP FOUR: Getting a Price Up Front Contrary to popular belief, you won’t get the best price by bidding the job around to multiple companies. find out more that you are interested in working with, and obtain a feel for their customer support (a live person answering the telephone is always an excellent sign!) THEN call one out to your home or office to prepare an estimate. A great deal 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 expenses of that first job. TIP: You would like to develop a good, resilient 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: Realizing that you have called (Not Hired YET!) the proper electrician. Below are a few things to look out for when that electrician comes to your door the 1st time: o A great electrician will ALWAYS arrive at your door in a clean uniform. The more professional companies insist that their electricians carry enough clean uniforms in order to change after every job if one gets dirty. o An excellent electrician will have business cards making use of their company name, phone number, and a license number on it. o A great electrician won’t perform a job without getting the appropriate permits. Yes, it is possible to always get someone to get the job done cheaper and faster by not pulling permits, but it puts you as well as your family/employees at great risk when you do so. Also, what happens if you don’t pull permits and something goes wrong, such as a fire? Chances are that your insurance company will make sure that the appropriate permits were set up, and, if not, you may not be covered!
o An excellent electrician will always call you back within 24- hours or less, give a well documented written estimate outlining all labor and materials, and put a timeframe on the estimate as well. TIP: Let’s say that the project unexpectedly “grows” at some point, and through no fault on anyones part you have to spend more to obtain it done. A great electrician will stop and provide an written addendum to the original estimate so that you know very well what to expect at the ultimate bill.
o A great electrician will always listen to what you want to possess done, and then make recommendations predicated on their expert opinion. There are several things that ought to be factored into a rewiring job, for instance: (total amperage usage, dedicated circuits for computers, high wattage kitchen work lights, vacuum usage, forms of bulbs needed, existing wiring, etc etc) A great electrician will factor in all the ancillary things that you might not think about, explain them, and give you options which direction you intend to go.
o An excellent electrician will always wear those funny shoe covers when getting into your house from the attic or the basement. In addition they won’t ever leave a mess of dust and debris after they are done.
o A great electrician will install parts which are created for long-term use and wear. If 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 prior to the sale.
STEP SIX: Hiring your electrician Make sure before work begins that you have signed the official estimate approved by you and the contractor. Make sure that you have allotted enough time for the work to occur (major electrical projects the night time before a big party is not a great idea!) Guarantee that all permits are in hand and posted appropriately. TIP: Don’t let price alone determine who gets the project. Go with an organization that you trust, has good references, and contains open communication with you concerning the project.