Hiring a company to accomplish electrician services for your home or business can be quite a very stressful decision. Imagine if you choose the wrong 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 short article attempts to provide a good step-by-step method for selecting the right electrician for the job. So take a breath… It will be okay!
STEP ONE: Appropriate Credentials Electrical services companies employed in your home must be licensed and insured in case of problems. Every electrician you consider hiring ought to be licensed, insured, and bonded. They must be very willing to inform you their individual state license number. Also, determine if they have the appropriate 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 lot about electricity” gets badly hurt while under your house or in the crawl space of your office? Well, generally, it is you who be held 100% responsible for any injuries that they incurred while on your property.
STEP TWO: References Ask for and check their references! You wish to make sure that the company has a history of doing good work locally.
STEP THREE: Their Employees A number of the more reputable electric service companies make certain all their employees are regularly drug-tested and background checked. That is a great indication that the business has your interests at heart before theirs. This process can be an expensive one, and it tells you right away that they have invested a great deal within their own employees. TIP: See if the company 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 to their work as well. happy and have your interests in mind above theirs.
STEP FOUR: Obtaining a Price Up Front Contrary to popular belief, you won’t obtain the best price by bidding the work around to multiple companies. Call ones you are interested in working with, and obtain a feel for their customer support (a live person answering the phone is always a good sign!) THEN call one out to your house or office to get ready an estimate. A lot of companies are offering first-time discounts for new customers, and when not will usually try to get your long-term business by cutting the expenses of that first job. TIP: You intend to develop a good, long lasting relationship with an electrician. The chances are that you will call them more often than once during your stay in your house or office.
STEP FIVE: Understanding that you have called (Not Hired YET!) the proper electrician. Here are a few things to consider when that electrician involves your door the first time: o A great electrician will ALWAYS reach your door in a clean uniform. The more professional companies insist that their electricians carry enough clean uniforms in order to change after each job if one gets dirty. o A great electrician will have business cards making use of their company name, telephone number, and a license number onto it. o A great electrician won’t perform a job without obtaining the appropriate permits. Yes, you can always get someone to get the job done cheaper and faster by not pulling permits, but it puts you and your family/employees at great risk when you do so. Also, what happens unless you pull permits and something goes wrong, like a fire? Chances are your insurance company will make sure that the appropriate permits were in place, and, if not, you might not be covered!
o An excellent electrician will always call you back within 24- hours or less, provide a well documented written estimate outlining all labor and materials, and put a timeframe on the estimate aswell. TIP: Let’s say that the project unexpectedly “grows” at some point, and through no fault on anyones part you will need to spend more to obtain it done. An excellent 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 An excellent electrician will always listen to what you want to have done, and then make recommendations based on their expert opinion. There are various things that have to be factored right into a rewiring job, for instance: (total amperage usage, dedicated circuits for computers, high wattage kitchen work lights, vacuum usage, types of bulbs needed, existing wiring, etc etc) A great electrician will factor in each of the ancillary things that you might not think about, explain them, and present you options on which direction you would like to go.
o emergency electrical repair will always wear those funny shoe covers when coming into your house from the attic or the basement. They also won’t ever leave a mess of dust and debris after they are done.
o A great electrician will install parts that are created for long-term use and wear. If you have electrical work done, you should also take into account the resale value of one’s home/office. Good contractor grade materials is only going to add to the value of one’s home/office, and will insure a great inspection report before 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. Ensure that you have allotted plenty of time for the work to take place (major electrical projects the night before a big party is not a great idea!) Be certain that all permits come in hand and posted appropriately. TIP: Don’t let price alone determine who gets the project. Go with a company that you trust, has good references, and contains open communication with you concerning the project.