IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ELECTRICIAN

IntroductionConsidering the fact that anything to do with electricity has the potential to be deadly, finding the right electrician for projects around your home is very important.

Where electricity is concerned, it goes beyond just conducting himself with professionalism and charging an affordable price. Safety is the primary issue, and it’s important that you ask some serious questions before you let him get to work.

Are You Fully Licensed?One thing that every competent electrician will have is the proper license to perform the work. Depending on where you live, an electrician may require more than one license to do the work you want completed.

Take the time to ask your local building department which licenses are necessary for what type of work, then ask your electrician to produce them for you.

Are you Fully Insured?With an element as dangerous as electricity, proper insurance is an absolute must. Not only s the electrician protecting himself, he’s protecting you in the event that anyone working for him is injured on your property.

Insurance will also protect you from any added expense if your home gets damaged or any materials are stolen during the project.

How Much Experience Do You Have?Once you know your electrician is insured and licensed, it’s time to find out exactly how much experience he has. It isn’t necessary for him to have decades of experience, but having a few years of practical experience means he knows his way around a modern home.

Do You Have a Specialty?Asking if your electrician has a specialty will help you narrow down which ones would be best to work on your home. As an example, if he specializes in fixing problems and emergency jobs, but you need a big installation done, he might not be the best one for the job.

If you take the time to find an electrician that specializes in what you need, you will greatly increase the likelihood of getting the results you want.

Do You Perform the Work Yourself?It isn’t too uncommon for an electrician to hire a subcontractor to do the work under their license. Most of the time, the subcontractor is qualified to do the work, but it’s always a good idea to ask.

If you’ve invested time researching and talking with the electrician, you might want him to do the work for you anyway. If you’re ok with a subcontractor, at least ask for references and to see some references before he starts.

Do You Guarantee Your Work?Always look for some kind of warranty when you have electrical work performed in your home. All reputable electricians will guarantee their work for some period of time.

Just be sure to read the contract thoroughly so you are certain what aspects of the work are covered and for how long. You’ll want to know about the guarantees on the actual work, and the materials that went into finishing the job.

Will I Need a Permit?Sometimes, you require a permit to have certain electrical work done on your property. You can ask your electrician before the job starts, but it might save time to go find out yourself. That way, you know for sure what’s needed and you’ll avoid any issues after work has started.

Speak to a local building official to find out what you need, then you’ll have everything ready before you even hire your electrician.

Can I See References?Like with any skilled contractor that’s going to work on your home, it’s important to see some references before you hire an electrician. References will paint a picture of the electrician’s past and let you know how past customers have felt about his work.

Try to speak to at least three past customers and ask them about their experience. If the qualifications and reviews and price seem right, you just may have the right person for the job.

Referenceshttp://www.handycanadian.com/articles.asp?id=312-10-Important-Questions-to-Ask-your-New-ElectricianHandyCanadian.com

http://www.allstarelectrical.com/blog/post/selecting-an-electrician-key-questions-to-askAll Star Electrical Services