Choosing contractors to work on your home can be intimidating, especially when looking for electrical work. You want someone who will respect your home, do the job well, and charge you a reasonable price for the work. When it comes to electrical jobs, safety is also paramount.
It’s worth finding a reputable local electrician from Terrigal whether you’re doing full renovations or adding a few extra outlets. Here are six tips for finding the right local electrician to keep on file for when issues arise.
Ask for Referrals and Recommendations
Start by asking your network if they have an electrician they recommend working with. Ideally, you’ll get your recommendation from someone who has recently used their services for a similar project, rather than someone plugging their best friend’s company.
When you receive the recommendation, don’t hesitate to ask questions about their experience and the process. Most people are happy to share their insights and help. Additionally, it’s worth listening to horror stories and recommendations about which electricians not to hire. Consider holding your extended conversations via private message.
Read Unbiased Reviews
Next, read online reviews to get a better idea of the electrician’s work. If they have an established company, you should be able to pull this information from Google reviews, Facebook, or the Better Business Bureau.
If the individual works under their own name or is difficult to find online, try an advanced Google search to see if their name comes up in any recent posts or stories.
Look at Professional Certifications and Documentation
Next, look at your shortlist of electricians and research their professional certifications and documentation. There are several different levels of contractor training and certification to consider when looking for an electrician.
A master electrician is the highest level of experience, indicating they’ve had over 10,000 hours and over two years of work. A journeyman is a step down from a master, with an apprentice being an entry-level electrician.
It’s worth noting that a journeyman or apprentice is still a licensed electrician who went through post-secondary education or on-the-job training. However, if you feel more comfortable with a master electrician, that’s a personal choice.
Regardless of which level of experience you choose, you’ll always want to ask for proof of insurance. Insurance protects both the electrician and you, as well as your property, should an accident occur.
Determine Your Needs and Scope
Before you reach out to an electrician, clarify what work you need to be completed and how that fits into your budget. Working with an established master electrician will cost you more for the same work completed by a journeyman or apprentice. In other words, it might be worth the cost savings to have an apprentice put in a new outlet.
It’s also helpful to be clear about what you want so you can better communicate your needs for the project.
Ask Questions About Their Experience
When you start talking to an electrician about potentially working on your home, feel free to ask questions about their experience. You can ask for clarification about the services they offer, how they charge for their services, relevant experience, and how long they’ve been in business. You can also ask for proof of insurance and licensing at this time.
Ask for a Consultation and Quote
Once you’ve found a few electricians who meet your expectations, ask for a consultation and a quote. They may be able to provide an estimate based on a best-case scenario, but electrical work can be tricky, and an in-home consultation could be required.
Collect a few quotes and choose the provider that makes the most sense based on your budget and needs.
With these simple tips, you can find a reputable electrician to handle your current and future home improvement projects.
Thanks to yoursgi.com for consulting on this post.
