Checklist for Hiring an Electrician
If you don’t hire a professional electrician to do your repairs or upgrades, you could be putting yourself at risk of damaging your house and maybe even endangering your family. Not to mention that if you do not hire an electrician who is qualified and has the appropriate licenses, you could be breaking the law. Even worse, you could be putting your home or business at risk of fire.
Ask for Recommendations From Family and Friends
When you want to choose an electrician to do a job, ask a friend or relative for a recommendation. You want to choose someone who has done a similar job before.
Is the Electrician Qualified?
Electricians are required to have the right education, training and experience. Check your States requirement for electricians to be certified, licensed and insured before choosing any electrician. Before you even bother interviewing someone check to see if they are licensed, insured, and registered with the right authority. If they’re not insured with enough liability insurance and something goes wrong, you may be left to pick up the tab.
Ask for Detailed Written Estimates
When you are paying someone to do a job, it’s essential to ensure that they have written an estimate for the work. You must also make sure they not only put what is covered in their estimate but also what is not covered. This will help to avoid confusion.
Know How You Will Be Billed
Are you going to be charged by the hour and if so how much? Will you be charged a Flat Rate for the job, and if so how much? It is very important to understand how the billing will work and how much you will be charged.
Ask for a Contract in Writing
A written contract is a good way to avoid confusion and problems. It helps to clarify the roles of the parties and responsibilities in the contract.
Pay With Credit Card
Paying your electrician with a credit card gives you some protection. If you find that the work is not finished according to the contract and to your satisfaction, paying by credit can give you a little additional coverage. You can dispute the charge to make sure the work is completed properly.
When you are looking to hire an electrician for a job, it is important to follow this Checklist for Hiring an Electrician to avoid problems down the road.
