subject: Best Worcester Electrician [print this page] How to find a good electrician in your area
Hiring a good electrician is not a step to be taken lightly. As a homeowner you have a responsibility to protect yourself as well as those in your household. So when it comes to electrical work, you don't want inferior or shoddy work done. Electricity can cause fires and can kill so it must be done right.
At the same time you don't want to get ripped off. There are many things to consider when making this important decision.
Think about the last time you purchased a car. Chances are you didn't to the yellow pages, choose a dealership at random, and buy your car from the first lot you visited. Many times, though, this scenario describes the way homeowners find an electrician. They look in the phone book and call the electrician with the largest ad or the first one listed. But much like purchasing a car, finding a qualified electrician requires research and comparison shopping.
Steps to finding a good electrician:
1.)Ask friends and neighbors for their recommendations. Were they happy with the service provided? Were there any problems with any of the work after the job was completed? Was the contractor courteous and polite?
2.)Ask the chosen electrical contractors for several references and contact those references to see if they were satisfied with the work of the contractor.
3.)Try to avoid just picking someone from the Yellow Pages. If you do go there, ask for a list of 10 satisfied customers. Any electrician who has a quality business and is doing a good job will have no trouble doing this. If they won't, move on to the next one.
4.)Check to make sure that they have a contractor's license. Ask to see their documentation. If the electrician was not licensed and there is a fire, you most likely will not be covered by your insurance.
5.)Make sure they are fully insured, having both workers' compensation and liability insurance. Your selected electrician should be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy. Without this insurance you will most likely be 100% liable for any accidents.
6.) Get 2-3 quotes for your job.
*Review your specs with the electrician to make sure you haven't missed any items. For example your renovation may require an additional upgraded power connection.
*Make sure that the quote is written out in specified detail so that you can accurately compare bids.
*Ask if everything is included or will there be additional costs.
*There should be a detailed labor and materials price sheet. This will help you see if you are being gouged on material markups.
*In the quote also ask them to specify the time it will take to complete the job.
*Don't share the quotes with the other contractors unless you are trying to get them to compete.
7.)Ask about their guarantee policy. Are they willing to stand behind their work?
8.)Do they look and act professional? Do they come across messy and disorganized? Do they have business cards with logo and license # on them? Do they respond to calls quickly? Do they provide a free estimate within a reasonable amount of time and take the time to explain what they will do and how they will do it?
9.)Do they talk about getting permits before starting the job? This guarantees the homeowner (through inspection) that the job was done correctly and safely. Also if no permits are taken out and there is a fire, you very likely will not be covered by your insurance.
10.)Do they suggest cutting corners or doing anything unsafe to fit within your budget? A quality electrician will instead suggest modifications to your plans that will still meet code and safety requirements, as well as meet your budget. A good electrician will walk away from a job before cutting corners.
