When in need of the service of residential electricians, homeowners want to be sure they are hiring the best ones for the job.
Not all electricians have the same experience or qualifications, so it is important to research each candidate.
These screening tips can help anyone find the right local electrician services to take care of any electrical repairs needed at their home.
- References and Reviews - When researching for residential electricians online, check their business pages and social media for reviews from other customers, both the positive and the negative if there are any. After finding prospective options, ask for references that can be contacted for additional opinions. Check professional standing with the National Association of Residential Inspectors (NARI) and/or the North American Technician Excellence program (NATE), and other industry-related credentials.
- Electrical Licensing - Residential electricians are required to hold state licensing for electricians to do work for customers. Make sure that the electricians called are state licensed and that they are maintaining their license as required by the state.
- Contractor’s Insurance - In addition to licensing, all electrician services should have contractor’s business insurance to protect the property of their customers should a mistake be made or some kind of damage occur. Avoid doing business with uninsured electricians, as the homeowner's insurance policy may not cover any damage caused by them.
- Fast Response Time - When discussing work with local electricians, find out how quickly they can respond to work requests. Can they handle emergency work? How long of a wait is there for repairs and other non-emergency work? Make sure the contractor can fill work requests and schedule visits within a reasonable timeframe for the work being requested.
- Work Estimates and Warranties - Like other contractors, dependable electrician services will provide work estimates as needed for their customers. Make sure estimates are detailed and include all fees as well as information about any work warranties offered by the contractor. An unwillingness to give a written work estimate could be a red flag about pricing, or even experience if they are unable to at least predict the time and materials that a job might entail.
Like many other types of contractors, there is no shortage of handyman businesses and general contractors out there willing to do electrical work.
Unless these contractors are licensed residential electricians, it is best to seek contractors with the right qualifications and credentials.
Asking these simple questions will help any homeowner find the electrician services in their community that can be relied on!