When looking for an electrician, look for someone with whom you can build a long-term relationship. It will save you a lot of time and money if you can find someone you trust to do the job right the first time and give you the right price.
Step 1) Find recommended companies
You can get electrician recommendations from friends and neighbors. You can also search online for electrician Los Angeles or electrician Burbank, and so on. If you add the word reviews to your search, you can check reviews of businesses.
Another approach is to look for websites that include reviews. Reviews appear on many websites, including Google Places, Yelp.com, AngiesList.com, and CitySearch.com. AngiesList.com is an excellent source of contractor recommendations, but requires a small annual membership fee. On AngiesList, you can see how customers rated their contractors, including electricians, and details of how their jobs fared.
When looking at customer reviews, take a look at the big picture. Is there a bad review among the many good ones? Is he just a grumpy customer? Is there any response from the company that clarifies or says that you have corrected your employee?
Once you have three or more recommended electricians, take a look at their websites.
Step 2) Check the website of the power company
· Is it presentable and well maintained?
· Easy to find what you are looking for?
Friendly, helpful and not cluttered with hard sell advertising?
· How many good testimonials?
If the website works, it’s time to interview the electrician.
Step 3) Interview
When you talk to the electrician, pay attention to how comfortable you are, including your level of confidence. I have listed the questions you can ask. If you’ve already gotten great recommendations or it’s a small repair job like fixing a broken light switch, you probably don’t want to ask everyone. But if you’re not talking to a recommended electrician and you’re planning a remodel, ask.
Experience with your type of work
· Years in business. Most companies that have been in business for a long time have managed to keep their customers satisfied. They have also accumulated a lot of useful experience and skill.
Contractor license number
Civil Liability Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance. You want the company to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance to protect your home in case your work causes property damage. Workers Comp provides medical care for electricians in case they are injured on the job. Again, this shields you from liability.
· Guarantee. Some companies offer a lifetime guarantee on their work. This would generally not include the electrical parts they install, that is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. However, the electrician should give you at least a multi-year warranty on workmanship. A warranty for the life of your home is best.
· Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. Ask for the exact name of the company to look for and in which city. Sometimes the BBB will use a slightly different name, possibly the formal legal name of the business.
· Prices
Website address if you don’t already have it
Names and contact information for five clients
Take note of all this, particularly the License Number. If you decide to go ahead, you may want to check some of what the electrician has said. If you decide not to go ahead, you do not need to go through with this electrician. But save the notes so you can remember later which companies you’ve already ruled out.
Step 4) Look and listen
As you gather this information, listen to what is being said but also pay attention to how the electrician acts and makes you feel. If you run into the electrician, keep your eyes open too.
· Do you like the electrician?
· Do you feel comfortable and not under pressure?
· Does the electrician inspire your confidence?
· Do the electrician and company employees seem to know what they are doing?
· Do they appear to operate legally and behave ethically? Are they acting the way you would like them to act towards you?
· Do they return phone calls promptly?
Are they on time when they meet you for appointments?
· Do they listen to your questions and concerns and respond to them in a way that is close and that you can understand?
· Does the electrician dress well and have a vehicle and tools that appear to be in good repair?
The electricians who are bidding for jobs are on their best behavior. If you already notice that an electrician treats you or others in a way that concerns you, find another with whom you feel more comfortable.
Step 5) Check it out
· If you haven’t already, check out customer reviews. The first section of this article provides details.
Enter the Contractor’s License Number on your state’s Contractor Licensing Board website. Look for “black marks.”
· Check the company’s ranking with the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org/. Ratings range from A+ to F based on customer complaints filed with the Bureau. As a note, an “A” reflects the same level of customer satisfaction as an “A+”. The “A+” is earned by an “A” contractor who becomes a paying member of the Better Business Bureau, supporting the Bureau in his work.
Step 6) Call references
Feel free to call references. Customers are usually happy to give a good recommendation to help an electrical contractor in service. You can return the favor later if an owner calls you. Ask:
How was your job?
Did you do your job right the first time?
· If a revisit was needed, was the electrician easy to work with and quick?
· Was the company’s price competitive?
Was the electrician on budget and on schedule?
· Would you be willing to continue using this electric company?
Talk to at least three references. Listen carefully if there is enthusiasm or lack of enthusiasm about the electrician. Clients, past or present, may not feel comfortable saying something negative. If they are unenthusiastic or say something negative, take that into account when making your decision.
One Final Tip: Don’t Automatically Pick the Low Bid
An offer can be also bass. How can it be? An electrician may intentionally omit items that the job requires, only to come back later saying that additional work needs to be done. On the other hand, some electricians may inadvertently bid low due to their inexperience. Either way, the electrician may ask for more money to finish the job, or may leave you with an incomplete project.
Price is important, but judge the whole picture an electrician is showing you: character, experience, ease of working with him or her, and overall value. A large part of an electrician’s value is that he/she does the job correctly and safely without taking up too much of your time or inconveniencing you. A highly competent electrician can save you money by suggesting more efficient ways to do a job or save electricity. When you have a good relationship with your electrician, it can save you time and money.
