Monday, May 25, 2020

How to Find a Great Electrician

By Penny Cortes

While there are many reasons to hire an electrician, when most people need one, they usually need one fast.  That’s because when the lights go out or you flip a switch in your home only to hear something sizzle in the wiring behind the wall, it isn’t always an easy thing to fix.  While the modern world runs on electricity, everyone knows that most electrical jobs are best done by a professional.  That being said, when it comes to finding a great electrician, there are a few things you need to know.

All electricians are not created equal. While vetting an electrical contractor’s reviews online is a good start, bear in mind that any licensed electrical contractor can place an ad online.  That means a rave review for any particular contractor doesn’t necessarily apply to the technician sent to serve you.  Most contractors have a bevy of employees and subcontractors who perform the actual work.  Here are ten tips to help you sort them out.
Courtesy of pxFuel.com

  1. What kind of job do you need the electrician to perform? – Tell any prospective electrician about the project you have in mind. Then ask about their experience in handling the job you just described. Like physicians, electricians tend to specialize in one or more fields. Before you hire any electrician, make sure you’re going to get one that specializes in the kind of work you need to be completed. If not, you may wind up having to deal with issues or complications that arise after the service call. 
  2. What kind of home do you live in?If your home is relatively new, it shouldn’t present any challenges to a licensed electrician. However, if your home is more than twenty years old, finding an electrician with the right experience can make a big difference in the scheme of things. Since older homes electrical systems may or may not be up to today’s building codes, it would behoove you to find an electrician who knows how to deal with stately homes to make sure the repairs go smoothly. 
  3. Find out how much liability insurance an electrician carries.While most electrical repairs go off without a hitch, when dealing with electricity, there’s always a chance for an accident. While electrical contractors are required to carry worker’s compensation, they may or may not carry liability insurance that would cover any damage done to your home. 
  4. Check online review portals for complaints against any contractor you’re considering.Count the number of rave reviews and bad reviews. If you find more than a few bad reviews, cross that contractor off your list. If you find no reviews, this is just as telling, since a new company will have few if any reviews to speak of. Also, don’t trust reviews printed on a contractor’s website, since it’s all too easy to fake these. Video reviews, on the other hand, are worth their weight in gold. 
  5. Is word of mouth all that it’s cracked up to be?If you seek word of mouth advice when it comes to selecting a reputable electrician, make sure the job you have in mind is similar to the one the person recommending the contractor had. Recommendations from builders, developers, and other contractors can also be useful provided you check out the electrician’s reviews before hiring them. 
  6. Should you ask for and check references?Absolutely. Any reputable, experienced electrician can provide you with references to customers who recently had work done that was similar to the kind you have in mind. Aside from asking past customers what they thought about the electrician who performed the job, ask them how courteous, timely, and neat they were. Also, make sure you ask the customer if the cost met or exceeded the initial estimate. There’s nothing like getting the news straight from the horse’s mouth. 
  7. Should price be the most important factor to consider when choosing an electrician? Absolutely not. You wouldn’t shop for the cheapest surgeon to perform an operation, would you? Then you shouldn’t let price be the determining factor when choosing the right electrician for your needs. While the hourly rate that electricians charges can vary, remember that if the job isn’t done correctly, you’ll only wind up hiring another electrician to repair the repair. Since time is money, make sure you find out how far away an electrician is located from your home, since you’ll be charged for travel time. Then make sure the electrician has easy access to the main electrical panel as well as whatever you’re hiring them to repair. You can also save a bundle by bundling several jobs together when an electrician makes a service call. Once the electrician gets to work, don’t hover nearby or ask questions that will only delay the completion of the job. Remember, you’re paying by the hour. 
    Picture of Estimate
    Courtesy of  www.pexels.com
  8. Should you get an estimate in writing? Definitely get detailed written estimates from every contractor you’re considering. You should also request written confirmation that any work that was completed is up to code. 
  9. How can you verify an electrician’s license? The best way to verify that the electrician you’re considering is licensed by the state is to request the contractor’s license number and call the state. In Florida, the Electrical Contractor’s Licensing Board can be reached at (850) 487-1395. If you don’t live in Florida, go to https://www.licensedelectrician.com/Electrician_License.htm#Fl
  10. Are there electrician’s you should avoid?When you want someone to tell you the time you don’t want to hear how to build a watch. A great electrician will never try to dazzle you with electrical jargon. They also won’t badmouth the competition or try to pressure you into hiring them. Last but not least, a great electrician will be able to provide you with an honest estimate of what the job will cost. Anything less and they’re trying to sell you short.
Penny has lived in Jacksonville for almost 30 years. She is married to Jose Cortes and mother of their 14 children ranging from 19 down to 2. As a teenager, she traveled the world on short term mission trips. This instilled a passion in her to give it all she has to help as many people as she can understand their value and encourage them to fulfill their highest potential. Her key to success is to search for Wisdom in the best success book ever written; once she finds it, she takes action. Together, Penny and Jose run Cortes Electric Inc a Jacksonville based Electrical Contracting Company. 

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How to Find a Great Electrician

By Penny Cortes While there are many reasons to hire an electrician, when most people need one, they usually need one fast.  That’s beca...