Finding a good electrician to work on your home's electrical renovation can be extremely difficult. It can be especially difficult if you want somebody you can trust with this task, but don't know where to go to find one. In this article, we'll show you how to find a good electrician by walking you through the process.
Do Some Research
Before you start interviewing potential electricians for residential electrical installs, ask people you know for recommendations. Homeowners who have had similar work done recently can often provide a good resource for finding a reliable professional. If the person who did their work was great, they'll likely be happy to share that information with you, and if it wasn't so good, they may also be able to steer you away from someone who just might make your life miserable.
Ask Around
Ask friends, relatives, and other people you trust. You might also want to get referrals from trade organizations such as the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC). These folks are in the know about local electrical professionals and should be able to give you some names of those who should be at the top of your list when it comes time to interview prospective electricians.
Look for Certifications
The best way to tell if an electrician is trustworthy is if they have proper credentials and certifications from their state licensing board or from professional organizations. These licenses show that the electrician has passed certain tests and is qualified to do electrical work in your home. This ensures that they know what they're doing when they enter your home.
Check References
While it's important to confirm that an electrician is licensed, it's also a good idea to ask for references from previous customers as well. A reputable electrician will be more than happy to provide references upon request, and those references can give you peace of mind. You'll know that the electrician has done satisfactory work before, so they'll likely do good work again.
Ask About Their Experience
In many cases, electricians go into the trades directly out of high school while they're still young, so it's not uncommon to find a contractor who is just starting out. This doesn't necessarily mean that they are bad at their job, but you have to be more cautious if that is the case. For the most part, having an experienced electrician or one with many years of experience under his belt is better than one that is still trying to figure out what he's doing on the job.
Look at Their Website and Get a Quote
Every reputable electrician will have their own personal website, where they display their services and credentials. Go through their website to check out their portfolio, certifications, and other important details that can help you make an informed decision. You can also ask them for a quote so that you know exactly how much the electrical work will cost for your home renovation project.
Confirm That They Are Licensed and Insured
Check to see if the electrician you're hiring is licensed and insured. This will ensure that they have passed all of the necessary tests to be qualified to perform electrical work on your home, and it will also protect you in case anything happens while they are working on your project.
