Hiring a person to do electrical contracting work for your home can be a very stressful decision. What if the costs soar during the project and you can't afford to continue? This article will help provide a good step-by-step method for choosing the right electrician for the job. Please read on, everything will work out!

STEP ONE: Get Appropriate Credentials
Electrician services companies working in your home or office must always be licensed and insured in case of problems. Every electrician you consider hiring should be bonded, licensed, and insured. They should be very willing to let you know their individual state license number. Also, check to see if they have the up to date insurance for workers comp and general liability.
TIP: The great hazards of hiring an unlicensed, uninsured electrical contractor are enormous. What would happen if that "friend" of yours who "knows a lot about electricity" gets really injured while on your property? Well, more often than not, it is you who would be held 100% responsible for any injuries that they incurred while in your house.

STEP TWO: Check References
Don't be shy to ask for and call their references! You want to make sure that the company has a history of doing good work in the community.

STEP THREE: Take a look at their employees.
More often than not, the more reputable electric service companies make sure all of their electricians are regularly background checked and drug tested. This is a great indication that the electrician has your interests in mind before theirs. This process is an expensive one, and it tells you right away that they have invested a great deal in their own electricians.
TIP: See if the company is on any "best places to work" lists in your region. Good feelings between employee and employer translate to their work as well.

STEP FOUR: Always get a price before the work starts
Believe it or not, you won't get the best price by bidding the project around to multiple electricians. Call ones that you are interested in working with, and get a sense for their customer service (a real person answering the call is always a good sign!) THEN call one out to your home or office to prepare an estimate. A lot of electrician companies are offering first time discounts for new customers, and if not may usually try to get your long-term business by cutting the costs of the first job.
TIP: Develop a good, long lasting understanding with an local electrician. It is an almost certainty that you will call them more than once during your stay in your home or office.

STEP FIVE: Knowing that you have called (Not Hired YET!) the right electrician.
Look out for the following when that electrician comes to your door for the first job:


A great electrician will ALWAYS arrive at your door in a clean uniform. The more professional companies insist that their electricians carry enough clean uniforms for every new job.
A stellar electricianwill have business cards with their telephone, company name, license number printed somewhere.

A stellar electrician company will NEVER EVER do a job without getting the required permits. Sure, you can always get someone to do the project less expensively and faster by not getting permits, but it puts you at great risk when you do so. Also, what happens if you don't acquire permits and something goes wrong, like an electrical fire? Chances are that your insurance company will make sure that the correct permits were in place, and, if not, you will be held accountable!

A stellar electrician company will always call you back within 24 - hours or less, provide a complete written estimate outlining all costs, and put a time frame on the estimate as well.
TIP: What if the project unexpectedly increases scope at some point, and through no fault on anyone's part you have to spend more to get it done. A A great electrician will cease work and provide an written change order to the original estimate so that you know the new total costs of the job.

A great electrician will always listen to what you want to have done, and then make recommendations based on their training. There are a lot of things that need to be taken into account for an electrical rewiring project, for instance: (total amperage usage, dedicated circuits for computers, high wattage kitchen work lights, vacuum cleaner usage, types of bulbs needed, existing wiring, etc etc)

An excellent electrician will consider all of the ancillary things that you might not think about, explain them, and give you options on which direction you want to go.
A good electrician will always wear those sanitary shoe covers when coming into your home from the attic or the basement. They also won’t ever leave a mess of dust and debris once they are done.

An excellent electrician will install equipment and parts that are designed for long-term use and wear. Any time you have electrical work done, you should also keep in mind the resale value of your home/office. Good contractor grade materials will only add to the value of your home, and will insure a great inspection report before you sell.

STEP SIX: Signing the deal
Make sure before the project begins that you have a signed an official estimate approved by you and the electrician. Be sure that you have have enough time for the work to take place (major electrical projects the evening before a big party is not wise!) Be sure that all correct permits are in hand and posted appropriately.

TIP: Don't let price alone determine who is awarded the project. Hire with a company that you feel comfortable with, has good online references, and has open communication with you about the project. Good communication from an electrician is the best signal that they will do the job right, and that you can trust them.

We hope that this article helps to find the right electrician for your job!

This article was written by Jim Christian and a licensed Miami Electrician and Burbank Electrician at Vozzcom Electric.