Hiring an Electrician: The Steps to Follow

One of the worst mistakes a homeowner can make is to try and take on a job that is beyond their skill level. While this is true of almost any aspect of home maintenance, it is especially true when there is an element of danger involved. It's one thing to start remodeling the bathroom when you don't know what you are doing. You may spend a lot of money and encounter a great deal of frustration, but you probably won't hurt yourself. When it comes to wiring, however, you can hurt or kill yourself very easily when you don't know what you're doing. That's why hiring an electrician is essential. Here are the steps to follow when doing so.

Evaluation

First of all, try to get a sense of what needs to be done. Are you doing some remodeling work, adding a room onto your house, or trying to get electricity to a room that didn't previously have it? Are you trying to wire up a ceiling fan or some other type of appliance? While an electrician is likely to have the requisite experience to handle nearly anything you throw at them, some may be more suited to quick jobs like the ceiling fan while others are looking for more long term work like home construction.

Ask Around

Nothing is stopping you from opening up the phone book and finding the electrician who was wise enough to make their name alphabetically first or rich enough to afford the biggest advertisement. But what has that gotten you? A name, certainly, but their marketing savvy says very little about their abilities, nor their business reputation. A far better way is to ask around. Talk to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone else who has ever hired such a contractor. They will be able to give you the straight dope.

Combine Traits

Look for a good combination of cost, experience and longevity, and your personal impressions to make the final decision. If you get a quote that seems out of line, or you're thinking of hiring an electrician that has only been in business for a few months, you may want to reconsider. But your own impression of who you're working with is often the best indicator. Trust your instincts. If you get a sketchy feeling or if you don't feel as though you are being respected as a potential customer, you can always find someone else. Don't let yourself get halfway through a disastrous working relationship, all the while thinking, "I should have trusted my first impression."