5 Things You Should Ask When You Hire an Electrician

Most of us will have to have electrical work done on our home or place of business at some point in time.  Since most of us don’t have the knowledge, skill or time to take care of these jobs ourselves, we will need to hire a professional.  Following is a 5 point checklist to help you know what to ask when you need to hire an electrical professional.

1.) Are you a licensed professional?

There are many people who consider themselves electricians, however, if they are not licensed, they are not professional electricians.  An unlicensed electrician doing electrical work on your home can cause a host of problems.  If they don’t do the work correctly and the finished product produces a code violation, you will be paying twice to get the problem solved.  Furthermore, if the electrical problem is fixed incorrectly, it could prove to be a hazard to your home or business.  You need to hire a licensed professional to perform any electrical jobs in your home or business.  You can also confirm the electrician’s license by contacting the government office in the state where you live.

2.) Are you insured with Liability and Workers’ Compensation insurance?

If the electrician you hire to work on your home or business is not insured and they are injured on the job, you could be liable for their medical bills.  The electrician you hire should have adequate liability insurance and workers’ compensation in case one of their employees is injured on the job.  All you have to do is ask the electrician you plan to hire and he should be able to produce the adequate documentation to prove that he is covered.

3.) Will a permit be required for this job?

You, the homeowner, are ultimately responsible for any work that is done on your home.  When it comes time to sell your home, any code violations or lack of permits for work that has been done, will become apparent and you will be responsible.  Better to solve the issue up front and ask the electrician you plan to hire if a permit is required for the job you are hiring him to perform.

5.) Will you be performing the work, or will it be an associate?

You should care about who is coming into your home and when you hire a professional to do a job that you are paying for, and you have the right to ask who will be performing the work.  Many companies subcontract out to other electricians so the person you talk to on the phone may not be the person who comes out to your home or company to do the work.  Make sure you find out ahead of time who will be showing up at the front door to perform your electrical work, so you don’t have an unpleasant surprise.

Peter Needham is a licensed Master Electrician, is insured, and all members of his crew are also licensed.  When you call Peter Needham to complete an electrical job at your home or office, you can rest assured that you are getting the best!

Give Peter a call today!

781.396.4800