Choosing an electrician is a significant responsibility. You can’t just hire an old handyman or try to do DIY electrical work because of the safety factor involved.
Because of this, you must ensure the person you’re hiring is legit. You want to ensure that the job is done safely and correctly. You want to know your work is done right the first time.
In the following article, our electricians here at Five Star Home Services will discuss verifying that you’re dealing with a qualified electrician who can get the job done right. We’ll cover everything from researching their qualifications to checking customer reviews.
With these tips, you can trust that your electrical project is in good hands!
Importance Of Hiring A Licensed Electrician With Experience
One of the main reasons to always hire a licensed electrician is safety. In the U.S. alone, thousands of people are electrocuted every year. Becoming a licensed electrician requires more than 8,000 hours, and working on specific electric work is illegal if you don’t have a license.
In addition to licensure, ensuring proper experience when hiring an electrician is essential for any electrical repair or installation. We encourage people to ask questions and compare quotes to find the right person for the job, research their qualifications, and verify credentials. We also recommend checking references from past customers, which can help ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate professional.
In so doing, we hope you’ll see that our team of electricians at Five Star Home Services are among the best in the industry. We have the necessary skills and knowledge to complete your project safely and efficiently. We have proper licensing and certification in addition to decades of combined experience.
Our qualified electricians can also provide proof of insurance, licensure, and bonding.
Our certifications are up to date and guarantee our electricians abide by all the current safety standards set forth by governing authorities.
Checking all these boxes gives you peace of mind, knowing that the person handling potentially dangerous wiring has undergone extensive training and testing before being hired. We vet our electricians at multiple levels!
In short, we remind customers that by taking these steps before hiring an electrician — they can rest assured that the job will get done correctly without risking damage or injury caused by improper electrical work.
Doing your homework protects you against unqualified workers who might not always adhere to “best practices” or, worse yet, might not even understand industry safety protocols.
Because of this, doing research ultimately ensures quality service while helping you avoid costly mistakes.
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Checking For Proper Certification & Licensing
Because hiring a skilled, legitimate electrician is a must to ensure the safety of your property, it is important to take extra precautionary steps during the process.
Ohio, like most states, requires professionals follow strict safety protocols and have proper licensing or certifications to work legally. So, where do you start?
Start by checking the company’s insurance coverage. Insurance is what protects both parties should any accidents occur while they are working. Next, you can ask about the company’s industry experience and inquire into how long they have been working as a professional electrician — as well as details about the specific projects they have worked on before yours.
After that, you can also discuss payment methods. Make sure that you have all the agreements clarified prior to beginning any work. This helps you avoid surprises with contracts and invoices later down the road.
Another important area to consider is previous customer feedback. It’s always beneficial, as with any sort of professional work, to research what previous customers are saying about the company online.
Check references and reviews, as they can provide valuable insight into the quality of service the company provides and whether or not people would recommend using them in the future.
Doing this gives you an idea of who you’re dealing with beforehand; it also helps give you peace of mind throughout the entire process. We’ll delve into some of the areas deeper in the following.
Checking References & Reviews
As we’ve discussed, you must always deal with a legitimate electrician. Because of this, asking family and friends for referrals can help. Reading online reviews of the service provider’s work is good as well. Additionally, comparing price rates between different electricians will give you an idea of what rate they charge and it’s also beneficial to request estimates. In any case, investigating these qualifications helps ensure the electrician is adequately trained and certified to do the job safely.
The following are four things to check when selecting an electrician:
- Ask family and friends for recommendations
- Compare prices between several contractors or providers
- Read customer reviews on their website or social media page
- Request estimates from each contractor before committing
Additionally, it’s a good idea to get their physical address and contact information. This way, if something goes wrong, you know who to call or where to go for assistance. This also helps provide peace of mind knowing someone is available should any issues arise.
Getting Their Address & Contact Information
After reviewing the electrician’s reviews and references — look for a physical address and contact information. This guarantees the company is legitimate and provides reliable service. It also makes it easier to communicate with them regarding contract details, cost estimation, emergency services, and insurance coverage.
Verifying credentials is a great way to provide additional peace of mind when hiring an electrician. Ask if they are licensed or certified in Ohio. See if they have other certifications — such as electrical safety authority (ESA) approved contractor status. Additionally, check for membership in industry associations to gain further assurance of quality workmanship.
Lastly, we encourage customers to assess their professionalism and communication skills before making any final decisions. Professionalism includes things like their dress code and their behavior during visits or phone calls and includes everyone from customer support to the electricians themselves. Communication skills are essential for customer service. Ensure all your questions are answered promptly and accurately so that expectations can be set from the beginning.
In the next section, we will delve deeper into professionalism and communication skills.
Assess Communication Skills & Professionalism
As we’ve discussed, it is important to assess professionalism and communication skills when attempting to verify the legitimacy of an electrician. This includes reviewing licensure and insurance coverage credentials and asking questions about cost estimates, safety procedures, and customer service.
Taking these steps helps to ensure that both parties have a clear understanding of expectations in the future. Additionally, it helps to ask about the cost estimates the electrician provides in relation to the project and whether the electrician is familiar with local codes or regulations related to electrical work they’re undertaking.
Last but not least, take note of how responsive they are when answering questions and how respectful they are throughout the process. Did they give you honest answers while remaining courteous? Were they open to alternative options that might fit within your budget better? Did they take the time to answer all your questions patiently? Assessing their level of customer service helps you understand what kind of working relationship you can expect should you choose them for the job.
Next, we will explore warranty and guarantee policies for added peace of mind.
Ask About Guarantee Policies & Warranties
After you determine the necessary qualifications and professionalism of an electrician, you will then want to consider the warranties and guarantees they offer.
When verifying these qualifications, request estimates in writing. Consider the materials they use in addition to labor costs. It is important to get everything in writing before moving forward with a project so there aren’t any surprises down the road. At Five Star Home Services, we are upfront about all of our pricing and don’t believe in hidden fees.
We encourage homeowners and business owners to always beware of lowball quotes and upfront payments that seem too good to be true. If something seems off about a quote, request additional information from the contractor or get another opinion on the potential cost associated with your job.
Moreover, don’t sign any contracts until all the questions have been answered thoroughly by the contractor and all details have been agreed upon between both parties involved. Make sure you understand exactly what services will be provided within a certain timeline and at what cost before committing to working with an electrician.
With careful consideration of these key areas during the selection process, you can confidently move ahead with your electrical work.
Beware Of Upfront Payment Requests & Lowball Quotes
While low ball quotes and upfront payment requests may seem attractive initially, they often harbor hidden costs and risks. Low ball quotes often indicate that the electrician might use substandard materials or unskilled labor, which can lead to poor workmanship and potential safety hazards. Similarly, upfront payment requests can be risky as they leave the customer vulnerable. If the electrician fails to complete the project as agreed or to the required standards, the customer has little recourse. Furthermore, upfront payment eliminates the motivation for the service provider to complete the job in a timely and satisfactory manner. Therefore, it is advised to seek detailed, transparent quotes and agree on a payment schedule that reflects job progress.
Take your time when choosing an electrician: Taking these precautions will help guarantee a satisfactory outcome.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ve discussed at length how it’s important to make sure that you’re dealing with a legitimate electrician who has the necessary experience and qualifications. Remember, you always get what you pay for!
We encourage customers to take the time to ask questions. Find out how much experience they have, what type of insurance they carry, whether there will be any additional fees or charges, and how long the project is expected to take.
Also make sure they are familiar with local building codes and regulations. Check their reputation. Don’t be afraid to do a little homework. This way, you can rest assured knowing that your electrical work is being done safely and properly by an experienced professional.
Don’t hesitate to get references from previous customers; it’ll give you peace of mind when hiring an electrician for your next job.
Need a Local Electrician Who’s Fast and Affordable? Call Five Star Today!
If you’re searched the internet for an “electrician near me” or “electrical handyman near me” — you’re in the right place. Five Star Home Services has all your electrical needs covered in one place! We proudly serve all of Greater Columbus, Greater Dayton and Greater Cincinnati!
For the most professional electrical services at the most competitive prices, call us today!
