How To Choose The Right Electrician For Your Home Or Business

If your home or business is in need of electrical work, it’s important to hire a professional electrician – it’s definitely not a do-it-yourself job. Even if it seems like a simple enough fix, you run a significant risk of fire or electrocution if you try to complete the work yourself. A qualified electrician can provide quality workmanship, safety and peace of mind, but with so many electricians to choose from, how do you know which one to call?

Here are some tips on what to look for in an electrician, some important questions to ask before making a final decision on who to hire, and how to get in touch with the experienced Goshen electrical contractors at Jones Services.

What You Should Look For When Considering An Electrician

When looking for a professional electrician, there are several things to pay attention to:

License & Insurance

Make sure the electrician you choose is licensed to do the type of electrical work that needs to be completed. You can simply ask the contractor for their license number and then check with your state’s licensing board to make sure the number is valid.

It’s also important that your electrician has insurance. This will protect you financially if something goes wrong and the electrician is responsible. Ask for their insurance information when you request their license number; a good electrician shouldn’t hesitate to provide both and may even do so preemptively.

Adequate Experience

You’ll want to hire an electrician who has experience with the specific type of work you need done. For example, if you need someone to upgrade your electrical panel, you don’t want to work with a new electrician who has maybe only watched others complete certain types of installations or upgrades.

Ask the contractor for references from previous clients who can attest to the quality of the work they’ve done. Again, reputable contractors aren’t going to be surprised that you’re asking this and shouldn’t have a problem giving you the information.

Online reviews can also be indicative of an electrician’s experience and the quality of their work. Look for reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List to get a sense of what others have thought about their experience working with this particular electrician. You can also read through the reviews to see if any customers had similar problems or electrical needs as you and if the contractor was able to successfully provide a solution.

Communication

It’s also crucial to have good communication with your electrician, whether that’s making sure there aren’t any language barriers or that you’re able to text or call the contractor and get in touch with them relatively easily. There may be times when you need to explain what exactly you need done or ask questions about the work being done, and you’ll need to be able to communicate your ideas back and forth to one another.

A good way to gauge communication skills is by talking to the electrician on the phone or in person before hiring them for the job. Pay attention to how well they listen and whether or not they answer your questions in a way that is easy for you to understand.

Important Questions To Ask Your Electrician

Are your services guaranteed?

Make sure that if something goes wrong, the electrician will come back and fix it at no additional cost to you.

How much will the project cost?

Don’t hire an electrical contractor until you know the exact cost of services and what that includes. This way, you can budget for the work and know what to expect. Make sure you can get an estimate in writing so that there are no surprises later.

How long will the project take?

You need to know how long the work will take and how long you can expect your power to be interrupted so you can plan accordingly. For example, you may not want to have groceries delivered right before your refrigerator will be out of commission for an hour.

What kind of permit does the project require?

Many electrical services require a specific type of permit or authorization to complete the work. Ask if your project requires any permits and if so, how and when those permits will take to apply for and obtain. Be wary of working with contractors who seem dismissive about permits or who don’t seem to know whether or not your project requires one.

Jones Services are trusted Goshen, NY electricians since 1986, and we can provide you with safe and affordable electrical services. Contact us today for more information by dialing (845) 299-2074.