The first question is whether or not your electrician is licensed. Most states require a certain level of education, training, and experience in order to be licensed, so make sure that your electrician has gone through that process. (Learn more about licensing requirements.)
The question that should immediately follow licensing is whether or not your electrician is insured. Electrical work has the potential for high liability, so being insured is an absolute must. You want to make sure that the electrician carries at least $500,000 in liability insurance as well as adequate worker’s compensation insurance.
Once you know your electrician is licensed and insured, your next question should be about any specializations or special training. Make sure that they are qualified for your specific job. Along with that question, make sure that you are clear about who will be doing the actual work. You don’t want to have the person you talk to be perfectly qualified only to find out that someone else in the business will be the one performing the work.
Your next question should be about the estimate. Make sure it is clear what exactly the estimate includes and any potential incidental costs. You also want to check if any permits will be needed and, if so, who will be obtaining them. It is also a good idea to make sure that you understand the terms of service and any guarantees or warranties.
The final questions should be about references and previous work. Don’t be afraid to ask for references for people who have had similar jobs or to see if you can look at current jobs that are in progress. This will allow you to get a full sense of the electrician’s work.
By going through these questions you can make sure that you have a trusted electrician on your side, ensuring that the work will get done well and on time.
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