Nina Ortiz

Tips on Hiring an Expert Licensed Electrician

Hiring an electrician for the first time may be tricky, especially for first-time homeowners. For one, with the thousands of electrical contractors in an area, it could be difficult to choose whom to trust, and who can do the job right.

Then there are requirements in rendering service per state. Not all homeowners are familiar with these requirements and how to find out whether the electrician contractor they are planning to hire complies with such. So how to hire an electrician in San Diego?

How to Hire an Electrician in San Diego
Due diligence is needed in hiring an electrician. (Photo Credits)

Crowdsourcing for one’s social media account, and asking for referrals from friends and family who may have had electrical work done can greatly help.  This is because for sure they will not recommend an electrician who did a lousy service in their property. San Diego Electrical contractor

One may also use search engines, and third party ratings websites to check out electricians and electrical contractors in San Diego. This way, one can peruse their offerings, and even see the reviews left by their clients.

At least three electrician contractors should be considered for the job, and it will be best to interview them to find out more about the services that they offer, their usual timeline, the scope of work, and how they usually carry out a contract. During the interview, a potential client can also inquire about reference persons that he or she may get in touch with to ask how the contractor performed in their transaction.

Service Ratings Website Angie’s List came up with six guide questions property owners should ask before sealing the deal with an Escondido CA Electrician contractor.

“Do you have a business license? In addition to having a valid electrician’s license, check whether the contractor is licensed to operate a business in your area, and confirm that the license is current, Rubin says. Many states have a searchable database for licensed businesses on their Secretary of State’s office websites. Do you offer a warranty? Ask whether the parts or labor or both are under warranty and how long that warranty is effective, Rubin says. A good electrician will offer a warranty, he adds.”

Read about the four other questions from the original article here.

The website Networx.com also came up with several questions homeowners should inquire from an electrical contractor they wish to hire.

“Are you licensed? Electricians are required to be licensed in most states and municipalities, so don’t consider one who isn’t properly licensed. There are two basic levels of licensure: A master electrician has at least two years of professional experience and is licensed for both design and installation of electrical systems. A journeyman is licensed for installation only. In some areas, journeymen must work alongside masters. Are you insured? Certainly one of the deal-breaker electrician questions, given the potentially high liability for this work. Electrical contractors should carry at least $500,000 in liability and workers’ compensation insurance.”

The eight other questions can be found here.

Hiring a good electrician can be tricky but with due diligence, a property owner can land a contract with a licensed expert.