Building Contractors

Electrical Know How

No matter how much you know about home improvement and repair, there are some jobs that simply require the use of a knowledgeable contractor. When it comes to electricity, this is absolutely one of those jobs unless you have expertise in the trade.

Not only is electricity dangerous for an uneducated person to deal with, it can be against local building codes for an unlicensed individual to mess around with large electrical projects. The reasons for this should be obvious - improperly completed electric work can lead to permanent damage to a home's electrical system, fire and even death.

So, if you find yourself needing new wiring, have smelled electrical type burning in your home or simply realize you have too many appliances running on the same circuit and need some adjustments to your system, it's time to call an electrician.

Knowing you need to hire an electrical contractor and actually finding a good one can be a long process, but one that requires some common sense and checking out to ensure the best person for the job is hired.

In general, unless the job is an extreme emergency, it's a good idea to get several different written quotes that fully explain the scope of the job and what's to be expected. Go for at least three different companies if possible.

As the companies work on their quotes, you can do the rest of your pre-hiring homework. Check out each company and make sure they have the proper licensing and insurance. Check their references and make sure no complaints have been filed against them with the licensing authorities, professional organizations and even the Better Business Bureau.

Once you've checked out the companies and their quotes come back in start comparing the options. Going with the lowest bid isn't the best idea if the bid doesn't come from a good company and doesn't include the full scope of the job. Make sure you understand what each bid includes and get that in writing.

Interviewing references can be a tricky venture, but with the right questions and attention to how they respond, a lot can be learned. One or two bad reports might not signal a bad contractor though. Look for trends, and remember some people are impossible to please.

Before setting an electrician to work on a big job, such as a whole house rewriting, get a written contract and understand your rights and responsibilities. You might need to vacate your home for a day or two if the entire house is being redone, so you'll want to know this in advance, too.

In general, it simply makes good sense to check out a contractor, electrical or not, before signing on the dotted line. When it comes to electricity, which can be dangerous if it's not properly handled, this is even more so true.