Meeting an electrical contractor in person before hiring is an excellent idea, especially when you need them for major projects like complete electrical installation or house rewiring. Here’s when you might need their services. Whether you call them or schedule a meeting, you have to take a chance and ask them several questions. Their answers will give you a better insight into whom you’re about to hire.
There are many things to consider before hiring one of the many contractors in San Diego. Reputable electricians won’t mind answering your questions and solving your doubts. But the problem might be that you don’t always know which questions are right.
Are They Licensed?
When researching electrical contractors, ask what kind of license they hold. Every electrician in California must be a license-holder. Otherwise, working with an unlicensed lineman can get you in trouble. So ask for their license number so you can verify it yourself.
California has public databases of electrical licenses. You can easily check them to see whether electricians you consider are listed there. If so, it means they have competency and knowledge of local standards. It means they can do any legal work needed for your projects. If you can’t find an electrician in these listings, just skip them.
Are They Insured?
Inquire about what kind of insurance electricians have. Ask if they have ever had an accident or work accident that would leave you with liabilities or questions to answer. An electrician should have no complaints against them before or after you hire them. Licenses oblige them to carry general liability and worker’s compensation. That way, both clients and workers are protected in case of an accident on the working spot.
Know Their Experience
Licenses also oblige electricians to have specific training and skills. But you need to know more than just what education they have. So you should consider their experience. Ask how long they have been working in the industry. If they don’t have a clean background, you may want to consider hiring someone else.
Ask them to be more specific with explaining their work on projects similar to yours. This is probably the best time to check their portfolio and ask for references. No reputable electrician will deny providing you with these. In fact, they will be happy if you can hear some good words about them from their previous clients.
What Warranty Do They Offer?
The second thing you need to ask when hiring an electrical contractor is whether they offer warranties for their work. Keep in mind that some breakdowns might happen after electrical work, so you must know who’s in charge of that. So ask if electrical contractors offer a lifetime warranty or it’s limited to a specific amount of time.
Let electricians explain what their warranty covers and which potential costs will be in case of any breakdown after their work on your property. Make sure it addresses materials, too, not just their work. You have to be straight clear with that to avoid unpleasant surprises.
How Long My Project Will Take?
Once you find out some general information, inquire about your project. You need to know how long it will take, what materials you need, and what costs to expect. Of course, none of these is set in stone because it all depends on many factors. But reputable contractors like those from RapidElectricSD.Com will do their best to give you the most accurate estimate possible. Make sure you get it in writing.
Have electricians on the spot to get the most accurate quote. They have to be honest with their fees, so remember to ask if their estimate is free or not and whether they charge travel fees. If you have to pay for it, make sure that they get a detailed scan of your property and project requirements. It’s better to ensure the person is honest and reliable than to end up in a bad situation.
Hiring an electrical contractor is not something to be taken lightly. With so many different options out there, it is hard to know which one is right for your needs. So before your final decision, make sure to ask some questions and how these contractors treat you as a client.