When you need help with anything related to your electrical system, it always helps to know just the right electrician to call. The sooner you call one to take care of the repairs, the better. However, hiring the right one isn’t as simple as going online and searching for local electricians, then choosing the one who doesn’t charge as much as the others.
In fact, the last thing you should be doing is blindly hiring an electrician, without learning more about them or finding out about their past work. Not only will you be working with someone you know practically nothing about, but you’ll also be putting your safety – and your family’s – in the hands of someone who may actually be too inexperienced for the job.
To make sure you’re hiring the right person for whatever job needs doing, here are the features you should look out for, so you’ll know you’re dealing with a reliable electrician.
Fully Licensed
Just as you wouldn’t want someone unqualified to look at and repair your car, you wouldn’t want anyone who isn’t licensed or certified anywhere near your electrical system. Make sure the license is recent, and certifications come from accredited establishments. Also, if you’re hiring someone who belongs in a company, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to ensure the contractor is trustworthy and gives employees proper training.
Has Experience
Even if an electrician has the proper license and certifications, there’s still the matter of experience in the field. It’s not just a matter of years they’ve worked, either. One electrician could have had more jobs than another in the same span of time. Ask if they’ve encountered your particular problem before, or at the very least something similar to it.
Honest and Open to Communication
A good, reliable electrician won’t just pinpoint the source or cause of the problem and fix it; they’ll tell you of their findings, possible solutions for the problem, and a price for the job. They will also answer your calls and reply to messages, as long as you’re not calling or messaging them incessantly.
Has a Good Reputation
If someone you know and trust – a colleague, for instance, or a relative – recommends an electrician to you, then it’s easy to tell they have a good reputation. You can also consider electricians who come highly recommended from other people in your area.
Of course, there’s no such thing as a perfect electrician, but don’t be worried if you come across a few bad reviews for the one you’re thinking of hiring. Try and find out more about the jobs that resulted in those reviews, and look at how the electrician handled the issues. Learning from their mistakes since then and being able to handle such issues professionally are both good signs you should seriously consider that person.
