The selection of an electrical contractor can be more difficult than picking someone off the Yellow Pages. It can have devastating financial and safety consequences to hire the wrong electrical contractor.
The first thing you should do is to check that the contractor blancoelectric.com, who’s on your list, has a valid license, bond, workers compensation, general liability, and other insurance.
Next, determine if the contractor has experience with the kind of work required and is reputable, honest, and reliable.
It is best to begin by asking the Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors or Division of Consumer Affairs, (basically the Authority having Jurisdiction), as well as the Better Business Bureau.
Imagine for a second that you’re in dire need of electrical work.
Maybe it is not an urgent situation — you can fix the light that has stopped working.
What would your actions be?
Do you want to call multiple contractors for different bids? Although you can do it, I don’t recommend that.
The majority of people feel that multiple bids should be obtained for each job. The truth is that this may not be the best idea.
The good contractors are rare and hard to find. So, asking them for more than one bid for the same small project will just alienate them. Look at it from the contractor’s perspective. The time they spend at your home is probably worth $100/hr. Yet, the person makes time to provide a free estimate.
In general, contractors will offer you “extra-competitive bids” the first few times, in order to win you over.
What can you do to tell whether the first person who comes into your house really is The Good contractor? Here are some rules you can follow, but keep in mind that there are always exceptions.
o Good contractors will usually look professional. It’s likely that if they look messy or disorganized it will be indicative of their work. A person who is proud of his or her work will also take great pride in the way they look. This may be disputed by some contractors, but keep in mind that we’re discussing generalities. The contractor should wear some sort of business identification, such as a shirt that has the logo.
The company card of a good contractor should include the name of their business, their telephone number and their license #.
The contractor should be able to respond quickly to calls and give you a quote for the job (usually within 24 hours). They will also take time to describe what the work will entail and the process.
The contractor may not even finish the work if you refuse to get permits. The homeowner is protected by permits, which are inspected to ensure that work has been done correctly and safely.