Questions To Ask Electrical Contractors

Hiring electrical contractors is an important task. One of the most important parts of the process of choosing an electrical contractor is a brief question-and answer session. The questions should be designed to answer any questions you may have about the contractor. The time spent talking with the contractor should also give you a better idea if that's the kind of business person you want working in your home.

• What are your qualifications? This is a basic question that should be among the first you pose to any person who is going to perform work for you. What you want to hear is that the contractor is licensed and has experience in a wide variety of areas, including the specific work that has you searching for electrical contractors.
• Tell me about this job. Does the contractor seem knowledgeable about the job? Is he or she able to explain the project is easy-to-understand terms? This is a good opportunity for the contractor to impress you with his knowledge, demeanor, personality and salesmanship. You don't have to find the nicest person in the world to do some electrical work in your home, but it doesn't hurt if you sense that the two of you will get along well. After all, there is always the possibility of a problem with the job, and at that point you want someone who is reasonable and easy to communicate with.
• Do you carry the appropriate insurance? This should be more than a yes or no answer. You want to know if the electrical contractors you are interview have general liability and worker's compensation insurance. Legitimate electrical contractors will expect the question and have the paperwork to proof they carry proper insurance.
• Is your company in good standing with the state? If any of the electrical contractors you are considering haven't properly handled licensing or tax obligations with the state, you're better off moving on to other candidates. This isn't the kind of question you take at face value. You should inquire with your state's Secretary of State or Attorney General offices - one is likely the agency the maintains records on corporations working in the state.
• Please provide several references. In fact, it's a good idea to ask for references from the last few jobs. That may or may not be possible, since every customer won't agree to be listed as a reference. However, for electrical contractors who do good work, most customers are happy in return to offer positive references.
• Give me a cost and timeline for the job. You want more than when the job will be finished. What is the expected work schedule and will there be any time off during the project? As far as the price, what could cause the final price to come in higher or lower?
• Can you put the job terms in writing? Also ask for a contract, which serves as a means of protection for both you and the electrical contractors. The contract should briefly describe the job, include the cost, time frame and whether the contractor is expected to clean up each day or at the end of the project.