Every new and remodeling electrical project is demanding. You will be on your toes with planning, research, and hiring the best electrical contractors. Electrical systems are crucial and pose many risks. You will not want any novice electrician to come in and do the work for you.
A common saying in the construction industry says hiring a skilled person for a job is expensive, but it is still less costly than hiring a bad contractor. You can think of it like this: save some money by hiring a cheap electrical contractor, and then spend more than double of what you saved to fix what the cheap contractor did.
Why would anyone want to do double work and spend more than double the money? It is essential to hire a reputed contractor from the very beginning and take the burden off your shoulders. Here are some factors to consider before hiring an electrical contractor.
Licensing Requirements
Checking licensing is the most crucial step when hiring an electrical contractor. Nearly all states stipulate that an electrician must be licensed before commencing any work in their field. It will also help to hire a contractor who knows the trade and legal regulations, saving you from legal risks.
On average, it can take up to five years to become a licensed electrician. It is a long process that involves classroom training and an apprenticeship of anywhere between 2-6 years. The program requires at least 4000-6000 hours of on-job training before taking the licensing exam.
There are master electricians who are certified in designing electrical systems. These electricians have more experience than licensed electricians and are suited for new constructions.
Insurance Requirements
Like many other industries involved in construction, electrical comes with its own set of risks and hazards. It is essential to ensure that the contractor you are working with has insurance for their electricians.
There is no hard and fast rule for the amount of insurance, but you can keep a baseline of $500,000 to cover for both the worker and damages.
Area of Specialty
Most electricians specialize in certain types of work. Some have intense experience working on residential projects, while others are more industrial specialists. Even though there will be considerable overlaps among them, it is best to hire one who has experience in projects like yours.
It is never a bad idea to discuss details about their experience with your electrical contractor. With specialized electricians, you can ensure that you will have fewer problems and can delegate the tasks more efficiently.
The specialized electricians will know more hacks for your project than a jack of all trades will, and they can complete the project more efficiently.
Estimated Costs
When hiring a contractor, you should ask for an estimated cost. Most contractors will give you a number. You must ask for the details on how they arrived at that number. Sit with your contractor and go over the details. Ask them to remove anything you feel is not required and try to negotiate a win-win situation.
You mustn’t accept their offered price without fully understanding the breakup of costs in detail. This way, you can hire the best contractor for the job and remain within your budget.
Also, make sure to go over some spontaneous work that might pop up. For instance, will the contractor cut through concrete if they need to access the wires, and will they repair it again? If not, you will need to pay separately for those services.
Make sure that the document addresses all your requirements and mentions the price you will have to pay to fulfill all of them. Since you will be working with the contractor for more than just a few days, proper documentation can save you from unwarranted conflicts during the contract.
Guarantees Offered
Many contractors offer warranties on their work. This means that if something goes wrong during the warranty period, they are supposed to fix it for you without additional costs. Even the best contractors can accidentally leave flaws in the system, which can be expensive to repair.
It is best to discuss all kinds of guarantees and warranties they offer in detail. If they offer and document the warranties with you, chances are they are a reliable contractor who is willing to have your back when something goes wrong in the near future.
Last Few Words
Hiring an electrical contractor can be a daunting task. Remember to take your time and do not rush the process. When hiring the best contractor for the job, you will need to browse through multiple options and study their price quotations in detail.
Golden Electrical Service has experience with all kinds of electrical work. Our well-experienced teams have worked on residential, commercial, and industrial projects. We understand that every job is different, and our teams cater to your needs with the necessary customizations. Please feel free to get in touch with us at goldenelectricalservicellc@gmail.com.
