It is important to ask questions before hiring a electrician. Most electricians are honest and capable of doing very good work. But there will be a few that are not, so ask plenty of questions before hiring a electrician. Sometimes electricians don’t handle all kinds of jobs and you should keep this in mind. Some are only involved in construction and remodeling work. Some electricians only are in to doing minor jobs and repairs. So it is very important that you explain to the electrician before hand what kind of work you will need done. And then see if they will be able to do the work you need.
It is very important to think about certain things before hiring a electrician. For insurance purposes and when a permit is required, you may want to hire a licensed electrician. It is important to know that a electrician can pay for any damage they cause to your home. And you would not want to be sued if a worker is injured while working in your home. It is smart to think about before hiring a contractor out to do a big job, to ask him to see proof of workers compensation that he should carry. And also to see proof of their current license.
Most electrical contractors don’t mind giving you a estimate at your home. But if it is just a small job they can loose money just by driving out to your home. So the electrician may give you a minimum price or a fixed price for the job you want done. On large jobs you can ask for a hourly rate for a job. You should call around and get the best rates for the work you need. And have more then one contractor come out to your home for a estimate. It is a good thing to get the best overall price for the job.
Don’t buy the materials for the job yourself just because you think it will save you money. Because it usually does not. It is better if the electrician to make the purchases because he knows exactly what you will be needing and how much. Plus if the electrician buys the parts then he is responsible for replacing that part if it is broke or missing a part.
The electrician may need to cut holes in your wall for the work he is doing. Any repairs will not be done by the electrician. So you will be responsible to fix the damage. So ask before the job has started how much damage doing the job will cause. On small jobs a electrician may want to be paid when the job is completed. On large jobs the electrician may ask for a down payment before he goes to start the job. And then he will either want the rest of the balance when the job is done or set up payments for you.
If the electrician has to bring helpers to get the work done on a larger job he may have to charge more for this. So ask before the job starts. Try and think of everything you can that has to do with the job that you are having done. And always ask questions so you won’t be surprised when the job is finished.