What to Look for When Hiring an Electrician

*This is a guest post on what to look for when hiring an electrician

Electrical installation should never be handled by inexperienced or unqualified contractors. This is because, in addition to the risk of an electrical fire or accident, you might need to pay your local council a fee to have the building inspected once the work is done. So, what should you look for to ensure you hire the best electrician?

Proof of Competence

To make sure the electrician can complete the work up to the standards required, you should check if they are component enough to do so. The best way is to ask for references from their previous clients. Don’t be afraid to ask for letters of recommendation from previous clients. If you want to go even further, you can also ask them to provide photographs of projects they have completed to show the quality of their work.

Hiring an electrician- Qualifications and Registration

All electricians are required to be qualified in electrical installations and systems. The recognised qualification is up to level 3 which requires that they have taken the required course and passed it.  An electrician in Essex can take additional courses and undergo independent assessments to show they are competent. You can also check out this website to find out the exact qualification you should ask for. Those qualifications represent the minimum that the electricians from Trade Facilities Services hold. Trade Facilities Services provides electricians for planned maintenance and emergencies. Their 2-hour emergency response time helps ensure minimal damage to a property in case of the unexpected.

The electrician you choose should also be a registered member of one of the government-approved schemes. Hiring a registered electrician affords you certain protections if anything goes wrong.

Insurance

You should also check to see if the electrician has public liability insurance. Since a lot of electrical work is done up high, there is always the risk of injury from falls or falling tools. Public liability insurance protects you and your home in case of an accident.

Although not strictly insurance, it is also a good idea to check if the electrician provides a warranty for their completed work. This will help protect your investment if something goes wrong with your electrical system within an agreed period.

Hiring an electrician- Competitive Price

In addition to hiring the right electrician, you also need to keep the cost of the work in check. To do so, you should also look for quotations from different qualified electricians. A common recommendation is to ask for quotations from three qualified electricians to get the best price. 

Before sending out a request for quotations, however, you should note down the details of the work you expect to have done. This way, you not only get quotations for exactly what you need, but you’ll also avoid having the electrician send you an invoice for additional work that needs to be completed beyond what you had budgeted for.

Hiring an electrician should not be rushed. To avoid unqualified or inexperienced electricians, you should take the time to find out about their qualifications and whether they are registered. Additionally, find out how you and your home are protected from liability during the project.