How to Find a Qualified Electrician
- 1). Contact your local electrician's union, which may be able to recommend a qualified contractor. At the very least, the union office can provide you with a directory of members to call. You can generally find out if there is a union through your local builder's association or through a business organization, like your local chamber of commerce.
- 2). Depend on word of mouth. Ask others about electricians they might have used for projects, from friends and family members to colleagues at your workplace. Develop a short list of recommended electricians. Then, make calls and check qualifications to narrow down the list.
- 3). Consult with general contractors you have worked with, or who have been recommended to you. They will often be able to recommend reliable electrical contractors with whom they have worked. This approach can yield good results -- just be sure the contractor you consult is qualified to make a recommendation.
- 4). Narrow down your list by checking references for previous work. This should be a requirement for any laborer with whom you work, since you can't always see examples of work ahead of time. Contact client references and ask questions about the job and how the person felt about the caliber of the work. Find out if the client was satisfied, and ask if he would hire the electrician again.
- 5). Look up the electrical contractor's company on the Better Business Bureau website. Make sure no complaints have been filed against the electrician or his company. Complaints are a red flag to look elsewhere.
- 6). Ask your electrician of choice how he would approach your project. This gives you an idea of how knowledgeable he is about his trade. If he bumbles and seems unsure of how to complete it, then you might need to go with someone else.
- 7). Verify that your chosen contractor is licensed and insured. A state license and up-to-date insurance provide some reassurance that the contractor is a professional and will be able to pay for any problems if he is liable.
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