7 important questions to ask before hiring an electrician

One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make is choosing an electrician to install, repair or maintain your electrical wiring, lighting or data system, as getting it right the first time means less stress and financial cost down the track. Here are 7 questions you should ask an electrician before hiring them for the job.

Questions to ask your electrician:

• Do you have the relevant license & accreditation?
  While this might seem obvious, it’s really important to tick this question off the list, as work carried out by an unlicensed electrician is strictly prohibited in NSW and means you have no protection against damage or financial loss under insurance or warranty.
• Do you have liability insurance?
  Experienced electricians will always work to the highest standards to ensure the safety of both property and person, but accidents do sometimes happen. This is why it’s crucial that your electrician has insurance, protecting both the electrician and yourself from liability in the event that an accident occurs.
• What services do you offer and what areas do you specialise in?
  You need to make sure that the electrician you are approaching has the requisite skills and qualifications to complete the job at hand. For example, both commercial and industrial electrical installation, maintenance and repair demand a high level of skills and experience, including accreditation as a Level 2 Service Provider
• Can you provide references?
  Ask the electrician for references from other clients and read the testimonials on their website, doing some follow up research for yourself if you’re still uncertain. This way you’ll read or hear firsthand about the experience of past clients with the electrician, giving you the peace of mind that you’ve made the right choice.
• What is your hourly rate? Or do you work on a fixed rate per job basis?
  The answer to this question is very much dependent on the nature of the work you require — whether it’s a largescale commercial job or a relatively straightforward residential wiring issue. In all cases, however, ask the electrician for an estimate before agreeing to any work proceeding. You may want to approach a few electricians for quotes as a comparison but remember to ask them the same set of questions before getting the quote, as cheaper does not necessarily add up to quality service!
• How long will the work take?
  This is an extremely important question, particularly in a commercial or industrial setting, as the least down time during the work, the better. Get the electrician to provide an estimate of how long the job will take so you can plan around the down time or possibly discuss whether the work can be undertaken outside work hours. Factoring in any contingencies, your electrician should be keen to limit the impact on your business as much as possible.
• What kind of warranty do you provide?
  Find out how long the work performed by the electrician is warrantied, as this means any faults or issues that occur during the period of the warranty will be remedied by the electrician. Clearly, the longer and more generous the warranty, the more likely you’ll trust the electrician!

At Caslec, we pride ourselves on being leaders in commercial and industrial electrical installation, with over 40 years’ experience in the industry.
Call us today on 1300 659 273 to discuss your commercial, industrial or residential electrical needs or visit our Service Areas page to find an electrician near you.