Looking for an Electrician to Do Some Rewiring?

There are many reasons you should hire an electrician to perform even the most minor of electrical jobs in your home. Safety, code regulations, and professional experience are just a few reasons to hire a professional instead of doing it yourself.

You know you should not perform electrical tasks on your own, but what you may not know is exactly what you should look for when hiring an electrician. Here are things you should look for when hiring an electrician to do some rewiring (or other projects) in the home.

Rates

Every electrician has their own rates for service, and many electricians charge a flat rate simply for stopping by your home and inspecting your electrical need. Call around and ask each electrical company you speak to if their services are charged by the hour or via a flat fee depending on the work provided.

The most expensive electrician isn't always the best, nor is the cheapest electrician company in your area the least experienced. Compare the rates of each electrician you are interested in with their overall ratings — gather customer reviews by asking online, checking out website reviews, and even asking friends and family — before making your decision.

Experience/Skills

Different electricians have different skill levels, based on their experience, training, and apprenticeship. An apprentice electrician is one who is still in training and works under a licensed journeyman or master electrician.

Some contractors will specify that they do electrical work as part of their overall skills, but this does not make them an electrician. Hiring a contractor who promises quality electrical work at a very low price can prove to be disastrous — any work done in your home by a non-licensed electrician may not be up to code, or even safe.

Choose an experienced electrician who is licensed in your state to perform electrical work. You can hire an apprentice electrician as well, and know that an apprentice may bring their overseer with them to approve their work. A perk of hiring an apprentice is that their services may be cheaper.

Liability Safety

Hire an electrician who is licensed and bonded. Being licensed simply means that your electrician has passed a state board or otherwise has legal approval to practice as an electrician in your state.

Being bonded is different but still carries safety in liability for you. Being bonded means your electrician has added extra insurance onto their work so that, in the event that something negative or unexpected happens while your electrician is working in your home, you are not held liable or forced to use your insurance to repair damages.

Being bonded also includes protection for the homeowner against damages should your electrician slip and fall or otherwise get hurt while on your property.

If hiring via an electrician company, make sure that licensing — or overseeing by a supervisor in the case of an apprentice electrician — and bonding are part of the requisites placed on all electric employees or independent contractors. If hiring an independent electrician who works for themselves, request their credentials and applicable insurance coverage before letting them through your door.

It's just as important to choose the right electrician for your home's wiring and other electrical needs as it is for you to never perform electrical work on your own. The right electrician will improve your home's electrical safety while providing you with superior lighting, wiring, and other requests.

Don't settle for a simple contractor who may not know what they are doing or try to perform electrical work on your own. Hire our team of experienced, professional electricians to protect your home against wiring issues or to upgrade your current wiring. Call us at Street Brothers Electric today.