How to Hire an Electrician: A Complete Guide
Shed some light on the process of finding an electrician
Learning how to hire an electrician can seem intimidating if you’re new to dealing with home electrical systems. So how do you know how to find electricians who are right for your project?
There are a few questions you can ask your electrician during your search for a pro to be sure you’re securing the most qualified expert to handle your project. And we’ve got even more tips to help you make sure everything goes off without a hitch.
How to Find an Electrician
If you haven’t yet, use our tool to find the top local electricians to narrow down your search fast. From there, take a look at online reviews and testimonials to learn more about the electricians. Always visit their webpages and see what specific skills and experience they have.
When you’re ready, reach out to ask more questions with a phone call or online web form. When electricians respond, you can set up a visit to get a quote for your project to determine whether they’re the right fit for your project.
What Do Electricians Do?
Electricians work with all things related to a home’s electrical system. From rewiring to installing new light fixtures to changing your outlets or upgrading your electrical panel, electricians often work hand-in-hand with other contractors for projects beyond their scope of work.
For example, if you’re fixing a water heater, you might need a licensed plumber to fix some elements of the issue. However, your plumber may also recommend hiring an electrician for electrical issues related to the water heater repair. The same can be said for other appliances in your home, like dishwashers, heat pumps, and more.
Types of Electricians
Nail down the details of your project before reaching out to professionals to ensure you’re getting the right person for the job. Here are some of the different types of electricians.
Residential Electricians
These are your garden-variety electricians, and they can take care of everything from home electrical system upgrades to circuit breaker repairs. If you need an electrical repair in your house, this is generally the right type of professional to recruit.
Commercial Electricians
These electricians perform the same type of work as residential electricians but on a larger scale and for commercial environments. You won’t need to hire one of these pros for anything in your residence, but you may need to reach out to one if you’re a landlord or you own or manage a business.
Installation Electricians
If you’re looking to install a brand new electrical system in your home, like home automation, narrow your hunt to installation electricians only. They’re more qualified than other electricians to set up new wiring for lighting, heating, security systems, and more since that’s exclusively what they do.
All in all, you want to be as precise as possible when you pick up the phone and start chatting with your local electrician. The more information you give them, the more accurate their quote can be. If you want to budget as precisely as possible, no details about your project are too small to mention.
Solar Installers
Solar installers specialize in installing solar panel systems that connect to home electrical systems, supplementing electricity and managing electrical surplus through the local power grid. They can offer advice about the best systems to install, where to place solar panels, and other important information. Do not confuse these solar systems with versions that only heat water, which require a different setup where electrical expertise isn’t as important.
Fire Alarm Installers
These professional installers have the necessary electrical training to connect and test wired fire alarm systems. They are also knowledgeable about local codes regarding fire safety and prevention. Their expertise may extend to other security system installations, too.
Low Voltage Electricians
These electricians may not be certified to work on wiring or other built-in home electrical components. Instead, they focus on electrical work like setting up home theaters or other audio/video equipment.
Electrician Experience and Certification Levels
Based on the information you gather about an electrician, you’ll want to take into account your project’s complexity, your budget, and the electrician’s level of certification and expertise before you decide to work with them. Below are three of the most common experience levels for electricians:
Before Hiring an Electrician
Consider these essential points before hiring an electrician.
1. Know the Size of Your Home and Project
Are you looking for a pro to rewire your house? Make sure you know how many square feet your house is, as this will greatly affect the time spent on the job and the amount of materials needed. Are you just looking to get a few outlets replaced? Write down exactly how many you want to upgrade and where they’re at in the home.
2. Know Your Home’s Age
Make sure you know how old your home is and when the last time was that you had electrical work done. Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring systems or systems that don’t meet modern electrical codes. If your pro knows they’re looking at a home built in 1950, they won’t be too surprised if they stumble across old wiring systems that need updating.
3. Determine the End Goal of Your Project
Before you talk to an electrician, determine the outcome you want. That could be, “I want a transfer switch to connect a whole-house generator to these specific rooms,” or something simpler, like, “I want a new outlet in this alcove.” If you have a problem that needs fixing, know how to explain the problem accurately. Accurate explanations lead to better estimates and results.
4. Know Your Budget Range
Set a budget for the electrical work so you can compare it to the estimates from local electricians. If the quotes are significantly outside of your budget, consult an electrician about how to pivot your project to achieve similar results without spending too much.
5. Write Down the Questions You Want to Ask
Before a visit from the electrician to get an estimate, write down any important questions you want to ask them. That could include asking about similar situations other local homeowners have faced, what kind of maintenance the system needs, and more.
Hiring an Electrician Tips
1. Ask About Their Qualifications and Experience
Always check your electrician’s qualifications and verify their electrician’s license before making a final selection. You can usually find this information by perusing an electrician’s website or asking them directly. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, ask for their name, the company’s name, and their license number, and use that information to confirm their qualifications with the labor department in your state.
2. Find Out Who’s Going to Be Doing the Work
If you’re hiring an electrician through a company rather than working with someone independent, be sure to ask who will be assigned to your project. If you’ve contacted a company that relies on subcontractors, they may not be properly covered by insurance. Make sure both the company and the individual worker are licensed and insured.
3. Request Recommendations and Look for Reviews
Relying on word of mouth is a classic way to ensure you’re getting the most qualified pro for your project. Ask contractors and other home improvement professionals that you’ve worked with in the past who they’d recommend. You can also use online review sites to get an assessment, but always take these with a grain of salt.
4. Find Out If They Offer a Warranty
Make sure your new improvement will be covered in the case of damages or faulty installation by finding out if an electrician has a warranty. Some plans include replacement or repair up to five years after completion, but others can last as little as just one year.
5. See If They Carry Insurance
Not every state requires that electricians carry insurance, but you (and your home) will be better protected if you hire one who does have insurance. That way, no party has to worry about unexpected costs if damage occurs during the project.
6. Ask Multiple Electricians for Estimates
Electricians will be able to provide a broad estimate for most projects. Electricians offer quotes in writing for larger projects like wiring for a remodel. Collect a few different quotes from pros in your area so you can compare costs. Even if they are all similar, you’ll still learn a lot about the costs to expect and what the job will look like.
7. Keep Records of Your Electrical Project
For any significant electrical work, keep records of what was done, including your final bill and a description of the work. For large projects, take “before and after” photos, too. It can be very helpful for insurance, certain kinds of home evaluations, and if necessary, small claims court.
8. Look Out for Red Flags
Stay alert for these red flags when hiring and working with an electrician.
Pushy sales tactics: Scammers will demand that buyers pay them now, often in cash. Real electricians will not demand upfront payment and likely have built-in payment options for clients.
Claiming experience without proving it: Always ask for proof of electrician licensure before hiring. If they don’t have any testimonials or portfolio information, ask for referrals from past clients. Don’t work with an electrician that can't offer any proof of their expertise.
Very low prices: Very low prices are signs of an electrician working under the table, often without licensing or insurance. Don’t try to save money this way, especially when your home’s delicate electrical system is on the line.
Names on record don’t match electrician names: Sometimes frauds will copy the license numbers of an existing electrician so the license looks real at a glance. If you have any doubts, look up the license number and make sure it bears the name of your electrician or the owner of their company. You can also look up the company name on public records to verify its status.
Lack of updates and poor scheduling: A poor electrician won’t give any updates when they are running late and won’t try to reschedule if something goes wrong. Bad habits can continue onto the work that they do. It may be best to find an alternative.
After Your Electrician Is Done
When your electrician is done working, there are a few more things you want to think about before sitting back and enjoying the finished product. First, tipping contractors isn’t required, but it’s always welcomed. If you feel like your pro did an exceptional job, you may consider tipping them 10% to 20% of the final bill.
If your contractor doesn’t accept tips, think about going online and submitting a glowing review for their amazing work. This not only highlights the contractor’s job well done, but it also helps make it easier for people who will be searching for electricians in the future to find the best one.