If you are a homeowner, it’s probable that you will need electrical work carrying out at some time. This could be replacing a fuse box, changing a circuit or fitting a new one.
Sometimes, hiring a professional can be a hard process. As most of us don’t do it every day, it can be challenging to keep in mind everything to tell and ask an electrician before you consider hiring them.
But if you need an electrician, don’t worry. To help you find a professional you trust to do a good job, we’ve come up with 5 essential things to do when hiring an electrician.
1. Check their credentials
Any electrical work that’s completed in your home needs to comply with safety and building regulations. The simplest way to make sure this happens is to use an electrician registered with a competent person scheme. You can find a list of schemes here. Hiring a professional registered with a competent person scheme means that any jobs they carry out will comply with British safety (BS7671) and building regulations standards. They will give you an Electrical Installation Certificate to demonstrate this and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate if needed.
You can use an electrician who is not registered with a competent person scheme if you wish to. However, it would then be your responsibility to make sure that their work follows regulations. If the work needs building regulations approval in advance, you will need to notify a relevant individual or body beforehand and get your electrics checked and tested afterwards. You can find out more about this process here.
2. Ensure they know what you want
For a professional to do good work, they need to know precisely what you want. If you don’t tell them they might not get the job right, which might cost you time and money.
You should also get them to explain what they are going to do. Good communication will mean that both you and your electrician will be on the same page and satisfied with the work.
3. Ask questions
If you don’t understand something that an electrician says, ask them about it. You shouldn’t be ashamed of this – it is their job to have expert knowledge and they won’t expect it from you. Similarly, if you have any concerns, speak up. You need to understand and be happy with the work being done in your home.
This also goes for once you’ve hired an electrician. Even if they have already started the job, it is never a waste of time to ask questions or bring up concerns.
4. Confirm a work plan
Before you hire a contractor, ask them to supply you with a work timetable and an expected completion date, in writing if possible. This will make you aware of when they need to access your home and how long the work will take. You also need to get them to inform you as soon as possible of any changes to the expected completion date. Doing this will keep you in the loop and prevent work from taking longer than necessary.
5. Agree payment terms
Before the job starts, you need a detailed quote amd payment plan from your electrician. Some contractors require material costs up-front or staggered payments for big jobs. They need to tell you this before you hire them so you know what they require and when.
Always get a written quote. This will prevent any misunderstandings about the price that you and your electrician agree on. If you get a revised quote, this should be in writing too. It’s also a good idea not to pay in cash and get receipts for any payments you make, so you can keep a record.
So the next time you need an electrician, you’ll know the essential things to ask before deciding whether to hire one. If you’re searching for a professional now, we can help. Fill in our online form and we’ll connect you with up to 4 local professionals.