Searching for an electrical contractor can be difficult, but finding the right one will help create a safe and visually appealing home or commercial building. Make sure you perform thorough due diligence to reduce difficulties related to contracting with an electrical contractor of low repute. Sometimes, checking the website or going through the online reviews is not sufficient to know how qualified a contractor may be. Here are a few questions that can help you in searching for the right set of electrical contracting capabilities.
Get answers to these questions before signing an agreement:
1. Are you insured and bonded?
A licensed and bonded contractor generally offers an expected level of quality and follows the relevant codes. If you hire an unlicensed contractor, you can’t make warranty claims if the work done is not to code, or mistakes are made.
2. What is your total experience?
No project is without error, but an experienced contractor will know the ins and outs of dealing with a large residential or commercial project, and do so with fewer errors. Some new entrants in the industry may have a qualification, but with lack of experience will make mistakes that you can only learn on the job.
3. Do you offer regular training to your employees?
Continual training ensures that the electricians and other workers are updated per the latest methods, dos and don’ts in the industry. You can be sure that the staff of the company will be able to fulfill all your needs and preferences – and that you get the right people on the job, not just the available ones.
4. Do you have references?
A reputable contractor will not hesitate in answering this question. The answer to this question will help identify the quality of work by talking to previous clients. Note their experiences and how the commercial electrical contractors in question were able to handle obstacles on the job.
5. How long will it take to complete the project?
An experienced contractor will able to provide a reasonable estimate on the time to complete a given job. This is something that you can’t know without having job experience. An experienced electrical contractor will be able to sniff out what problems are likely to come up in a job.
6. What will the total cost of the project?
Beyond just the time, there are parts, and the number of contractors needed to get the job done within the estimated time.
7. What are your specialties, or capabilities?
Every electrical contractor possesses some qualities that set them apart from the other contractors. Whether this is conduit work, LED lighting, medium voltage, or design build, every electrical contractor has his or her niche. Getting an answer to this question will also allow you get the best work out of the contractor.
