From plumbers and roofers to carpenters and landscapers, you probably have a wide range of resourceful handymen recorded in your contact list, but have you also taken the time to ascertain a reputable local electrician?
If your answer happens to be a passive, “no,” you’re not alone, for most people believe that hiring a trustworthy electrician is as easy as hopping online, conducting a quick internet search, and making a phone call. But if you aren’t aware of the specific features and traits to look out for, you’ll probably end up hiring one of the thousands of ill-equipped, inexperienced, fast-talking contractors that seem to be running rampant nowadays.
So if you’re interested in contracting professional electrical services or if you simply wish to have the know-how required to vet the local landscape, feel free to use this brief article as a checklist of sorts to help you separate the contenders from the pretenders.
Step One – Don’t Mingle with Rookies
If you’d like to avoid the detriments associated with contracting overpriced or ineffectual electrical services, it’s in your best interests to ensure that every firm on your shortlist has at least 20 years of experience within the industry. Although this might appear to be disproportionate and perhaps a bit unnecessary, it’s definitely the easiest way to circumvent pop-up companies, novice contractors, and unqualified electricians, the scourges of today’s electrical arena.
Step Two – Take Note of Any Endorsements and Accreditations
Next, you’ll want to make sure your entire shortlist is comprised only of firms that are qualified, certified, and endorsed by the proper regulatory agencies. With this notion in mind, the most distinguished local electrical firms, such as Aspect Electrical, for instance, are able to tout all of the following accreditations:
- NICEIC contractor approved
- FSB recognition
- UKAS Quality Management
- Rated by checkatrade.com (ideally higher than 9.5)
- ECA registered member
- CHAS approved
- ISO 9001:2000 qualification
Step Three – Compare and Contrast Each Suite of Services
Last but not least, you’ll want to turn your focus to each firm’s documented proficiencies, aptitudes, and available services. In this regard, the most renowned firms in the electrical sector pride themselves on being able to facilitate all of the following tasks on an in-house basis:
- Authorised electrical inspections, testing, and assessments
- Security system installations
- Emergency lighting
- Control panel implementations
- Residential rewiring, repairs, and maintenance
- Factory installations, refits, new builds, and refurbishments
- Comprehensive AutoCad electrical drawings
- “3 Phase” installations
- Fire alarm design, installation, servicing, and maintenance
- Thermal imaging services and electrical thermography applications
If you are able to ascertain two or three local companies that can checkmark all of these boxes, feel free to stow away their contact information for a rainy day. However, if you’d like to establish a line of communication from the onset, you’ll be best served by scheduling a few no-obligation consultations and perhaps an onsite inspection as well.
Regardless of whether you happen to be a homeowner or business owner, the importance of having a readily available electrician on call cannot be understated!