​How To Find A Licensed Electrician

There may be a lot of items on your “honey do” list that are not a big challenge such as cutting the grass, washing the windows, cleaning out the garage, doing some landscaping or replacing some tiles on the roof, but when it comes to electrical work, it’s highly recommended that you find a pro.

There are numerous issues that can arise not only during the work but after. If electrical work is not done properly, there can be a silent killer lurking in your walls, outlets or wires.

These types of mistakes can lead to fires and other potential disasters that can put your family at risk. Electrical contracting is one profession we have the utmost respect for and we highly recommend you do as well.
Here are a few valuable suggestions from us that can help you with your due diligence and assist you in avoiding trouble. In no particular order, here they are:

1. Ask Google. Any search for will result in 3 local companies in the “Map Pack” that are closest to your location. They will likely have a website to visit, a phone number to call and reviews to look at. Reviews can be tricky though. Any company can get a few good reviews but you want to look for a company that has not only a lot of reviews but recent ones. Take the time to read the reviews and concentrate on the most recent ones; especially for the past three months as this is the best indication of what type of service the company is providing now.
2.  Ask around. Talk to friends and coworkers about who they have used, who they recommend and who to stay away from. Referrals from friends are often the best way to find a good service company that you can trust but do not assume that just because a friend referred them they are solid. You still must do your homework to make sure they will do the job correctly. Never assume anything when you’re giving a company your hard earned money.
3. Ask Facebook. Put up a post asking for recommendations in your local area and friends will inevitably chime in with their suggestions. It never fails. When you’re looking for a good service company, this is one of the best ways to get a lot of feedback; both positive and negative.
4.  Ask Your Neighbor. One of the best sources of help can be your neighbors. Ask them who they have used and what the outcome was. Fellow homeowners in your area are likely to have had the same or similar issues with their homes that you have had with yours. Take the time to ask them their opinion. This step can also help you to open doors in getting to know neighbors you might not have spoken to before and that’s a good thing.
5.  Ask Yelp. Yelp is not just for restaurants anymore. There are tons of service businesses now listed on Yelp and it’s worth a try to see if one you are going to potentially hire is one of them. They will have their address, pictures, a description of what they do and reviews. Yelp is often an underused tool that homeowners should consider when hiring contractors.
6.  Ask Angie’s List. Angie’s List is another tool that is sometimes overlooked when shopping for electrical contractors or any type of home services company for that matter. Angie’s List has literally thousands of contractors in every imaginable service industry right at your fingertips. They are a wonderful resource with helpful information on every aspect of home improvement, etc.   
7. Ask Thumbtack. Thumbtack is very similar to Angie’s List and has tons of useful information at the click of a button. It lists contractors in various fields and allows the user to find them for free. Reviews are provided so you can shop around and businesses listed on these types of sites are typically very solid because if they don’ do good work, they won’t be on there for long. But, as always, do your homework with any service company you select.
8. Ask Home Advisor. Home Advisor is in the same class as Angies’s List and Thumbtack as it lists, reviews and provides a free platform for users to find great help. The companies that receive these leads from inquiries are the ones who, along with advertisers, pay for and support the platform economically.    
9. Ask Nextdoor. Nextdoor is a website and app that connects people within their neighborhood. It bills itself as “a social networking service for neighborhoods. Based in San Francisco, it allows for share all kinds of information with others who live nearby or in other areas. It’s a very cool resource not just for finding good help, but for getting to know your neighbors and learn what’s going on around you socially, etc.  
10. Request recommendations from other contractors, builders and developers you know or have dealt with. They can often provide a list of solid companies they recommend. Word of mouth is a great source of advertising and those who are “in the business” know who’s good and who isn’t.

Along with this list of 10 items that can help you, we suggest the following 5 steps and that you also discuss the following:

1. Ask them about their area of expertise. They will usually specialize in one area or in general fields. Some may handle new construction site projects, and others may specialize in service calls or commercial buildings. It’s key to be certain they have the experience necessary to handle any issues or complications that may arise on your project and has done specifically what you are hiring them to do.
2. Secondly, ask to see a copy of their license. You can verify their licenses status by using the search tool in the state in which you are located. Don’t be shy about this as it is your right as the consumer to know they are licensed in your state. If problems arise and they are not licensed in your state, it could be you who is held responsible if any damage arises.
3.  Third, verify that they carry current and adequate insurance coverage. It is not always a state requirement, but you may want to hire someone who is carrying liability insurance in case there is an accident or damage done to or around your home. If the company has employees, it is legally required to have workers' compensation insurance on ALL workers who are on the job. For an added layer of protection, you may even want to ask for their insurance information and also call them directly to make sure the policy is current and in force.  
4. Ask them to provide references in writing. After you get them, contact each person to inquire about the quality of the work and their satisfaction. Keep in mind that the references they give you are going to be their best clients and people who have been forewarned that they may be contacted. For that reason, ask poignant questions and don’t hesitate to ask for details of their experience. Ask if the work was done in a timely manner and if the estimated cost of service was accurate. 
5. Finally, check their listing on the BBB to see if there are complaints against the company. You can search their business name followed by “Better Business Bureau” and get a full accounting of their status and rating.   

We hope this list provides some valuable steps to take not only when hiring a licensed, professional and trustworthy electrical contracting company, but with any contractor who may potentially enter your home.

Doing too much due diligence is certainly better than not doing enough. Good luck!