There are around 160,000 electricians in Australia alone, so regardless of your area, you'll likely have your pick when it comes to hiring one.
However, that doesn't mean you should grab the first one you come across. Not all electricians are created equal, and some may be better than others for the job you require.
Ask these questions before hiring an electrician to ensure you have a good fit.
1. Are You Licensed And How Much Experience Do You Have?
The first thing you should do before hiring a residential electrician is to make sure they're licensed and insured. This means they're qualified to do the work, but the insurance also covers them if there are any workplace injuries or damage to your home.
You should also make sure they have a decent amount of experience behind them. Often they'll have their years of experience listed on their website, but if they don't, you can always ask how long they've been in business and how much personal experience they have fixing electrical problems.
A new electrician might be great at what they do, but if you want to find the best fit, nothing beats experience.
2. Where Can I Find Reviews?
Finding reviews is critical before you hire a professional electrician. You can ask where to find some, or you can look around their website for client testimonials and Google them to look for third-party reviews.
If you can't find any, you should ask for references. Never hire an electrician without checking that they have a history of happy customers behind them.
If you do find reviews, they should have an overall good score. You can also dive in and read them to ensure they acted professionally and reliably.
3. When Are You Available?
Some electrical problems aren't huge deals and don't need to be looked at immediately. However, some electrical repairs are urgent, and the problem could pose a danger if the electrician doesn't get there as soon as possible.
That's why you need to ensure the electrician can get there immediately if the problem is serious. Of course, you have more flexibility if it's more of a recreational project, but you need to make sure their schedule fits your needs.
You should also make sure they're available when you are. If you're at work all the same hours as they are, it could be an issue.
4. Have You Dealt With This Problem Before?
Even if your electrician has many years of experience behind them and a long list of references, you still need to make sure they've dealt with this specific problem before — or at least know how to fix it if it's a very unusual issue. So ask how many times they've seen this and how they plan to go about fixing it once they've taken a look.
Although this is their speciality, there's always a chance that an electrician has never come across this before, and, in that case, you might be better off hiring someone else.
5. Is This A Long-Term Fix?
You should also ensure you understand if the electrician is putting a bandaid on a bullet wound or if they've fixed the problem. Ask what the follow-up procedure would be if it turns out they haven't managed to fix it — will they come back out and help again?
This gives you an idea of what to expect later, even if the electrician isn't entirely sure if the fix will hold up.
6. How Much Will It Cost?
When hiring any service, the quote is the most dreaded part. Electricians charge up to $130 an hour, so you know it will be expensive if it requires significant work.
You need to make sure they're within your budget but, at the same time, it might be a bad idea to go for the cheapest one and call it a day. If you get a quote wildly lower than the others, it could be because the electrician isn't as experienced, has bad reviews to make up for, or isn't even licensed.
Shop around for a few quotes and consider them along with all of the other factors. However, don't let the quote be the only deciding factor, or you may have to pay for another electrician to come out afterwards.
7. What's The Best Way to Contact You?
When you commit to an electrician, ensure you save their contact details and know the best way to get in touch with them (phone call, text, or email).
This is important for a couple of reasons:
- You might need to cancel or reschedule
- You might have questions about the job
- You might need to contact them afterwards if something seems off
Although a good electrician will likely be busy, they should get back to you within a reasonable timeframe. On the other hand, if they take ages to answer at the start, they may not be the right fit for you.
Ask These Questions Before Hiring An Electrician
Before hiring an electrician, do your research and find the right one for you. There's no harm in making some inquiries and asking your potential technician questions, as it'll ensure they're the best fit and the problem gets dealt with in the most efficient and reliable way possible.
If you need an electrician in Geelong, contact us today. Our emergency electricians in Geelong are on call 7 AM-4 PM and offer competitive pricing and the experience and know-how to fix your issues. All of our work is guaranteed!