Imagine the consequences if anyone could carry out electrical work. There would be so many fires and fatalities, laws would quickly be passed making it illegal for anyone but a fully qualified electrician to install, maintain or repair electrical systems. In fact, that’s exactly why laws are in place requiring all electricians to be licensed. Hiring a licensed electrician is not only law, it’s your first line of defence against a potentially fatal electrical mishap.

Hiring a Licensed Electrician

There is no room for error when hiring a licensed electrician. Before doing anything else, take these preliminary precautions:

  • Visually inspect their license and make sure it is current.
  • Ask to see their registration card. Licensed electrician’s must also be registered in the state where they work.
  • Find out if the electrician has current public liability insurance.

If an electrician satisfies these basic requirements, you will still need to dig a little deeper. For smaller jobs, most electricians charge by the hour. One electrician’s hourly rates may seem more attractive than another’s, but if you end up having to pay them for drives to the electrical supplies shop for parts, they could easily end up costing more than a licensed electrician who arrives at your home in a well-stocked van. If you are getting quotes for a larger job, take a good look at the details of each quote before you look at the final price. The details that are left off of one quote may end up being “details” that cost you money.

Most licensed electricians have specialities. Some specialise in general residential installations and repairs while others focus on more specific wiring and installation work. If you need a specialist, get quotes from specialists such as:

Using our hipages.com.au Get Quotes service is a great way to get quotes from electricians. To make the most of the free service, be as specific as possible about your needs. If you want a home automation system, for instance, use the space provided to outline how automated your system needs to be. If you need to have down lights installed, specify the number and type of lights and include information that will help the electricians estimate how long it will take them to install the lights and if any specialised equipment or tools are required. The more you can help the electricians, the better able they will be to serve you.