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5 Important Questions
The importance of hiring a
licensed and insured electrical contractor can not be over emphasized! The
safety of your family, co-workers, neighbors and the general public rests on the
technical training, expertise and experience a licensed electrical contractor
provides. Those who wire houses and buildings for a hobby or "to save a buck"
simply places others in the path of danger. Like all businesses, not every
electrical contractor is completely honest with potential customers.
An example of this insincerity is an electrical contractor will not provide you
a simple quote over the phone for typical installations and repairs like ceiling
fans, lighting, electrical panels and many more common services performed on a
daily basis. See question five below to get the inside details on why they do
this.
To help you make the
best decision, CM Wiring offers Five simple questions to ask any electrical
contractor prior to entering into a work agreement:
ONE - Is your business licensed in the
State of Washington to perform electrical work?
This question will identify most of the "electrical hobbyists" and expose those
performing illegal electrical services to the general public. As a general
rule, if the person or business asks a property owner to pull the necessary
permit for the job, they are not a licensed contractor. If the electrical
contractor or person says "no" [they are not licensed] or is not willing to
provide their license number, immediately look elsewhere. If you suspect the
person or business is providing misleading information, you may check with the
agency listed below:
TWO - Is
your business in good standing with the State of Washington?
The answer should be
an immediate "yes". Home/business owners and property managers may be asking for
trouble if the electrical contractor or person is not registered to conduct
business in Colorado or not in good standing. You may subject your property to
damages that can not be collected on - and even worse! A business in trouble is
not focused on the job. This means workmanship suffers, added costs are included
and customer service is usually non-existent. Bottom line: Choose an electrical
contractor in good standing for the added peace of mind!
THREE - Are you or your service electricians OSHA
safety trained and certified?
The answer should be "yes" and any legitimate
electrical contractor will gladly show their employee certification credentials
to customers who asks. Electrical work is inherently dangerous and requires a
heightened degree of emphasis placed on safety. If the company or person can not
show they care about their own safety, why should you entrust them with yours?
FOUR -
Can you provide proof of General Liability and Worker's
Compensation Insurance?
If an electrician representing him or her self as
a business causes damage to property or persons while at your address, you need
to know you are covered by their General Liability insurance Policy.
Otherwise, you may be left held holding a sizable repair or medical bill. If the
electrician is uninsured, you can not collect on damages without incurring the
additional expense of court costs. If an electrician is injured on your
property, you are protected by his or her Worker's Compensation insurance.
Worker's Compensation may not be carried by all electrical contractors.
Individuals operating as an electrical contractor may legally elect not to be
covered. Vehicle and Liability Insurance is required in all cases. Ensure you
are covered by asking if they are...and most importantly - ask for proof.
FIVE - Why
Can't You Provide Me with an Estimate Over the Phone?
There are a many reasons why electrical contractors refuse to provide estimates
without coming to your property:
The Electrical Contractor:
- is not experienced
- is not organized
- feels customers can not describe their own electrical needs
- will charge you a hefty trip fee even if they do not get your business
- is a sales organization and wants a chance to "sell" you more services by
getting their foot in your door
- has all of their technicians "sales trained" and on commission - they want
your money! BEWARE!
- has trained their office staff to avoid providing simple estimates and to
schedule a visit to "sell" you!
If an electrical contractor can not give you a quick estimate for a small job,
think about the things listed above. Keep in mind, large projects and
troubleshooting will sometimes require a licensed electrician to visit your
property. CM Wiring will always provide you a quick and cost-free estimate
on all jobs. The estimate will always be free and we will never sell you a
service you do not need.
These five simple questions cover the basics but, will shed light on
"fly-by-night" persons and companies acting as legitimate electrical
contractors. We hope the information will assist you in making the best decision
when considering who to hire to perform electrical work.
Free estimate - (888) 399-1471
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