7 Things You Should Ask when Interviewing Electrical Contractors

You have heard them before, horror stories from friends and family members who have hired sub-par electrical contractors, or contractors of any kind, to do work in their homes. Turn on any court television show and you are bound to see at least a case or two there as well. The problem, in most cases, is that the people involved did not do enough research before deciding which contractor to hire.

Calling an independent electrical contractor to ask for a quote is easy enough but obtaining the most reasonable quote possible simply is not enough. It is your responsibility to interview the contractor in question to ensure you are hiring the right person for the job. Not sure what to ask? Start with a few of these questions.

Are you fully insured?

This is an important question but you need to know what kind of answer you are looking for. Electrical contractors should have general liability insurance to cover them for any damages he may cause in your home. If the contractor has his own employees he should have workers compensation coverage as well.

The contractor in question may use subcontractors instead of permanent employees. If that is the case, make sure he is either extending both coverage options to his subcontractors or is obtaining proof that they are insured for his records.

Upon hiring the contractor, ask him to have his insurance company send you a Certificate of Insurance naming you as either Certificate Holder or Additional Insured. This will ensure you are protected if there is a problem. Do not hire him if he can not or will not provide proof of coverage.

Have you ever operated your business under a different name?

You may feel like you are prying but you have the right to know. The answer to this question could and should raise a red flag. If your contractor changed the name of his business because he split ways with a partner or family member, you may not have anything to worry about. You should be concerned if he changed his name because he was sued, built a bad reputation, or filed for bankruptcy. His company may not be trustworthy or financially stable.

Has your company ever been involved in an accident involving physical injury?

The independent electrical contractor coming into your home is going to be working with electricity. Ask about past accidents, whether it was on a job site or in an automobile in transit. Do not be afraid to ask for the details surrounding the incident. Accidents do happen but accidents caused by careless behavior or poor business choices are not something you will want to chance in your own home.

Have you ever been sued?

Listen carefully to the answer to this question. The electrical contractor you are speaking to may be honest but if he sounds like he is lying you can easily go to the courthouse and check the public records.

How many job bids do you have pending and how many jobs are you working on now?

This is really important. The contractors visiting your home may seem like they have all the time in the world to give you an estimate and most will work with you until you are ready to sign a contract.

What happens if you and 5 other homeowners call the same independent electrical contractor to sign contracts within a few days of each other? How long will it really take for your electrical upgrades to be completed?

Who will be working in my home each day?

You have the right to know who will be working inside your home each day. Ask for the names and cell phone numbers of each person in question in addition to contact information for the owner or main office. Find out how long each person has been working with the company. Five years is a good rule of thumb but do not automatically discount employees who have not been with the company as long. Ask how long they have been working within the industry.

How do you manage quality control?

While it is not realistic to expect the owner of the company to appear at your home each and every day, it is reasonable for you to expect his employees and subcontractors to do great work. Ask the owner of the company what methods he uses to monitor the day-to-day operations of his employees. Find out who will come out to check on the quality of the electrical work, check for mistakes, and to ensure proper progress is made every day.

Never let a contractor pressure you into feeling like you have to hire him on the spot. Interview as many electrical contractors as you need to in order to find one you are comfortable with. You are the one who will have to live with the work he does!