Truth be told, it is often easier to find an individual electrician to help you with your electrical needs, especially if you know one personally, or have a friend who does. If you don’t, then you’d have to resort one of the many electrical service company listed in your Yellow Pages or has an office in your area. However, you may often find that dealing with a company is quite different from talking with your neighborhood handyman, and thus you’ll need to follow a series of steps which can somehow help alleviate this problem.

Credentials Are Important
When you choose to hire an electrical services company, you need to take some time in checking and ensuring that they have the appropriate credentials and qualifications require by the state and the law. Reputable electrical services companies will always be proud to present their state licenses and certifications when you ask to see it, and if they don’t, you may want to start looking for another electrical services company. Remember that the risks involved in low quality electrical work is tremendous and can result to loss of life and property.

So Are References
It never hurts to ask a neighbor or a friend for some references and recommendations if they have any, but you should still take it upon yourself to do your own research. You want to look at the company’s history and make sure that they have good records in the area they service.

Learn about Their Employees
The employees and staff of electrical services companies often reflect the kind of service that the company provides. You are not out of your bounds to ask about the licenses and qualifications of each of their electricians, and you can even conduct a background check for any anomalies the company has been involved in or any reports of inappropriate behaviour about their staff (e.g. smell of alcohol when reporting to the site of work).

Ask for a Contract
Any legitimate electrical services companies will ask you to sign a contract with them before they do any actual work on your property (except in cases of free inspections). When they do, be sure to read all information written there, including insurances and others. If something is not clear to you, be sure to ask them for clarifications, especially with regards to the fine print.