Five Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrical Contractor

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 place 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 a typical installation or 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, SCC Electrical 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 Colorado 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:

- To check the status of a Colorado Electrical License*, contact the CO State Licensing Board (303) 894-7775.
SCC Electrical, Inc is a division of Strategy Construction Company ("SCC"), SCC is a CO licensed electrical contractor

TWO - Is your business in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State?
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!

- To check the status of a business with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office**, Click here

**Note: Ensure the company provides all names it does business under, i.e., SCC Electrical, Inc is a division of Strategy Construction Company ("SCC") and is a CO Business in Good Standing . Use the main company name - Strategy Construction Company - in your search to receive the most accurate result.

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 on the Phone?
There are a many reasons whysome electrical contractors refuse to provide phone estimates and insist on making the trip to your home, business or 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 big commission - they want your money, not your trust!
- has trained their office staff to avoid providing simple estimates and must 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, small projects that cannot be described accurately and troubleshooting will sometimes require a licensed electrician to visit your property. SCC Electrical will always provide you a quick and cost-free estimate on all jobs - either on the phone or if we must visit your property. The estimate will always be free and we will never charge you a "trip fee" or sell you an electrrical 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.


Let's discuss your electrical project needs - Call SCC Electrical Today at 719-219-0960

 

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