Table of Contents
- When you need us, where you need us.
- What should I look for?
- What else does the electrician or company do?
- When can they fit your work in?
- Are they able to give you a proper written quote or estimate for your project?
- Do they take payment in cash only?
- How long has the business been around?
- The price
1) When you need us, where you need us.
If you have searched for “GOOD ELECTRICIANS NEAR ME” and found this page then you might be in the right place and if you are in the North West, we are happy to help. If you are located elsewhere then hopefully this little blog may be of some use to you.
Back to top2) What should I look for?
2.1) ⚡NICEIC or NAPIT membership
This means that they are inspected annually, insured and have a minimum level of qualifications in order to carry out their work safely and correctly.
2.2) ⚡Website
If they have a website detailing their work, perhaps helpful videos or blogs to help their customers. There is no reason not to have a website these days and to show your face to help customers feel at ease.
2.3) ⚡Qualifications
Ask how qualified your electrician is, how long they have been doing the job and what type of work they usually carry out. A qualified electrician will have no problem showing you their qualifications, telling you what areas they specialise in and anything else they are up to.
2.4) ⚡CPD (Continued Professional Development)
Does your electrician carry out Continued Professional Development to stay up to date with industry guidelines, regulations and product development? It is vital in a fast-moving technological craft like electrical installation and engineering to keep up to date.
2.5) ⚡Google Reviews
Check out their Google reviews to see what customer say about their business. Less than 10 Google reviews could mean that they have not been operating long.
2.6) ⚡Can you speak to the electrician that will do the work?
Sometimes you can find that a local electrician is actually a national call centre or large company that simply finds you an electrician. It is best to speak direct to the electrician or business that will be doing the work for you.
Back to top3) What else does the electrician or company do?
If you are truly looking for “GOOD ELECTRICIANS NEAR ME” then it might be a good idea to get to know you electrician a little better. Some electricians are not only good at their job but also able to teach other electricians, apprentices and students. Knowledgeable and qualified electricians are often able to teach part-time, write articles for professional electrician magazine and so on. Who best to carry out your work than someone that is highly skilled and has an understanding great enough to teach others?
Back to top4) When can they fit your work in?
It is unfortunately true that, if someone is available at no notice then it raises a little red flag. Certain electrical companies or businesses may specialise in emergency works and have an electrician on call or available at little notice to attend for an emergency call. This is acceptable. If, however, an electrician is able to rewire your property within a few days then it may be worth asking why? Good, in demand electrical businesses have work booked in advance, require deposits to secure bookings and will not be able to undertake large electrical works at no notice.
Smaller jobs like a light switch replacement, socket swap or changing a light fitting can often be added on to the end of a day without too much grief, but, changing a consumer unit, an electrical inspection, rewire or other larger job will require time in the diary. Immediate availability for such works combined with a minimal web presence, no online reviews and so on just screams warning signs.
The important thing is to ask the right questions. Making assumptions is not a good thing and a careful approach to finding the right electrician is key.
Back to top5) Are they able to give you a proper written quote or estimate for your project?
So many times, when dealing with trades people you will explain the work you want carried out and the receive a text message stating the cost and a date. This is not always indicative of a bad job about to happen but it does indicate a lack of professionalism which may translate to a poor job further down the line.
We always recommend getting a written quote on headed paper that outlines the work that will be carried out, when it will be carried out and an in-depth description of what has been agreed along with the overall cost of course. This gives reassurance that the job you want is the job you are getting and lowers customer anxiety about dealing with tradespeople.
Back to top6) Do they take payment in cash only?
A business that operates solely in cash in this day and age is a little strange in my mind. A modern business should have the ability to take cash, credit or debit card and BACS in my opinion. Only accepting cash as a form of payment is a little of a red flag for me. I suppose as long as there is an adequate paper trail that details the transaction has taken place, a signed receipt or invoice stating payment received then there is no issue with cash.
Much easier these days to accept BACS which can show the transfer taking place and a reference for the transaction can be attached to the payment. Credit or debit card is also a great way of taking payment although this often costs the business to do this so BACS can be preferable.
Back to top7) How long has the business been around?
When searching on Google, next to each business on the maps section is a “years in business” figure. This indicates how many years the company has been running. Google performs various clever checks to ensure that the information the company is putting out on the internet is actually correct.
The longer a company has been in business the more likely it is they are successful meaning happy customers, good reputation and a good chance that your job will be carried out properly, on time and with a warranty for the work.
Back to top8) The price
Perhaps the most important aspect for a lot of customers. When searching for a service such as electricians it is VITAL to remember that you are NOT buying a product. Purchasing a bottle of wine or new car is clearly a product. The cheaper you can get the same product the better right? As long as the service element is not affected, I agree.
When you are purchasing a service, you are not going to be comparing one price to another for the same thing. Often cheaper is not better and its down to you to research each electrician to find out who fits your budget AND your service level expectations. After sales, quality of workmanship and chance of being in business the following year to solve any issue are important factors to consider for your project. 😊
8.1) Our contact info:
📧 Fill in our contact form here.
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