How To Identify The Electrician That You Need
Electricity became a very crucial discovery that has helped us live a more simple life. This has been evidently seen in terms of technology advancements and improved living standards. When there are power shortages and breakdowns a lot of tasks and things come to a standstill. Therefore, electricians play the role of improving our lives and enabling a lot of duties and tasks to take place. If you are faced up with an electrical issue it is always important to consult and hire a qualified electrician. A qualified electrician will help ensure that they perform any repairs and installations safely and correctly.
The various roles of an electrician.
Depending on the electrical issue and extent of damage and repair an electrician can help you with any issue you bring to their attention. For you to access the services of an electrician it’s right to always look for a fully licensed electrician who possesses the right certification and accreditation. Also, a specialist should possess all the required tools of work and should also be insured to ensure that compensation is done when mishaps take place. As a property owner, you should know that there are three different levels of accreditation and every qualified electrician should possess them in order to carry out any electrical issue.
Levels Of Accreditation
Level one which is the first and initial level gives an electrician the powers to connect electricity to your property. Such specialists could also expand or custom your electricity network depending on your needs. The next level is level two which gives the specialists the power to connect and disconnect electricity on your property. These professionals could also repair and install service line whenever need be. Level three which is the last one gives the specialists the powers to conduct extensive electrical duties which include maintaining, installing an electrical system and designing the system.
How do I know if I would make a good electrician?
So you think that you might want to have a career as an electrician, but you are just not sure and are looking for further information – you have come to the right place.
What Do Electricians Do
Electricians are in the category of work that involves skilled tradespeople and they set up, repair and upgrade electrical systems in residential or commercials and set up and repair outside lines, especially after storms. Without this type of tradespeople most of our modern conveniences would not be available.
Be aware though that there are differences between electricians and electrical engineers and you should know which one you want to follow. One doesn’t necessarily
Proper Education
Since this type of work can be extremely dangerous, it is important that you get a proper education to work in this industry. In some cases that would be a trade or vocation school that could be as long as getting college degrees, but both paths of education pay off very well in salaries. A good electrician at the top of his career can make as much as his counterpart who worked for the college degree.
Extremely Dangerous
Because working with electricity is extremely dangerous, you must get a proper education in order to work in this field. This can take just as long as obtaining college degrees, or less depending on the state, but it will probably pay off in terms of salary.
Traits That Make Good Electricians
Those individuals who make good electricians are those who like to work in many different environments. They are certainly not people who like to be stuck in an office all day – not a “desk” person. Actually they are rather unique individuals with a combination of personalities.
They need to:
- Be able to work on their own
- Be detail oriented
- Be diligent about getting things done correctly
- Ability to work with a large team of different trade contractors
- Physically fit – often you will need to carry loads that are heavy
- Ability to effectively communicate
Why Is Electrical Work So Expensive?
Most electricians charge by the hour, and an experienced electrician should be able to give you a reasonably accurate hours-needed estimate from the start. But there are other factors that can affect the cost of your electrical job, depending on the type of job you need accomplished and the experience of the electrician you’re hiring. Consider these tips when pricing out electrical work.
- You will pay for experience. An electrician with 15 years of experience earns more per hour than one fresh on the job. Just like almost every other profession, electricians are compensated for their cumulative experience over time. And if a company employs only senior, experienced electricians, their hourly rates will be higher.
- Ask to see a license. Electricians are required to carry their licenses. It is not enough to see the license of the business owner who comes to give you an estimate. Request to see the license of the person actually doing the work. Your confidence in the person quoting the work should not automatically extend to the person doing the work.
- You never know what’s behind door #3. Much of an electric repair job is about unraveling another person’s work. And a true professional knows that the job may take longer than it looks at first glance because there could be a mess behind the walls. Professionals will prepare you for this with a quote that will cover the most common pitfalls seen. Others may quote lower to win a job but surprise you with a higher bill because of what is there.
- Quality matters. From wires to clips, the quality of the materials being used matters. Your safety is paramount to a professional, experienced electrician. He or she may recommend products that are a little more expensive than others. But we have seen lesser quality materials fail and choose the products we would put in our own homes and businesses.
Ask Electricians 5 Questions Before Hiring
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
How many years of experience do you have?
Who’s doing the work?
Do you have a business license?
Do you offer a warranty?
How to Find Electrical Work
To survive, you must become adept at spotting opportunities before your competitors do. Some methods to find work are less obvious than others.
Cultivate New Relationships
According to “Electrical Construction and Maintenance” magazine, referrals are still the most effective way to get new business. Work hard to develop relationships with contractors, facility managers and vendors in your industry, so that they think of you when they need to hire an electrical contractor. Assign an employee to network, if necessary. Regularly sit down with your staff to discuss current and past projects. Sharing ideas helps you identify contacts that you may not have considered.
Follow Up With Customers
Poll current and former customers regularly to see how well you’re handling their needs. Start reaching out during the warranty process, when customers identify problems that need correcting. Ask customers to complete performance surveys, but notify them of any policy changes that you make — such as in your company’s billing practices, for example, or your complaint-resolution process. Your willingness to provide outstanding service will pay off in word-of-mouth referrals from customers who’ve had good experiences.
Keep Up with Technology
Stay relevant by capitalizing on new technology and looking for opportunities to grow your business. Take the time to learn about green construction practices, for example, to meet other types of contractors. This may lead to new business relationships and expand your pool of available projects, according to “Electrical Construction and Maintenance.” Still, don’t overlook traditional sources of income — such as repairing and maintaining equipment in aging facilities, which should provide additional opportunities for electricians