The United States had 5.7 million job openings in 2017. Of those millions of openings, only a small fraction of them were for electricians.
Because electricians are in short supply these days in the States.
As someone who's currently looking into hiring an electrician, this news isn't what you wanted to hear right now. You likely thought finding an electrician would be as simple as calling up a company and chatting for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, your search for an electrician isn't going to be that simple. That said, we've provided a guide which will teach you how to hire an electrician who will get the job you need done right.
1. Ask Around
Before you pick up your phone to call the local electrical company, consider asking around. Between your neighbors, your family, and your friends, someone you know is sure to have hired an electrician at least once.
The idea here is to have your friends and family point you in the direction of electricians who did good work for them. And there's another benefit as well:
Many of them probably already vetted the professionals they're recommending. As a result, they'll be able to tell you most of what you need to know about the electrician you're hiring.
2. Post an Ad on a Job Board
This tip probably sounds unconventional if you're a homeowner. Even so, posting an ad on a job board can work for both residential and commercial property owners.
Yes, you'll likely pay a fee for using a job board. But job boards provide you with two important advantages:
You can attract electricians who have the credentials you're looking for.
You'll have more bargaining power. If, for example, a candidate's price is too high, you can always mention the four other candidates who gave you lower quotes.
When putting together an ad for a job board, be sure to clearly articulate what you're looking for. Failure to do so will attract electricians who lack the experience you're seeking.
3. Try Looking at Professional Listings
Maybe you think creating an ad on a job board is a bit much. Putting the ad together does, after all, take time--and require money in some cases.
Fortunately, there are websites which allow users to search for qualified professionals who have already provided their credentials.
These online databases also allow you to look at customer reviews regarding electricians' services. And some databases even allow other users to recommend certain professionals.
But here's a word of caution:
Don't amend your vetting process just because some people gave the electrician you're considering glowing reviews.
4. Visit Local Electrical Repair Shops
In today's world, we usually head straight to the internet to solve our problems. The solution to our problems, however, isn't always posting job ads online or viewing online databases.
Sometimes you have to get off of your computer and visit your local electrical repair shop. You'll certainly encounter at least one electrician if you do so.
The biggest advantage of taking this route is the speed at which you'll make contact with an electrician. Despite this advantage, you might lose some of your bargaining power if you walk into a repair shop asking for help.
Just think about it. If you post a job ad online, you can sift through several candidates and use your pool of candidates to your benefit. But if you just walk into a repair shop with no bargaining chips? Who knows what rates you'll get.
Our best advice is to conduct your own research before you walk into a repair shop. If you appear knowledgeable, the shop's electricians will be more receptive to your terms.
5. Ask About Your Electrician's Credentials
Here's the deal:
Many of us know little to nothing about the credentials an electrician needs. In fact, many of us would be satisfied to know that our electricians had licenses.
As it turns out, an electrician's license isn't the only credential we should check for. Electricians have professional "degrees" as well. An electrician can either be a master electrician or a journeyman electrician.
A master electrician is the more qualified electrician of the two. Master electricians have at least two years of experience and have a thorough understanding of the National Electrical Code. They're also licensed to design and install electrical systems.
A journeyman electrician, on the other hand, can't design and install electrical systems. Journeyman electricians still, however, have licenses. They just don't have enough experience or expertise to be master electricians.
6. Inquire About the Electrician's Specialty
Is your property an inner city apartment? How about an antebellum farmhouse?
Because the electrical wiring in these two different types of buildings isn't guaranteed to be the same. And an electrician who specializes in a certain type of wiring or has more experience working with certain types of buildings knows this.
As a result, you should always inquire about your electrician's specialty. If an electrician has never worked on a building similar to yours, you might want to pass.
7. Request a List of References
A customer review is apparently worth $400 billion. The more positive reviews a product or service has, the more people trust that product or service.
And the same thing is true of an electrician.
For this reason, you shouldn't hesitate to ask an electrician for a list of references. Once you have that list, make some phone calls to find out what past customers thought of the electrician's service.
Don't be afraid to ask detailed (but non-invasive) questions about their service. Some examples of a few questions you could ask include:
Did the electrician make any mistakes? If so, how did he/she work with you to correct them?
Have you had any problems with your wiring since the electrician's visit?
Did the electrician have liability insurance?
There are several other questions you should ask. Our suggestion is to write them down to avoid forgetting them.
Having Trouble Hiring an Electrician?
If you're still having trouble hiring an electrician on your own, we suggest that you turn to an electrical company. Even when selecting an electrical company, though, credentials matter.
So do a through investigation of the company you select before committing.
Anyone who needs more immediate help should reach out to us today. Just fill out a service request form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
And don't let cost deter you. We offer financing to customers who need more affordable electrical solutions.