Hire an electrician after asking questions to solve problems

If you need an electrician, consider these points:

1 Ask people to recommend someone. Ask friends, hardware store or electrical-supply for names of electricians, or the Yellow Pages. Ask how long they've been in business and how much they charge, and then ask for references. And it depends on the size of the job.

2 Get more than one estimate. It’s easy to ignore this one because that’s why you got the recommendation. Plus you're busy, and you may even like the first contractor. But you’d be wrong.

3 request a flat-rate price, if you’ve got an emergency, so you can get quotes from several contractors to compare.

4 Licensed, bonded electrical contractors understand the industry, and get permits and assume responsibility for electrical jobs. Certified electricians are employed to do the work. In most cases, you hire a contractor who sends the electrician.

5 Verify information. Do some homework. Call the state Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board to find out if the contractor's licenses and fees are current, and check the contractor's complaint history with the Consumer Services and the Better Business Bureau.

6 Understand the payment schedule. Small jobs are usually paid when completed or after final inspection. Large jobs call for an up-front payment, 10%, with installments or progress payments during the project.

7 Know what not to do. Become suspicious if you're asked to get building permits that should be the contractor's responsibility. Look at the details. Be sure the permits are in the contractor's name, not yours, otherwise you are obligated to make sure work is up to standard and the required inspections are done.

8 Avoid contractor liens. A lien could be placed against your property if a contractor fails to pay his suppliers or subcontractors. Don't make the final payment until you receive a lien release or waiver stating all suppliers and subcontractors have been paid. Large jobs use partial waivers before you make each progress payment.

9 Be prepared to patch things up yourself. Contractors and electricians often don't do repair work after they cut or drill holes for electrical wires. But you can ask.