It is an unfortunate fact that there are many cowboy contractors out there. They usually offer prices that are extremely competitive, but services that leave little to desire.
It is not illegal to hire an unlicensed contractor, but you can be left with the legal and damage bills if something they do goes wrong, as there is no insurance to cover you.
It is not just unlicensed electrical contractors that you should be wary of. Not every electrician is the same and some will rush through work, lack the appropriate skills or experience or might just be plain bad at their job.
So, how do you sort through the haystack to find the best electrician in Bendigo?
There are many ways you can discover if an electrical contractor has the skills, experience and qualifications to ensure they can do a good job. These include the following:
Do Your Homework
We live in a connected world and there is evidence and recommendations to help you determine if an electrical contractor is reputable or should be avoided.
The first step is to ask your friends, family and colleagues about their experiences and discover operators that come highly recommended.
Then, you can look at Google and Facebook reviews to see what sort of messages their customers are leaving.
You could ask your neighbours in local community groups what their experiences are. Local directory sites will often include reviews as well. Finally, check to see if your choice of electrical contractor has images of work. This will give you tangible evidence that their work is neat and clean.
Ensure That You Verify Their Electrical Licence And Insurance Details
Asking for an electrical contractor on Facebook or falling into the trap of picking the cheapest operator is fraught with danger. You need to know that their services are up to scratch, or you could end up with wiring that is unsafe.
This could potentially cause major damage to your property, injury, or far worse consequences.
All licensed electricians are required by law to display their licence and insurance details on their website, marketing materials and on their stationery, so you should be able to make your first check there.
Unfortunately, some operators will display false credentials, so it always pays to take this background check a step further.
There are multiple ways that you can verify the licence and insurance details of an electrical contractor. You can check if their details are listed on the EnergySafe Victoria website, email [email protected] or phone 1800 815 721. You should never skip this step, as the consequences could be too severe if you do.
Ensure That You Get A Certificate Of Electrical Safety
Whenever an electrician completes any job at your home or business property, they should provide you with a certificate of electrical safety.
This certification means that the work has been properly inspected and tested to ensure safety.
You always ask in advance if your electrician will provide a certificate of electrical safety. If they are unable to guarantee this or show their certificates that are issued after each job, this is a red flag that should make you think twice before booking.
Check With Other Local Contractors
The chances are your electrical contractor has worked with other contractors in the local area during their career. They would have worked with builders, architects, plumbers and more working on new homes, renovations, office fit-outs and other major electrical jobs.
Because these contractors work in alternative trade streams, they may give you an honest assessment of their experience working with the electrical contractor you are thinking of hiring.
By checking the online portfolio of your electrical contractor, you can see what major projects they have worked on.
The more housing estates, townhouse complexes and commercial properties they have worked on, the better. Then, you can discover builders, etc, involved in those projects and seek out their opinion.
Ensure An Electrical Company Has Contractors That Are Specialised
You don’t want an electrician to just have a go at an electrical job they have never completed before or don’t have experience at. You want to be assured they have completed these tasks many times before and have the skills and experience you need.
Check the website and call the company to find out if they have specialists for your job. If you want wiring installed for a bathroom renovation, ensure they have worked with tilers and plumbers on bathroom projects before, for example.
O'Brien Electrical & Air Conditioning Bendigo has over four decades of experience providing quality electrical and air conditioning services in Bendigo and surrounding areas.
We welcome you to contact us, we are available 24/7 on (03) 5442 1455 for any enquiries, bookings or quotes.
