10 Questions to ask a spark
Here at GESA we know that you want value for your money when hiring any kind of tradesperson, and that’s why we encourage our clients to ask questions, you deserve to know what your spend your money on.
Asking questions gives you important knowledge that could be the difference between a good value job and a great value job. It gives you confidence to be actively involved in managing the workings and safety of your home, and helps you better understand the ins and outs of the job at hand.
When choosing an electrician, safety and trust is key. It’s one of the riskiest trades around, you cannot afford to get anything less than the best for your job. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t know who you are hiring.
Before you hire
1. Do you have a licence to perform electrical work?
You might think this is going to be an obvious answer, but it really pays to ask this. I believe in all my time as an electrician, I have only been asked twice to show my license.
As a legal requirement in every Australian state, it is crucial you hire an electrician that has a licence. We have even heard of cases where a “technician” produced someone else’s license!
2. Do you have insurance?
Electrical work is dangerous. You cannot see it, you cannot hear it, you cannot smell it. Unless something goes wrong and despite care being taken at all times, sometimes things can go wrong, especially if one does DIY.
If your electrician does not have a current Public Liability Insurance policy they can show you, you are accepting a huge risk that could be financially and personally destroying should an unfortunate incident happen on your property. The insurance should not just protect the electrician on the job, but also you, your family, and any other people entering your property in the years to come.
3. Do you have references?
For any major jobs (especially a new house construction or major home renovation) it’s important to seek out references. An electrician with nothing to hide will be happy to provide you with a list of past clients, and they may have some testimonials listed online (see some of ours here https://business.google.com/reviews/l/16729871553791962059). If you haven’t yet found an electrician, ask your friends about who they have used and whether or not they would use them again. Most people love being given an opportunity to rave about a tradesman that did a great job.
4. What is your experience?
The general rule for most trades is that the longer you have been in service, the better you know the job. With this in mind, you ideally want an electrician with at least three years experience. If you don’t want to take their word for it, you can check their ABN details online to see how long they have been operating their business for. GESA’s proprietor Garry is in the game since 1987.
5. Do you have a particular specialty?
Many electricians have a speciality, or at least more training and experience in a particular area. If this matches the kind of job you need doing, it makes sense to give the specialist tradesmen a go. The opposite can also be said; you might want to hire a person that specialises in new builds when you are upgrading your kitchen.
6. Do you have a fixed rate?
An estimate is a crucial piece of information when hiring an electrician, but even better is an electrician that offers a variety of cost options. Most electricians will agree that paying by the hour is a good way to get value for money on small jobs, while a fixed rate provides peace of mind that you won’t blow budget on a big job. At GESA, we offer an estimate that includes everything, including materials, incidentals, labour and things that may affect the performance of electrical work. We then let you decide how YOU want to pay. Should you choose a fixed rate, there’s no hidden costs or nasty surprises at the end.
7. Have you won any awards?
It’s always nice to be recognised for your achievements, and as a Master Electrician Australia Award Winner, GESA could not be more proud. And we have also been involved on HIA award winnings new builds and renovations/additions.
8. Who is actually doing the work?
Do not always presume that who you speak to on the phone is who will turn up at your door. This is certainly the case, when a whole team of electricians might be involved. The golden rule is to find out as much about each and every person working on your home, so that you can make informed decisions.
9. Does your work come with a warranty?
A warranty on electrical work offers you important peace of mind in the unlikely event that you have a problem. GESA offers a lifetime warranty on labour as well as passing on any warranties on parts, and we only use the best quality brands.
10. Will you be on time?
Nobody wants to spend all day sitting in doors waiting for an electrician to arrive, wondering if they will actually turn up. That’s why GESA not only always aim to be on time, you will get a text when we are on our way and you can “live-track” us. We hate for you to be inconvenienced, so we do everything to make sure lateness does not occur.
During the job
Once decided upon your electrician, your questions shouldn’t stop there.
Having an electrician in your home or office is a wonderful opportunity to not just respond to problems that exist, but also look at potential opportunities to make your life more comfortable.
Asking about the state of your home’s electrical could save you time, money, stress and inconvenience later down the track. Learn about efficiency, and discover how you can reduce costs associated with powering your home.Keep the questions coming and you are guaranteed to get value for money. GESA is ready to answer your questions about any electrical issues you may have.