How to Choose an Electrician

Our homes are often filled with things we love, whether it is beautiful ornaments, fabulous furniture, stunning lighting systems or our high-tech gadgetry; like our TVs and games consoles. However, we often overlook some of the most important components that make our home a functional and safe place to live. These components aren’t always immediately visible, things like plumbing and electrics. These integral systems are essential to modern life, but hidden from view. At Cerretti Electrical we love all things electrical and we want to help our people understand why it is important to keep your electrical wiring in top condition and how to choose the best certified electrician to support you.

Your electrical wiring

Electrical wiring is a complex system and one which should only ever be tackled by a registered and fully qualified electrician. The consequences of not doing so could be very high. We don’t mean to scaremonger  – but the worst case scenario is that everything goes up in smoke!

Electrical work if undertaken by an unqualified electrician can be highly dangerous. Equally if you decide to hire someone who isn’t certified or qualified, the results for you could be devastating. Not only that, everything may seem in order initially and catch you by surprise when you least expect it. An unexpected fire, unwanted expense, a dangerous electric shock or an annoying power outage.

Cerretti Electrical realises sometimes it can be daunting inviting trades into your house. It can make us anxious and worry that we might not choose correctly. So, how do you know who to select? To help you decide, here is some helpful guidance on how to successfully choose an electrician.    

Which electrician do I pick?

Before you approach any electrical firms, make sure you are ready. To properly prepare make sure you have the following information available and ask about any details that you don’t have. 

• Have a clear outline of what you want help with – either to install or fix 
  • If you give your electrician a written summary of the work you require then it will be easier for you to compare quotes and help the electrician to quote more accurately.
  • It is often a good idea to select 3 companies to quote and then you can make an informed decision.
• Find out whether they have public liability insurance 
• Are they registered with a governing body – can they produce certification?
• How much will the project cost? Cheap doesn’t necessarily mean safe or long-term wearing so ensure you are clear on what is included
• When does payment for the job occur? 
• How long will the job take?
• Do they have a good reputation? Don’t be afraid to ask to see proof of qualifications, or certificates of registration – if they are genuine, this will not be an issue for them. You could also ask for references from their most recent jobs.
• Do you offer a warranty on installations or work completed?
• Will you send me a written quote or estimate?  Don’t leave yourself open to misinterpretation. Jobs can change due to unforeseen circumstances but they should be fully clear about the expected costs. 

If you need a quote for any electrical work large or small you can contact us and we’ll be happy to give you a quote. We are a small team of NIC EIC registered and certified electricians and we cover the East Coast of Scotland regularly, but can quote for jobs outside of this geographical area just contact us and we’ll get back to you.