Finding a licensed and professional electrician these days can be pretty tricky, especially since everyone’s marketing their services as the best there is in the industry. What’s more, many unlicensed electricians are offering their services at a much cheaper price, which can compromise the safety of your home and business.
If you’ve been having a hard time finding a licensed and reputable electrician in Australia for your needs, consider doing the following.
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Look Into the Industry Bodies’ List of Qualified Professionals
There are a lot of electricians in Melbourne, but if you want to be sure, you can always check with the governing industry body if they’re allowed to practice in the field. Master Electricians Australia (MEA) has a list of all practicing and licensed electricians in the country.
You can just search from their database and filter through the location, specialization, and services offered to make your search easier. Pro Point Electrical electricians, for one, boast of an array of professional electricians that handle different projects under various occupancies, be it residential, commercial, industrial, or the like.
Additionally, you can also look into each state and territory’s licensing board to narrow your search. If you already found a prospective electrician within your area, you can try contacting the local board to see if they’re qualified and licensed to practice.
Seek Recommendations From Family, Friends, and Colleagues
Another great way of finding a licensed electrician is through word of mouth. At least by doing so, you already have an idea of how certain electricians approach their work and have others vouch for the quality of their services.
Nowadays, everyone markets their services online, backed by customer reviews. You can also check online platforms like Yelp and Google My Business about what the customers have to say about local electricians.
Since you’re already online, you might as well join the local community groups on social media and online forums for recommendations. Here’s a hot tip: try to look for a review that has the same scope and specialization as your project.
By doing so, you’re filtering your searches and focusing on shortlisting the candidates from there.
Check Their Credentials
All professional and licensed electricians have a license number, certifying that they have the skills and knowledge and have passed all the assessment tests to practice in the field.
To verify their status, ask for your prospective electrician’s license number and see if they’re listed in the board directory. You can also inquire about the electrician’s expertise and skills regarding a specific task or project you require, like installations, home renovations, or even fault finding.
Once you’ve confirmed that they are, check if they also have adequate insurance coverage to protect you, your home, or your business from probable accidents or damages.
Gather Different Quotations
By now, you should already have a few names on your list of prospective electricians. The next thing you want to do is to obtain a quote from them for your project.
From their quotation, check their scope of work, warranty period, and post-sales service, and take note of the key features of each electrician. If you’re feeling doubtful or have questions about their service, don’t hesitate to inquire about their proposed work and any concerns you have.
Seal the Deal by Signing a Contract
Once you’ve verified everything you need to consider, as well as the outlines of their scope of work and project timeline, negotiate the price and payment terms. Once you cleared all of this, seal the deal by signing a contract, but not before you carefully review the terms and agreement. Make sure you keep a copy of the said contract for record-keeping.
Additional Factors You Should Consider
Tapping the services of a licensed electrician is only half the work because there are also other factors at play that can influence the outcome of your project, such as the following:
- Emergencies: Accidents and other unlikely events like electrical accidents are out of your control. So at times like these, it’s best to have local emergency services like the fire department on speed dial.
- Safety: We cannot stress this enough, but safety always comes first. Do not attempt to fix or DIY electrical issues; wait for a qualified and licensed electrician to assess the damage and sort things out.
- Regular maintenance: As the property owner, you are responsible for checking the condition of your appliances and devices. At the first sign of trouble, call your local licensed electrician so they can help identify and prevent a potential electrical hazard.
Finding the best electrician for your needs can be pretty challenging, especially with how many there are in the market. However, it’s crucial to do so to safeguard your home and business and to help you comply with your electrical work.
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