Choosing the right electrician, or anyone in the trades to do work on your house, or apartment, or any other place in which you have slaved for many years to create a safe haven, can be frightening.

There are a lot of people who live with frustrating, sometimes dangerous problems because they are afraid of choosing a bad contractor.

It’s always been a challenge since the dawn of trade, to find someone who will deliver specifically what is asked of them in exchange for what they ask for.

There are quite a few people out there who will try to do as little as possible, cutting corners by using cheap material, overcharge for work or materials not furnished, not showing up to work when scheduled, etc.

You will be happy to know that there are just as many if not more people who are honest, hard working, punctual, and take pride in doing quality work.

Here are some steps you can take in choosing the right electrician/contractor:

1. Always make sure the person you hire is licensed!!!

a. This doesn’t mean they can use their plumbing license to do electrical work, or their carpentry license to do plumbing. The license must be specific to the trade.

b. All licenses expire, make sure you check your contractors license to see if it current or expired. You can check any Queensland license number HERE

2. Ask for references!!!

a. Most people who have a pleasant interaction with a contractor will happily testify to their experience. If the person you are hiring doesn’t eagerly provide a list of references, that is probably not a good sign. It’s also nice to have someone furnish photographs of work they’ve done, in this age of easy tech there is really no reason why some should not be available.

b. A great way to find a good contractor, is to ask your friends and neighbors whom you think have a comparable standard for quality.

3. Vibe, vibe, vibe!!!

a. If you have checked their license, references, and reputation, and you still just don’t feel “right” about it, DON’T DO IT! Vibes are a built in warning device that too many of us choose to ignore or not fine tune.

4. List of warning signs

a. Slurred speech, or alcohol on the breath.

b. Using swear words when communicating with you.

c. Poor hygiene, ie: greasy hair, filthy clothes. Usually someones professional appearance is a reflection of their standard of quality.

d. Punctuality, if you have a meeting scheduled to have an estimate done, and the person is over 15 minutes late, that is a big warning sign! Think of how many relationships you have looked back on with regret, only then to remember the “little warning signs”.