Let’s face it, electrical work is serious and risky business

And as a business that screens and vets local service providers all day long, I’ve come to realise that by not asking the right questions, especially with an electrician, one could end up in a costly or dangerous situation. At best, you may get a nasty shock and burn a hole in your socks, at worst you may not be alive to tell the tale of your misfortune at the next family barbeque.

The fact that you could be held liable for any accidents or damages caused by shoddy workmanship means that you should always do your due diligence before letting the sparky loose around your home.

I’ve gathered five pertinent questions to always ask your local electrician.

1. Are you insured?

Experienced electricians can make the job look easy enough to do yourself, but in truth, it’s complicated work and comes with a boat-load of risks. Any electrician you have working around your business or home should be able to provide documentation stating that they are fully paid up in Public Liability Insurance.

This insurance protects both the workers, the people who are living in the house, and anybody else who might pop over for cheese and crackers.

2. Can I see your licence?

A lot of trades in Australia only require licences if the work carried out is equal to or greater than a certain value e.g. in NSW it’s $5,000.

But an electrician is not one of those trades. They need a licence to carry out any electrical work, regardless of the dollar value.

If your electrician tries to tell you that they don’t need a licence to put a $90 power socket in the laundry, don’t believe them, and try not to let the door hit them on the way out.

3. Can you provide references?

You may not bother with this question for minor work, but if you’re doing a major renovation then it’s a good idea to check an electrician’s past work by asking for a few references.

Try to get references for work that is similar to what you are asking for so you can get a good idea about their experience level.

Any electrician who takes pride in their work will have more than a few local customers in your area who will be more than happy to provide a reference.

4. How much electrical experience do you have?

While you like to help the young tradies out on occasion, electrical work is probably something you want to avoid handing out to the inexperienced sparky – especially if it’s a big complicated job.

You can find out how long they have been working in the industry by checking their ABN details.

5. Can you give a detailed estimate?

You always want to know how much you are going to be up for before work commences. Electricians who have been operating for a few years will be able to eyeball the job and give you an accurate and detailed estimate of what the work will cost – including materials and labour.

If your needs are minor, you will most likely be quoted an hourly rate – which usually ranges from $60 –$90+ an hour plus materials. It’s also not uncommon to be charged a call out fee to account for the electrician’s time on the road.

Find a local electrician in Sydney right here

If you are looking for a reliable electrician in Sydney you can also try one from our Tradebusters Connect Top 3 Local Choice directory. The details of highly recommended local electricians in Sydney are listed here and you can contact them directly today.