Why is it important to get more than one electrician quote?
Shopping around is not purely about getting the best and cheapest quote, although finding the best priced electrician is a win, when it comes to electrics the highest priority over money is your safety and not having faulty wiring done because you have gone with the cheapest electrician who might have cut corners to keep the price low to satisfy your budget.
So, it is important to shop around, getting multiple quotes when finding an electrician to carry out your home project because you want to be able to compare skills, knowledge and experience as well as finding the electrician to suit your budget. While looking online or calling different electricians to price your project, this is the moment where you can find out what associations the electricians are affiliated with. It is best if your electrician is an NICEIC approved contractor because this will mean they have had to be regularly assessed and compliant with safety regulations so you can be assured that you have a skilled electrician working in your home as well as finding out what insurance they offer while working in your home.
Before discussing your project with multiple electricians, write down detailed notes on what it is you are wanting accomplished in your home and be sure to discuss with every electrician in the same amount of detail so that the quotes you are receiving really are comparing like for like.
What should I make sure my electrician quote includes?
To ensure transparency with the electricians, ask for your quote to be itemised, separating out labour and materials and if they are providing several components for you, e.g. when replacing an outdate fusebox, make sure the quote lists what you are paying for each item like the main switch, a residual current device and mini circuit breakers.
Decipher the estimate to see if it not only includes work being carried out but what is there no mentioning of, e.g. if you are having protruding wall sockets that are low down to the ground near the skirting board replaced for the safer modern higher up, fixed into the wall style, then does the quote include the cutting into the wall to house the wiring and does the quote include plastering over the section of wall and neatening up the skirting board or do you need to hire a decorator to work with the electrician?
The quote should have a contact name, number and address for the company. Take note of whether the contact details on the quote match the details you have been using to communicate so far. You want to be reassured that after the work has been carried out, if you need to get hold of the electrician that you can easily do so and not feel like they have disappeared into thin air! Any payment terms should be mentioned on the quote to avoid surprises later e.g. you assuming you can on pay with a credit card only to discover they cash only.
Is a verbal quote enough or should I request having my quote emailed?
Although verbal quotes are legally binding, verbal does not make it enforceable as it is always just your word against theirs so always best practice to insist on having a quote in writing. Whether you have to ask for that or the electrician just gets on with sending you an email / written quote will also help you differentiate the more professional electricians from the cowboys and can be used as a self-elimination on when it comes to choosing who you want to have working in your home.
If aside from doing the project at hand, the electrician has promised to do a small extra job e.g. change a faulty plug socket while carrying out a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) in your rental home, then ensure that any mention of the extra work is also mentioned on the quote so that when the electrician is doing the work in your home, they do not forget or dispute the extra freebie promised which may have been the reason you choose that electrician over other quotes.
How can I get a quote easily and quickly?
HaMuch.com takes the frustration and wasted days out of getting multiple quotes. The online price comparison site puts you in contact with electricians in your area allowing you to first see their hourly and daily charges before you decide who you would like to further communicate with. The messaging system also lets them quickly come back to you with their availability to come through and inspect the project you need completing.