Hiring a St Louis Electrical Contractor

Electrical contractors perform a wide range of functions, including; installation, repairs and maintenance of electrical systems, such as communication systems, elevators, industrial power systems and domestic electrical installation among other things. If you have a problem with your power supply system or electrical appliance at home, it is important that you call an electrical contractor to identify the main cause of the problem and offer repair services. The following are factors to consider when looking for a St Louis electrical contractor

i) Electrical Contractor License

Individuals who meet the minimum requirements for electrical contractor in St. Louis licensing can apply for a license from the city. The most important requirements are: proper training and sufficient field experience. This means that you can expect to get the highest possible service quality when you hire a licensed electrical contractor. You should not give any consideration to electrical contractors who do not have a license issued by St Louis County.

ii) Business Permit

Licensing is a professional requirement for anyone who wishes to offer professional services, such as electrical contracting, in the state. Every business still needs to get a business permit from their jurisdiction, whether it’s the state, county or city. Before hiring a contractor, be sure to check the validity of their business permit as well as the types of services they are allowed to offer in the area. If a major electrical project is concerned, an electrical contracting permit must be obtained before commencement of the works.

iii) Reputation

Some firms have built a reputation of executing contracts quickly, cost effectively and according to the state’s building and safety codes. On the other hand, some firms are known to drag projects over a long period of time to increase the overall cost of the project as well as their profits. When looking for a contractor, you want to find a firm that will give you great value for money, so reputable firms should be given strong consideration.

iv) Experience

All electrical contractors are not the same. Some firms have a lot of experience installing elevators and industrial wiring while others are experienced in domestic wiring. Depending on the type of service you need, it is imperative that you hire a contractor with enough experience handling similar projects in the past. It is important to note that experience is not just measured in terms of the number of years in operation, but also in terms of the number of projects handled by the contractor in the past.

v) Insurance

Another important consideration is professional liability insurance and bond for the project. After all, you want to be compensated if the project is delayed. Additionally, you want sufficient protection in case of injuries at the work site or damage to property. Be sure to check the terms and conditions of the bond and professional liability cover before committing yourself to any contractor.

vi) Cost

The overall cost of the project matters a lot. Since you have a limited budget for the electrical works, you will need to find a contractor that can complete the project without going out of budget. The best way to do this is to make a shortlist of the best contractors based on the factors listed above and get a quote from those firms. Be sure to add all other charges to the quote to determine the real cost before doing a comparison. Hiring the most affordable contractor will guarantee you the best value for money. Things don’t always go according to plan, so you may want to give an allowance of say 5% to the total cost of the project, just to be safe.