How to find a good electrician to work in your home

Tricky isn't it?

With so many directories and registers available to find a trades person to work in your home, it is little wonder that it very quickly becomes a stab in the dark when it comes to searching for an electrical contractor in London.

With mass media coverage at present on the dangers of unregistered electricians and 'cowboy' tradespeople, it is understandable that people are struggling to know who to trust to carry out work in their homes.

We decided to put together some hints and tips on the best places to start to look for a reputable electrician – that is one who is registered and qualified. Whether you are looking for an NICEIC electrician in London or are looking for more general electrical services, then our handy guide will help you to narrow down your search for a good electrician.

Where to begin

• Recommendations

Many people start by asking people they trust the most in their lives – friends and family. This is a brilliant way of seeking recommendation for an electrician. In fact, the majority of electricians get the majority of their work through recommendation. However before you use the electrician be sure to check their registration and qualifications. It will also be worth asking to see other examples of work done for other people or their portfolio.

Tip: Always be certain that your electrician is able to do the job you need doing. Friends and family recommendations are always well meaning, be sure that the electrician is too.

• Trustmark – Government Endorsed Standards

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we are proud to be Trustmark registered electricians. This means that we comply to Trustmark's Government endorsed standards. To be accepted onto Trustmark, electricians and other trades people have to work to a consistently high standard and be assessed against these standards.

In 2013, 14,567 licensed trades people across 32 trades joined Trustmark. It is an extra re-assurance of quality which is held optionally in addition to standard registration that all electricians need to have.

Tip: Search for a local Trustmark approved electrician in your local area by entering your full postcode and select 'electricians' from the trade drop down box.

• On-line recommendation services

There are many on line recommendation services for trades people out there, you may have heard them being advertised on the radio or television. Such services include checkatrade.com, ratedpeople and trustatrader. We would advise using these services with caution as electricians have been known to 'fiddle' recommendations from their own family and friends. However saying all of that, using an on line recommendation service is a far better alternative than picking up a phone directory and searching at random.

The electricians listed on recommendation sites do have to pay to be on there, and you do have the option to read feedback on the trades person before getting in touch. The other advantage is that you can obtain an idea of price before the trades person visits your home by requesting a price on-line.

Tip: Do not take what these sites say as 'gospel truth'. Remember that the electricians on there are effectively customers of the site and they do not carry any kind of endorsement.

Three golden rules to follow before hiring a trades person

• Obtain 3 written quotes

Don't just settle for 1 price even if you think it sounds good and you're desperate for the work to begin. Ask 3 different electricians for a quote and always check what you are getting for the price. Remember many cheap quotes will not include the cost of materials or certification, and by the time these have been added to the overall cost, it becomes more expensive. Always be certain the electrician has visited your home to view the job before accepting the quote.

• Ensure the work carries a guarantee

If your electrician is registered then the work will carry a lengthy guarantee of at least 12 months. This means that should a problem develop after the work has been fitted then it will be rectified free of charge.

• Do not pay upfront for work

You can agree 'staged payments' with electricians where payment is made as the job progresses, however, ideally payment does not need to be made until the job is finished to your satisfaction.

Conclusion

Using these starting points will help to narrow down the hundreds of electricians who work in your area. It will go some way to identifying who seems to be reputable.

However always check qualifications and registration as well as following the three golden rules above to ensure you are hiring a great electrician.