Reputable electricians exist, but unfortunately, there are many shady characters you need to weed out during your search for a contractor. When hiring a professional to do your electrical work, keep an eye out for these signs of a electrician scam.
- They alter their quotes excessively. While some unforeseen issues can pop up during a job, untrustworthy electricians will purposefully give you a low quote so that you select them, then find any reason to tack on additional fees. You could end up paying two or three times more than you originally expected from their proposal. On the other hand, you don’t necessarily want to go with the contractor who gives the highest quote. While they may promise that it’s due to them using only the highest-quality materials or impressive warranties, many will cut corners where they can to pocket as much of that total as possible. To avoid these issues, make sure you receive references and examples of the total cost of past jobs and get multiple quotes before selecting an electrician.
- They use highly technical language when talking with you. A good electrician will know how to explain the complex things they do during a job properly. If an electrician uses a lot of the industry jargon or provides only a vague description of the work they plan to do in their estimate, you should be wary of a scam. Ask for a descriptive estimate and request clarification on anything you don’t fully understand; a reputable electrician will be happy to answer all your questions and explain their proposal.
- They tell you that you need to rewire your house fully. These days, all homes are thoroughly inspected before turning over from the developer to the first owner. The wiring in the house must pass inspections and be up to code before it can be sold, so you know that the wiring system is safe. Wiring also can last for many years, so if an electrician tries to sell you on the idea that you need a whole-home rewiring, they are likely scamming you. Even an older home rarely needs an entire rewiring. You can solve most issues by adding GFCI outlets to prevent shocks; or by replacing the wiring in just one room as opposed to the whole system.
- They insist that the project is paid upfront in full. A licensed, reputable electrician will never have you pay the entire project cost upfront and never fully in cash. After all, once they have the money, there is little motivation for a scamming contractor to do a good job. Instead, trustworthy contractors will usually require a deposit of the project’s total estimated cost upfront, but the majority is paid once work is completed to the customer’s satisfaction.
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Overall, trust your instincts when it comes to hiring someone to do work on your home. If anything feels off–they are over-eager to lock you into a contract, they are vague about project details -then it is probably best to avoid them to avoid a possible electrician scam. You want to be sure that any contractor you hire is certified, licensed, insured, and comes well-recommended in your community before hiring them and signing any legal paperwork.
