For the majority of people getting started on an electrical project is a complete nightmare. There are things that you can do to help ease the pain of getting started though. Aside from hiring a quality electrical contractor, you need to also take the time to fully prepare yourself for the job that you expect to be done. This should include having clear expectations of what you want done, a full contact and all materials worked out in advance. Many people think that buying materials themselves will save time and money; however, this is generally false because of the complications that it can involve. Avoiding these problems is quite simple and you are going to learn exactly how to do it.
Your first line of defense against problems is a clear contract. It should spell out exactly what you are going to be paying, and exactly what you can expect to receive in return. You should also look to ensure that contact information is included in the contract as well as information on how you can go about getting in touch with the company in the event of a dispute. The contact should also spell out clearly all payment terms. This would include any periodic payments due upon completion of specific stages of the job, the approximate date of those completions and any other specific details that will impact the contract and payment terms.
You should also discuss materials very carefully. If you are looking to have lights and such installed then you are likely to have some very specific ideas in mind about what you want. While these specific ideas are great, it is best to just discuss them with the electrician and allow them to actually purchase materials. They can often get discounts, as well as they carry the burden of ensuring that all of the parts are included. Any materials that you purchase are your responsibility to ensure that all parts are present. Avoiding this by just allowing them to purchase the materials is best. Provide a detailed list if you have specific items that you are interested in though since this can make it much easier to ensure you get exactly what you want.
Avoiding these problems is quick and simple, but will require thinking ahead. Taking the time to cover all of these aspects before the job actually begins will allow you to get the results that you want, without any major problems or complications. Just remember, things do sometimes take longer to complete than expected, if you find yourself in this position, you should feel free to take your time and carefully adjust your expectations and discuss all problems with the electrician that you choose to avoid confrontations and unresolved misunderstandings.
Murphy Family Electrical Services has electricians serving Northern VA. Great Falls, Alexandria, Falls Church, Arlington, Fairfax, McClean, Chantilly, Northern Va.
