What to ask before hiring an electrician

Electrical mistakes can hidden behind drywall until something arcs or fails inspection. A short conversation up front prevents expensive surprises.

Are you licensed and insured for this type of work?

Residential service, commercial, and low-voltage scopes differ. Confirm the license class matches your job—especially for panel upgrades, EV chargers, or whole-home rewires.

Who pulls the permit?

Legitimate electricians coordinate permits when required and schedule inspections. If someone says permits “aren’t needed” for work that clearly affects your panel or circuits, get a second opinion.

What does your estimate include?

Ask whether materials, dump fees, permit costs, and inspection-related revisit labor are bundled or extra. Compare apples to apples across two or three written bids.

Warranty and troubleshooting window

Good pros warranty labor (and specify manufacturer warranty on parts). Ask how long you have to report issues and whether emergency callbacks are included.

Useful checklist before you sign

• Timeline and crew size (who actually shows up?)
• Whether AFCI/GFCI upgrades are included where code applies
• Cleanup and patch expectations

Electrical work isn’t the place to bargain-shop on credentials—compare experience and clarity, not just the lowest number.