Great Electricians, Up Front pricing before work begins

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Here are some common jobs that we handle. There is a huge variety. But these are some of the main ones.

200amp panel upgrades (often as part of an addition)
Relocate a service mast (sometimes due AUD being built or a shed)
Troubleshoot nonworking outlets(usually handled with minimum $89 charge)
Install can lighting ($50 to $100 per can)
Install speaker wires
Hot tub wiring
Knob and tube re-wires (insurance companies requiring these sometimes) pricing varies, but $7,500 to 10,500 will do an average sized bungalo on capital hill)
Small business outlets, plugs and lights
Generator transfer switches
Automatic Generators ($4,500 installed for the generac and $8,995 for the Kohler version)

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. The cost will be given up front, so an informed decision can be made.

We can also discuss if the repair needs to be done right now, very soon or it can wait. You will be given and honest analysis prior to work beginning.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Undertanding the needs of the customer is our skill. We listen present options based on experience and then allow the customer to make an informed choice.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. My favorite part is turning the lights on.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Have you ever been shocked? Never seriously, but I have seen others. I encourage everyone to have a healty respect for electricity.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. That it is really our job as electrician's to educate and inform about the electrical systems and needs in the household.

We make many suggestions that can benefit peoples electrical systems, that carry a cost, but the suggestions are made not because the company just needs to make money because in many cases there is a real need to upgrade for safety and funtionality.

Two examples:

#1 Zinsco and FPE elecrical upgrades--see consumer safety reports

#2 Whole house surge arrestors--poor power quality in the home is like leave a bar of soap under a faucet...you come back in and hour and there isn't a noticable change, but if you come back in a month there is a hole through the bar of soap. This is what can happen to sensitive electronics in your home if left unprotected.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. Getting in to the electrical trade was my Uncle's fault down in the Portland Area. Years ago he told me it a good trade to get into.

Now after many years Washington Electric has been "born" and I have found it very satisfying to service my client's needs.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. We are the preferred contractor for a Cardiologist in Seattle.

We did ton of can lighting in a home that is all lathe and plaster. See my facebook page for some of the pictures. We instaled a 3D plasma TV with absolutely no wires visible.

I was most proud of the panel swap we did for an old fuse box. Another electrician had said the only way to do the job was to tear apart the wall and install a brand new much larger enclosure. I was able to locate a custom built retrofit panel replacement kit that fit the existing can. It took half the labor expense and saved $100's in sheetrock and painting work!

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Solar Energy is here to stay.

Many people think that Washington is an unlikely place for solar energy. They probably don't know that we get 70% of the sunship that Los Angeles does and that solar energy is a viable alternative for us know.

In the Seattle jurisdiction there are currently 10-15 solar installations being put in by local contractors every month. Washington Electric is currently investigating this technology and hopes to participate in the very near future.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. Most recent was a 200amp panel upgrade of a Zinsco panel. We also Made the panel "generator-ready"

First we had to remove a lot of stored items from the work area (it's always nice if the homeowner does this for us).

The job took two of us from 8am to 6pm to wrap everything up. We had to cut sheetrock, plan out the install to cover the old meter base location, connect and reconned the overhead service drop, but by the time the homeowner returned the power was back on!

It was a great install and the homeonwer was very pleased. the cost for the install was only $1695 for the Panel change and $425 for the Generator connection (normally more but we give discounts when work in combined)

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. We don't do complicated pricing.

We offere "Up front prices". Before we do any work you will be give a quote showing the work to be performed and the cost.

Work areas are left clean the work is guarnteed.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. In life, a good attitude, willingness to learn and good work ethic go a really really long way.

It never hurts to realize that we never quite learning. As the owner of the company I have attended two electrical conferences in the last month....(I learned new things).

Keep yourself in good shape (as electrical work can occassionally be physical).

A few questions I want expect out of my electricians:

-Have I taken care of the customer?

-Did I leave the home cleaner than when I arrived?

-Did I double check my installation for quality?

Try to learn everything you can as you go through the apprentiship process, but keep right on learning after becoming a journeyman.