What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have to successfully complete at least 8 hours of continuing education by a Board certified instructor every year in order to renew my license. I attend all of mine in a classroom setting but one may attend 4 hours of classroom along with four hours online to satisfy this requirement.
What types of customers have you worked with?
Today, I mainly seek and perform service work, troubleshooting and repair, but do bid on and accept new work and larger projects if they interest me. I also consult on electrical problems, especially those involving stray voltage. Got an electrical problem, give us a call.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Ask questions relative to the work you are looking to have completed. Ask for at least five references that can qualify the person's work ethic and ability to do the work. Ask for licensing and insurance information and confirm them. On just about evey project, get a written quote showing a good description and scope of work including terms for payment. Now there is nothing wrong with a contractor asking for partial payment up front to purchase materials. many contractors have properly finished projects only to get stiffed on payment, or has had to order specific materials that can not be returned or used on another project if something unforeseen goes awry. In these instances, the contractor should furnish an itemized, priced list of materials to be purchase with the advance along with a time line of when material will be on the project and when the project take place. Also, the owner should request a lien waiver from the suppliers of material stating the material has been paid for. If the material was purchased from a big box or home improvement store, an itemized, dated receipt would be acceptable with a signed lien waiver from the contractor. These waivers or receipts should accompany any future invoices for completed work.
What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
About me? That I am old school, my word is my bond and I have over 35 years in this industry that I can draw on to prove it. Now I am not saying that all my customers over 35 years have been pleased, there are some people no one can please, but I can say that I have tried my best and the customers I have not been able to at least 'pacify' can be counted on one hand.
About the electrical industry, there are to many people out there performing electrical work that should not be and the general public will use them to save a dollar. Seems that what is most important to them this day and time, how cheap can they get it done? Electricity is something to be respected and is tricky. There are certain ways to install electrical work so as to be safe. Many, many people installing electrical work do it improperly and sooner or later they are going to cause a fire or personal injury, even a death.
