Be it fixing your fixtures or even installing a new split air conditioning system, any and everything that has to do with the word ‘electricity’ requires a professional electrician, at least ninety percent of the time. Therefore, you would probably have the numbers of one or two electricians with you, but this might not be the case if you just have moved recently into your home.

If this is the case with you, there might be some things you want to consider before hiring electrical contractors in North Shore or wherever you just moved to. Below are some useful pointers:

• Ask your neighbours – this is a good time to bond with your neighbours. Given the fact that the houses in your neighbourhood were probably built around the same time as yours was built, the electrical fixtures and wiring in your neighbours’ houses most definitely have the same layout as yours. In this case, there is no argument that an electrician who has worked in your neighbour’s house is a good choice – he will have the experience with dealing with a similar type of house. Therefore, ask around, even in your local societies, and see if they recommend any electricians.

• Licenses! – don’t hire an electrician just because someone recommended him to you, though! Make sure to run a background check on him. Does he have the proper licenses to work on your home? A licensed electrician needs to pass the state’s or city’s examinations, and needs to have at least three to five years of on the job training under another professional electrician before they are capable of working alone. Therefore, make sure that the electricians you were recommended have proper qualifications before hiring them.

• What sort of work have they done before? – Once you’ve found a professional electrician, make sure to properly communicate with him. Ask him what sort of wok has he done before, and what they are good with. For example, if a certain electrician has experience working with older built houses (i.e. ones built in the 1800s even), he’ll definitely do better and reduce the chances of accidents when working with another older built house than an electrician who has only worked on newly built ones.

• Electrical contractors over electricians – If you’re hiring, you might as well want to consider hiring electrical contractors in Manly Beach or wherever you live, instead of electricians.

While the latter are also certified and hold proper licenses, electrical contractors have a higher insurance coverage, and since many electricians work under a contractor, those electricians are more likely to have better experience than those who work alone.