Evaluating Your Electrical Contractor: Which Questions to Ask

Choosing commercial electrical contractors in Alexandria, VA is a big decision for any business. There are many different qualified companies to choose from, but we like to think that our team at Walsh Electric offers a level of service and affordability that other firms simply can’t match.
However, it’s still important to do your research and evaluate all of your options before picking an electrical contractor that you’re comfortable with. Read on for some questions you can ask when you’re beginning this process—when it’s all said and done, you’ll be glad you did the legwork to pick a contractor that’s the perfect fit for you and your business.

What guarantees do they offer?

When you’re looking for commercial electrical contractors in Alexandria, VA, you want to be sure it’s not a process you’ll have to repeat in a year or two. You want to be certain you’re going with a firm that not only does quality work, but is also willing and prepared to make anything right that goes wrong.
Let’s say you’ve talked to a contractor about a lighting question pertaining to your business. They’ve proposed a plan that sounds great, and you’re both happy with the price that’s been agreed upon. The trick at this point is to make sure they have guarantees to stand behind this work if anything goes wrong down the road. Don’t be scared to ask electricians about these policies—a good contractor will offer guarantees for their work and will be perfectly willing to discuss them.

What are their qualifications and experience?

The world of commercial electrical work is quite a bit different than residential electrical work. If you had an electrician work on your home and you were happy with the results, don’t make the mistake of automatically assuming they’ll be a good fit for commercial work as well. Some firms can handle both types of projects with ease, of course, but you want to ask the right questions to ensure that this is indeed the case.
Commercial electrical work has its own host of codes and regulations to follow that don’t necessarily correspond to residential work. A good firm will not only have the knowledge of all of these, but will also participate in frequent training with its technicians to make sure they’re up to date on any changes.

How does payment work?

The scope of services is not the only thing to go over with a commercial electrical contractor in Alexandria, VA—you also want to have a clear understanding of the payment schedule. Find out how soon you can receive a bid, and make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for and what the payment schedule is slated to be.
Picking a qualified electrical contractor is a big decision, but it’s one you can make with peace of mind if you go into it knowing you’ve done the appropriate research and asked the right questions. Don’t be shy about asking as many follow-up questions as you need to—a good electrical contractor will willingly answer anything with detail to make sure a potential client is comfortable.
For more information about how Walsh Electric is poised to tackle any commercial electrical project you might have in mind, get in touch with us today.