If you’re ever remodeling a room or making repairs, you’ll eventually need the service of a reputable electrician. Choosing the right electrical company may be a challenge; you need to keep an eye out for the scammy electrician.

Just because an electrician advertises themselves as a reliable and licensed company, it does not mean that it is your best option. Electricians may vary in terms of their standard quality of service. However, despite being licensed and insured, there are still business owners who will still attempt fraud by offering scams and shady practices to unbeknownst customers.

Here are some ways to help you avoid a scammy electrician:

1.   Compare estimates and assess them.

As you will most likely be able to find a number of licensed electricians in Denver who seemingly have what it takes to do your electrical project at home, the first thing you should be doing is to list your top options and ask for an estimate from each of them. Once done, simply compare their estimates and if you find one strangely lower than the others, you might want to scratch it off your list as it may not be a great deal. As the saying goes, “If it is too good to be true, it probably is not true.”

2.   Know what you are paying for and make sure you are getting it all.

One of the common yet least noticeable types of scams is when one gets charged for things or services he has not fully gotten. Apparently, this type of scam is also common in the electrical field. There are electricians, both small-time ones, and those from known service providers who will guiltlessly try to do a scam by overcharging. This is especially common in circuit wiring activities where normally, an electrician is billed per circuit. For instance, the scammy electrician will ask you to pay for three circuits’ worth but in truth, he only installed one and you would not be able to know you got scammed until you decided to check and found out the other two did not work.

Avoid the scam; do not hesitate to ask your electrician to show you the work that was completed once finished. Also, it is your right to thoroughly check and question the bill you are presented with. At the same time, make sure everything is being accounted for.

3.   Keep an eye on the work.

An honest and reliable electrician will not feel awkward if he is being watched at work because he knows he is working with quality and confidence. Some even love being watched because it gives them the opportunity to educate the homeowner about his electrical system and the must-do’s in case problems arise.

The right electrician will be concerned about your household’s safety. Meanwhile, the scammy one would more likely feel uncomfortable with your eyes around because he either really never had enough skills to do the work, likes to take breaks, or has just plainly intended to scam by starting a job and not completing it.

4.   Ask your electrician to show you their license and insurance for verification.

Electricians are obliged to bring their state license with them so that it can be presented to a customer whenever requested. As the homeowner, help reduce your home’s fire hazards from faulty electrical wiring by hiring the right professional. Ask your electrician to show you his license and insurance when arrived. The right electrician will be proud to show it to you. Meanwhile, the scammy one may not even have a license to show.   

5.   Do not be desperate; keep your calm.

Although electrical emergencies can really happen, always make sure you decide soundly and properly in choosing an electrician. Ending up with a bad or scammy electrician will not only put your money to waste but also puts you and your family’s safety at high risk.

Handle electrical emergencies better. In such cases, it pays to know a licensed electrician you know you can call and rely on at all times to deliver quality and honest electrical services. Do your research today; find the best electrical contractor in town. You will be thankful you did.

6.   Fast-talking electricians may be scammers.

Scammers are not limited to people with incompetent skills. Even knowledgeable electricians can be scammers too. These types of people usually overwhelm homeowners with their knowledge, flooding their potential victims with impressive terms just to win the job. And then that’s it – the contract’s signed, the deal’s sealed, but the quality of services is at serious risk.

Meanwhile, real reputable electricians usually will be delighted with explaining the repairs thoroughly. That may mean, speaking your language as opposed to electrical jargon.

Finding a reliable electrical contractor in Arvada is not always easy but hopefully, this article has helped you know the telltale signs of such rampant scams. Do not be scammed, choose wisely.