How to Find the Right Electrician for Your Project
Hiring an electrician involves trusting someone with your home's safety. A bad hire can mean shoddy work, code violations, voided insurance, or worse—electrical fires. Here's how to find a qualified professional you can trust.
The Non-Negotiables: What Every Electrician Must Have
Before discussing price or availability, verify these essentials:
Licensed
Missouri requires electricians to be licensed through the state or their local municipality. A valid license means:
- Passed competency exams
- Completed required apprenticeship hours
- Subject to code enforcement oversight
How to verify: Ask for their license number and check it with your city's building department or the Missouri Division of Professional Registration.
Insured
Proper insurance protects you from liability:
- General liability: Covers damage to your property during work
- Workers' compensation: Covers injuries to workers on your property
Ask for: A certificate of insurance. Legitimate contractors provide this readily.
Permitted Work
Almost all electrical work requires permits:
- The contractor should pull permits, not ask you to
- Permitted work gets inspected by city officials
- Unpermitted work can void insurance and complicate home sales
Red flag: Any contractor who suggests skipping permits.
Beyond the Basics: Finding Quality
Experience with Your Type of Project
Electricians often specialize:
- Residential service: Panel upgrades, rewiring, outlet installation
- New construction: Working with builders during home construction
- Commercial: Different codes, higher voltage systems
- Specialty: EV chargers, solar, smart home systems
Ask about their experience with projects similar to yours.
Reviews and References
Look at multiple sources:
- Google reviews: Volume and recency matter as much as rating
- Facebook: Often includes photos and detailed feedback
- BBB: Check complaint history and resolution
- Angi/HomeAdvisor: Verified customer reviews
Ask for references: A good contractor happily provides contact info for recent customers.
Communication Style
The estimate process tells you a lot:
- Do they return calls promptly?
- Do they arrive on time for estimates?
- Do they explain options clearly?
- Do they answer questions patiently?
If communication is poor before you hire them, it won't improve after.
Getting Estimates: What to Compare
Get at least three written estimates. Look for:
Detailed Scope of Work
A good estimate includes:
- Specific materials (brand, size, quantity)
- Labor breakdown
- Permit fees
- Timeline expectations
- Warranty information
Red flag: Vague estimates like "electrical work per discussion."
Realistic Pricing
Be wary of extremes:
- Too low: May indicate corners will be cut
- Too high: May be padding for profit or not wanting the job
- Just right: Detailed, competitive, clearly explained
Current market: Licensed electricians typically charge $75-$150/hour for labor, plus materials.
Payment Terms
Reasonable payment structures:
- Small jobs: Payment on completion
- Large jobs: Deposit (25-50%), progress payment, final payment
- Never: Full payment upfront before work begins
Questions to Ask Every Electrician
- Are you licensed and insured? (Verify independently)
- Who will actually do the work? (Owner, employees, or subcontractors?)
- Will you pull the required permits?
- How long have you been in business?
- Can you provide recent references?
- What's your warranty on labor?
- What's your timeline for this project?
- How do you handle unexpected issues or changes?
- What happens if something goes wrong after completion?
- Do you offer financing options?
Red Flags to Avoid
Walk away if you encounter:
- Pressure to decide immediately
- Cash-only payment demands
- No physical business address
- Unwillingness to provide written estimates
- Negative reviews about safety or code compliance
- Suggesting unpermitted work to save money
- No clear warranty terms
- Extremely low bids compared to others
Why Local Matters
A local electrician offers advantages:
- Knows local codes and permit processes
- Available for warranty work
- Reputation in the community to protect
- Relationships with local inspectors
- Faster response for emergencies
Our Approach
We believe you should evaluate us the same way you'd evaluate any contractor:
- Licensed and insured since 1992
- 400+ verified reviews averaging 4.9 stars
- Written estimates with detailed breakdowns
- All work permitted and inspected
- Clear warranties on labor and materials
- Financing options available
Schedule a free estimate and see if we're the right fit for your project. No pressure, no obligation—just honest answers to your questions.