10 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring an Electrician

21 October, 2025 Hi-Lite Electric Inc.

Hiring an electrician ain’t like picking a contractor from a list in the Yellow Pages. You’re letting someone into your house, and you want someone who knows their stuff, because electrical work is serious. We’re talking about wiring your home, putting in a generator, or fixing things that could easily go sideways if done wrong. So, here are the 10 questions you need to ask before hiring an electrician. If they can’t answer ’em right, it’s time to move on. Simple as that.

1. Are You Licensed and Insured?

Look, if you don’t ask this from the get-go, you’re asking for trouble. Every electrician should have a license—if they don’t, you might as well hand ’em a wrench and pray they know what they’re doing. Electricity’s dangerous, man. And when you’re dealing with it, you want someone who’s legit.

And don’t even get me started on insurance. Accidents happen. Even to the best of us. You want someone who’s covered if something goes wrong. If they’re not insured, you’re just asking for a nightmare. If they hem and haw when you ask for proof, just walk. Don’t waste time.

2. What’s Your Experience with This Kind of Work?

Listen, anyone can wire up a lightbulb or swap out a socket. But if you need someone to rewire your whole house or install a backup generator, you better be talking to someone who’s been through it. You don’t want to be the guinea pig for someone’s first major job.

Ask ’em straight up: “What have you done like this before?” If they’ve done it, they’ll tell you—no problem. If they haven’t, move on. You’re not here to be someone’s practice round.

3. Can You Show Me Some References or Past Work?

A good electrician’s proud of their work. They should be able to show you jobs they’ve done or at least give you references from people who’ve worked with ’em. Don’t just take their word for it, though. Call up those people. Ask the real questions:

• Did they show up on time?
• Did they clean up after themselves?
• Was the work done right, or did you have to call ‘em back?

If they can’t provide references or examples, that’s a huge red flag. Don’t be shy about checking—if they can’t back it up, something’s off.

4. Who Will Actually Be Doing the Work?

Sometimes, the person you’re talking to ain’t gonna be the one on the job. They might send some apprentice or junior electrician to do the heavy lifting. If they do, fine—but make sure there’s someone experienced overseeing the work. You don’t want someone learning on your dime.

Ask ‘em, “Who’s actually gonna be in my house working on the stuff?” You have a right to know. And if they’re sending out someone who’s green, make sure they’ve got the chops to get it done right.

5. Will You Handle Permits and Inspections?

Now, this one gets overlooked way too often. You’d be surprised how many people don’t even think about permits. But if the job you’re doing requires permits, and your electrician isn’t handling that, you might be in a heap of trouble. Permits ensure the work gets done to code—and if something goes wrong, you’ll be on the hook for it.

If the electrician doesn’t offer to handle all that, or if they act like it’s no big deal, that’s a sign. A pro always takes care of the paperwork. If they don’t, find someone who will.

6. What’s the Full Scope of the Work?

Listen, a big job like rewiring your house ain’t always pretty. Sometimes, there’s drywall to tear into, or maybe some flooring gets pulled up. If you’re not prepared for that mess, it can cause problems. So ask upfront: What exactly is involved here?

Things you need to ask about:

• What’s the timeline looking like?
• Are you gonna make a mess of my place?
• Is there anything I need to do to prep?

The more you know before they start, the fewer surprises you’ll have. And trust me, there’s always enough surprises in this line of work without any extra ones you weren’t expecting.

7. How Do You Charge for Your Services?

Don’t be that person who assumes everything’s a flat rate. Some electricians charge by the hour, others go by flat fees—either way, you need to know what you’re getting into.

Ask ’em for a breakdown:

• How much is labor?
• What’s the cost of materials?
• Are there any surprise fees I’ll get hit with?

A real professional will be upfront with you about costs. If they won’t give you a straight answer, then you’re asking for trouble. Be sure you know exactly what you’re paying for.

8. Do You Offer Warranties or Guarantees?

If you get an electrician who doesn’t offer a warranty or guarantee, you better run. A decent electrician will back up their work. If something goes wrong after the job’s done, they’ll come back and make it right. No questions asked.

If they won’t stand behind their work with a guarantee, don’t hire ‘em. Plain and simple.

9. How Do You Ensure Safety?

Look, safety isn’t something you cut corners on in this line of work. If the job ain’t done right, it can end up costing a lot more than you bargained for—whether that’s fire hazards or just poor workmanship that causes headaches down the line.

Ask your electrician what kind of safety measures they take:

• Are they using the right gear?
• Are they following safety codes?
• How do they make sure the job gets done without putting anyone in harm’s way?

They should be able to tell you exactly how they’re protecting your property, themselves, and you.

10. What’s the Timeline for Completion?

Look, time’s money. And you don’t want your electrician to drag their feet. Get a clear idea of when the work will start, how long it’ll take, and when they plan on wrapping up.

If they say it’ll be done in a day, they better stick to it—or at least keep you in the loop if things change. If they can’t give you a timeline, it’s time to look elsewhere. Don’t let anyone waste your time.

Ready to Hire a Reliable Electrician? Contact Hi-Lite Electric Inc. Today!

If you’re ready to get the job done right, give us a call at Hi-Lite Electric Inc. We’ve seen it all, and we’ll make sure your electrical work gets done safely, on time, and to code.

Reach out at (416) 223-9655, shoot us an email at info@hi-liteelectricinc.ca, or click here to get in touch online.