Finding a reliable licensed electrician in Brooklyn takes a bit of research. Whether it’s constant tripping, flickering lights with the AC running, or they’ve bought an electric car and need somewhere to plug it in, people often rush to find someone as soon as possible. It’s a bad way to hire an electrician. An electrician is not like painting. If you paint badly it looks awful, but if wiring is done poorly it can cause your building to catch fire.

Brooklyn can be tricky. Brownstones can be very old. Pre war walk-ups. Co-ops with unusual rules. Tenement buildings with wiring that’s been patched by 5 different people over 60 years. You want someone who knows what they’re doing.

Here are 7 questions to ask before hiring a licensed electrician Brooklyn. Ask out loud. A good professional won’t mind. However, if they seem dodgy they’ll give you odd answers.

7 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician

1. Are You Licensed in New York City?

Start here.

The city runs its own licensing. Anyone working as an electrician in the 5 boroughs will need to be licensed via the New York City Department of Buildings. This cannot be faked. The Master Electrician license allows them to obtain permits. Many people will claim to be electricians but may not have their own license. They may be working under someone else’s license or not at all.

Ask for their license number. Note this down and check their license on the city website. It will take around 5 minutes. Make sure the name matches, license is valid and there’s nothing odd. If they avoid answering or say they’ll send it to you but never do, move on.

A genuine professional will give you the number. They’ve earned it. Whilst saving yourself a few hundred today by hiring an unlicensed worker, you risk invalidating your insurance, causing issues when selling and leaving you with a problem.

2. Do You Have Insurance?

This is often missed.

Whilst they may be licensed, you’ll want them to have insurance. General liability and workers compensation. If they get hurt whilst working on your property and don’t have workers compensation, you could be liable. If they cause damage to your walls, floors or your neighbour’s ceiling due to a mistake, they’ll need to have insurance.

Ask for their certificate of insurance. Legitimate companies will have this ready as they’ll be asked all the time. Make sure the dates are correct. If their insurance has expired in March it won’t help you in October. Some people even call the insurance company to confirm it’s valid. This isn’t paranoia, it’s smart.

If you’re in a Co-Op or Condo your management will likely require them to have this certificate anyway. It’ll save you a headache. Sometimes the board won’t allow any work to commence without this. You’ll have had to take time off work.

3. Will You Obtain Permits?

This will expose a lot of dodgy contractors.

Many electrical workers are required to have permits in NYC. Whilst simple outlet changes may not require permits, anything larger such as panel upgrades, new circuits, rewiring or home EV charger installations will usually require permits. A proper electrician will obtain these in their name. They’ll organise the inspection.

The cheap option will say ‘We don’t need permits for this’. Sometimes they’re right, but most of the time they’re trying to save money and pass the risk onto you. If you don’t have permits for work it can cause issues with insurance claims, selling your home and even your lender. I’ve seen deals fall apart due to an outlet in the basement with no signature.

Ask them ‘Are you obtaining a permit? Who will be carrying out the inspection?’. Listen to their answers. If they’re confident and specific that’s good. If they’re vague and mumbled that’s not.

4. How Much Experience Do You Have With This Type of Building?

Not all buildings in Brooklyn are the same.

A new Condo in Williamsburg will have completely different wiring to a 100-year-old row house in Bed-Stuy. Older properties may have outdated wiring such as knob and tube wiring behind plaster, or wiring with cloth sheathing. Branch circuits may be aluminium which was popular in the 60/70s but known for becoming loose over time. There can also be fuse boxes and un-earthed outlets. This requires patience and some detective work. This is where a seasoned licensed electrician in Brooklyn will earn their keep as they’ll be called back year after year by property owners.

Ask them what type of buildings they usually work on. Have they done anything similar? A good electrician will be honest with you. ‘Yes we do a lot of brownstones’ or ‘That’s not really our area but I know someone’. This is rare but gold.

Ask them how they deal with unexpected issues. Older buildings will always have unexpected issues. When you open up a wall there will be something you weren’t expecting. Do they stop and discuss it with you?

5. Have You Installed EV Chargers Before?

More and more people in Brooklyn are purchasing electric cars. However, it’s not as straightforward as just purchasing a unit online.

Level 2 chargers usually require a dedicated 240volt circuit. This needs to be sized correctly. If your electrical panel doesn’t have the capacity (often the case in older apartments/houses) your panel may need upgrading. If your parking space is far away from your panel you’ll be pulling a lot of cable. This may involve running cable through walls/conduits.

Ask them how many EV installs they have done. Do they carry out a load calculation? What brand/model do you recommend and why? If they’ve done a few they’ll have genuine answers. They may even have a favourite model and a story about the one that caused them issues. If they haven’t they’ll be guessing. You don’t want them to be guessing as it’s a high amperage circuit and will be running for hours.

Ask about incentives. Sometimes there are incentives from the utility companies or tax credits. Electricians with experience will know what’s available at the moment or at least where to look.

6. Can You Provide a Written Quote?

Never go with a handshake price.

A proper quote will include:

• What work will be carried out

• Materials

• Labour costs

• Permit costs

• An estimated time frame

It should also include how unexpected issues will be handled. This is more important than you think. "We found more issues behind the wall’ is how you get a $900 job quietly turns into a $2,400 job.

Don’t go for the cheapest. I know it’s tempting but if one of the quotes is significantly cheaper than the others there will be a reason. They may not be obtaining permits, using cheaper materials or planning to charge you for unexpected issues. Low balling is a classic.

If it’s a large job, obtain 2-3 quotes. Compare what’s included. Ask about payment. A reasonable deposit is standard but if they ask for full payment up front in cash say no.

7. What Warranty Do You Offer?

Good work should come with some form of warranty.

Most reputable electricians will offer a minimum 1 year warranty on their labour. Materials and devices such as panels, breakers and chargers will usually come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Make sure you know who to contact if something goes wrong. If your EV charger starts playing up after 6 months do you contact the electrician, manufacturer or both?

Will they answer the phone if you call them next month? Do they have a good reputation on review sites? Do the reviews look genuine? If there are a couple of reviews mentioning they don’t turn up or are messy you should consider.

The best electricians will be the ones you call every time. They’ll be honest with you and tell you what needs fixing now and what can wait. It’s worth the extra effort to find them.

Final Tip – How Have They Treated You So Far?

This may sound soft but it’s a quick way to see how the company operates.

Have they answered your call? Turned up on time for your quote? Explained things in layman’s terms? Usually this will indicate how the job will go.

Respect for your property is important in an apartment or small brownstone. They should cover up any floors, contain any dust and patch up any walls (or at least discuss). Ask who will be turning up at your home. Is it the owner or a sub-contractor? Will the same people be there the whole time? Some people don’t like having a revolving door of strangers turning up. Fair enough.

Ask how they’ll keep you updated. Text, call or daily? Some people like things to be quiet and just want the outcome. Others like to be kept updated. Whatever you prefer, say this up front. A good company will adapt. A bad company will make you feel like you’re a bother.

Conclusion

It’s not luck, it’s knowing what to ask. Be prepared to be in an awkward silence whilst they answer. Check they’re licensed, insured, will obtain permits, ask about the type of building and if you’re installing an Electric Vehicle Charger ask how many they’ve done.

Ask for a written quote. Ask about the warranty. Pay attention to how they’ve treated you from the first phone call.

Don’t ignore electrical issues. They won’t get any better. Don’t go for the cheapest guy on a random listing. Take an hour, make a few calls and ask these questions. It’ll save you money, stress and possibly a lot worse.

FAQs

1. How do I check if an electrician is licensed?

Ask for their license number and check via the New York City Department of Buildings. Make sure the name matches, license is valid and covers the type of work you need. It will take a few minutes but it’s worth it.

2. How much does an electrician cost in Brooklyn?

It can vary. Small repairs can cost a couple of hundred, however panel upgrades and rewiring can be thousands. Labour costs in Brooklyn tend to be higher than the national average. Obtain 2-3 written quotes.

3. Do I need a permit for a home EV charger?

In most cases yes. A new dedicated circuit will usually require a permit and inspection in NYC. Your electrician should obtain this but ask up front.

4. Can an older home in Brooklyn have EV charging?

Sometimes. It depends on your electrical panel capacity and age of wiring. A load calculation will tell you for sure. You may need a panel upgrade.

5. What is the difference between a licensed and certified electrician?

Licensed means they are legally allowed to carry out electrical work by the city/state. Certified usually means they have extra training/qualifications. Such as manufacturer or industry certifications. You want a licensed electrician. Certifications are a bonus.

6. What should be included in a written quote?

Scope of work, materials, labour, permit costs, time frame and payment. It should also include how unexpected issues will be handled and priced.

7. How long will an electrical job take?

Small repairs can be done in an hour or 2. A home charger installation often takes half a day to a full day. Plus permits and inspection. Rewiring can take several days or weeks.