With outsourcing sites growing in popularity, there’re a lot of unlicensed sparkies out there trying to make some extra cash. Whilst installing a ceiling fan may not seem like a life threatening task, having an unlicensed tradesman work on your live wires can have some serious consequences. Becoming a fully licensed electrician can take up to 4 years and involves a lot more than owning a stepladder and a cordless drill. Before you go ahead and hire some electrical help, here are four important questions to ask your sparkie.

Are you a licensed electrician?

This is probably the most important question you can ask your sparkie. An unlicensed electrician may be cheap, but there’s definitely no bargain in bad work. You can check to see if your electrician is licensed through NSW public register of tradespeople. Spark Innovation are fully licensed electricians with over 17 years experience.

Have you got insurance?

It might seem mundane, but let’s set the scene. It’s a hot Sydney summer and you’ve just bought a new ceiling fan. You hit the internet and hire the cheapest tradesperson you can find to install it for you They arrive, tools and ladder in tow and while they’re up on the ladder, they accidentally cut through your power cable, or worse, injure themselves. The last thing you want to be doing is paying to fix their mess. A simple question goes a long way.

Who’s actually doing the work?

Depending on the job, some electricians may send a subcontractor or an apprentice to do the work. There’s nothing wrong with an apprentice doing the work, as long as they’re insured and supervised by a fully licensed electrician. Ask your sparkie if they’re using subcontractors, and if so, ensure that they have their own insurance.

Is there a warranty?

In our 17 years as licensed electricians, Spark Innovation have wired our fair share of switchboards and down lights. If you’re using quality Australian certified electrical products and a qualified, experienced electrician then realistically, everything should be fine. In the event that your light switch stops switching or your ceiling fan stops spinning, it’s always good to check what’s covered and who’s responsibility it is to fix it.

Spark Innovation are fully licensed Sydney based electricians with over 17 years experience. We’ve connected Sutherland Shire houses from Miranda to Menai and Cronulla to Caringbah.