Years ago, I remember asking an electrician working on a client’s home how a layman like me could tell if the electrician was any good.

He shrugged:  “Well, the really bad ones  . . . are dead.”

“OK,” I pressed him, “But, how does a non-expert find at least a (very) good electrician?  For that matter, how do you — as an experienced electrician — tell if a colleague knows their stuff?”

“I watch ’em work,” he said.

Specifically, he explained, he watches how the electrician analyzes the home’s electrical system and wiring, how efficiently they move about, and generally, how they tackle the project at hand.

What recalled that exchange was watching Randy Gardner, owner of Gardner Concrete & Waterproofing, at a client’s home earlier today (his company has a top rating on Angie’s List).

In less than, oh, seven minutes, Randy methodically diagnosed the problem, proposed a range of solutions, and followed up with a detailed, written quote hours later.

Thanks, Randy!

P.S.: Why not simply go by reputation when choosing a contractor?

That’s always a good start, but it simply begs the (circular) question, “what is the reputation based on? (i.e., how do individual customers know that their contractor did a good job?”).

With house painters, the work product is evident; with electricians . . . not so much. 

See also, “Identifying Mediocre Electricians ” & Realtors.”

About the author

Ross Kaplan has 19+ years experience selling real estate all over the Twin Cities. He is also a 12-time consecutive "Super Real Estate Agent," as determined by Mpls. - St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Magazine. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Ross was an attorney (corporate law), CPA, and entrepreneur. He holds an economics degree from Stanford.

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