As the companies work on their quotes, you can do the rest of your pre-hiring homework. Check out each company and make sure they have the proper licensing and insurance. Check their references and make sure no complaints have been filed against them with the licensing authorities, professional organizations and even the Better Business Bureau.

Since very few homeowners know much more about electricity than how to change a fuse or flip a breaker switch, making sure you’ve found a knowledgeable and reputable electrical contractor will help alleviate a lot of concerns about shoddy work and even being taken for a ride with a bad quote.

Once you’ve checked out the companies and their quotes come back in start comparing the options. Going with the lowest bid isn’t the best idea if the bid doesn’t come from a good company and doesn’t include the full scope of the job. Make sure you understand what each bid includes and get that in writing.

Before setting an electrical contractor to work on a big job, such as a whole house rewriting, get a written contract and understand your rights and responsibilities. You might need to vacate your home for a day or two if the entire house is being redone, so you’ll want to know this in advance, too.

In general, it simply makes good sense to check out a contractor, electrical or not, before signing on the dotted line. When it comes to electricity, which can be dangerous if it’s not properly handled, this is even more so true.