What to check before you book an electrician — licence verification, what a proper quote looks like, and the red flags that suggest walking away.
Choosing an electrician should be straightforward, but it's easy to get it wrong if you're not sure what to look for. Here's the checklist we'd give to a friend.
1. Verify the licence
Every electrician in Queensland must hold a licence issued by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). You can verify any licence number at licence.qbcc.qld.gov.au. If an electrician won't give you their licence number, walk away.
2. Confirm public liability insurance
Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong on your property. Ask for the certificate of currency. Any legitimate electrical contractor will have this without hesitation.
3. Assess how they communicate
- Do they respond promptly and clearly?
- Do they ask enough questions about the job before quoting?
- Is the quote itemised or just a single number?
- Do they explain what they're doing in plain terms?
4. Red flags to watch for
- Quotes given without inspecting the job (or asking for photos)
- Prices significantly below every other quote with no explanation
- Reluctance to provide a written quote
- No mention of testing or compliance certificates
- Payment demanded entirely in cash upfront
Our details for verification
DY Electrical Services holds QBCC Electrical Contractor Licence 87141 and ARC Licence L179309. Public liability insurance is held. ABN 75 643 388 416. All of this is verifiable through the relevant authorities.