Questions to ask before electrical work starts

Many household electrical disasters start quietly. The electrician arrives, starts work, and by the time questions form in your mind—about what exactly they're doing, how long it will take, whether permits are needed—they're already halfway through. Later, you discover the work wasn't to standard, or no certificate of compliance was issued, or the bill was double the quote. The fix: ask the hard questions *before* they touch a wire.

Electrical work is one area where vague communication costs money and creates real safety risk. Your electrician may be highly skilled, but if you haven't clarified scope, standards and timeline upfront, both of you can end up frustrated. The best electricians expect these questions and answer them clearly.

What are you doing, exactly—and to what standard?

This is the foundation question. Do not accept a vague answer like "rewiring the kitchen" or "fixing the problem." Ask them to describe the work step by step. Which circuits are involved? Will they replace existing cable or run new? Are they upgrading the main switch or just installing outlets? Are they working to the current electrical wiring regulations, or an older standard?

A good electrician will walk you through it. They'll say something like: "I'm replacing your 20-amp single-phase supply with a 60-amp three-phase, running new cable from the meter to the consumer unit, installing RCBOs on each circuit, and testing everything to SANS 10142 standards." They might show you photos of similar jobs or explain why your current setup isn't suitable for what you're adding.

An evasive answer—"Don't worry, I'll sort it"—is a red flag. So is "I'll assess it on the day and let you know." Electrical work should not be a mystery diagnosis. You need specifics before tools come out.

Will you issue a certificate of compliance, and under what circumstances?

This question protects you legally and financially. Ask directly: will they issue a COC when the work is done? Which parts of the work will it cover? Some electricians will issue a full COC for a complete installation but not for partial upgrades—make sure you know the boundary.

Also ask: what triggers the COC? Do they test the installation themselves, or do they arrange an independent inspection? (Both are valid; you just need to know the process and timeline.) If they're issuing a COC, confirm they're registered with the appropriate regulator—ask for their registration number and verify it yourself afterward.

If the work is such that a COC *should* be issued but they say they won't, that's suspicious. Understand why. Are they only doing maintenance? Are you replacing like-for-like without upgrading? Or are they simply avoiding the paperwork? The answer determines whether you can proceed safely and whether you'll have proof of compliance if you sell later.

How much will it cost, and what happens if work takes longer or scope changes?

Get a written quotation that itemises labour, materials, testing and any permits or inspection fees separately. Ask what's included in the quote and what isn't. If they uncover a problem during the work—corroded switchgear, inadequate earthing, cable that needs replacing—will they quote that separately before proceeding, or add it to the bill?

Ask about their payment terms. Do they want a deposit? How much? When is the balance due? Will they down tools if you can't pay on the day?

Also clarify the timeline. How long will the work take? Will they need to isolate the supply, and for how long? If they find something unexpected, do they have a process for getting approval from you before the cost spirals? A professional electrician will have clear answers because they ask these questions of themselves on every job.

Electrical work done hastily or without upfront agreement on scope and standards leaves you exposed. Taking an hour to ask these questions, listen carefully, and get answers in writing is the cheapest insurance you can buy. When you're ready to start, finding a verified electrician on Strove means you can review their qualifications and past client feedback before you even pick up the phone.