Almost ready to hire electrician

I met another electrician today, and it just confirms what I have already figured out. Communication is key! I had called the company earlier in the week and described what I wanted - e.g. that hubby and I had just bought a fixer that needs all new electrical as well as some upgrades and we wanted an estimate for the job. The receptionist said to fax our home inspection report, which I did with a note saying "To Jane Doe, From M, for estimate." The electrician showed up today with tools thinking he had a quick fix-it job to do before running off to another job. Then he thought he was doing an inspection. Huh? How did this get so bungled? It's not like the request went through 50 people. He was also a poor communicator. While we were in the bathroom, I described how things would be arranged, and that a linen closet made of cabinetry would be gone. We were then talking about a 4-switch lightswitch plate to be installed near the door. He kept saying there wasn't room, and I told him 5 times that there was room because the linen closet was being removed. He finally got it after the fifth time.

In the garage, I asked him 3 times what is the minimum amount of work to be done to make it up to code. The first two times he gave vague, wandering answers that were not what I asked. The third time I got a vague answer saying that it depends on the inspector - some will let existing things go even if not up to code. I gave up.

Toward the end, I asked him when and how I could expect an estimate. He kept telling me he was off to do another job. After several rounds of this, he said I should call the office as he had no idea. Not good! I mean doing and estimate has to be a routine thing for electricians, how could they send him out so clueless to the obvious question of when and how I would receive it? Well, I don't think this company will be getting the job.

Another interesting thing is that I learn from each person I talk to, so what I've told the later electricians is different than the earlier ones. That makes already uncomparable estimates even less comparable. Thus, my emphasis on trustworthiness. I'm also learning how things go over budget. Since we're doing such a big remodel, it seems only logical to add things in as long as we're not living there and they are digging into walls and such. But I think it's these small charges that add up. For example, someone yesterday asked me if I wanted lights in my closets. At first I said no (trying to save money and focus on just the essentials). But then again, lights in the closets are really nice and we may pay twice as much to do it later. So, I'm not sure.

There are so many decisions to be made! Just consider one small thing - light switches. There are several different styles - the regular kind you switch up and down, the kind that look like a recessed rectangle where you just touch the top or the bottom, dimmers, etc. Then I was asked if I want white or ivory. How can I know that yet? That's something I would decide later after decorating. I have to give the specific location of every plug in every room, and if I want a quad or a two-plug. How many dedicated circuits do I want and where? Wow. This is one reason why I want someone I can really work with and talk to again and again over the period that the job takes.

I may try to buy some of my materials myself. One of the electricians suggested it and gave me a wholesale place where they buy theirs. At first I though no because I assumed that even with a markup that the electrician could get a better price. He said no, that it would be more expensive because I would have to pay the electrician's time. Makes sense - I would have to pay the full rate to have him shop for me.