Electrical work isn't somewhere to cut corners on who you hire. Beyond the safety risk, unlicensed or uninsured work can void your home insurance and won't come with a valid compliance certificate. Here's what's actually worth checking before you book anyone in.
Every electrician working in Australia is legally required to hold a current electrical licence. It's easy to verify:
A legitimate electrician won't mind you checking, and most will list their licence number on their website, invoices, or van signage without being asked. VU Electrical's licence number, REC 28054, is listed on every page of our site.
Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong on the job, damage to your property, for example, and is separate from the electrician's licence. Ask directly if you're not sure, it's a completely normal question.
A clear, itemised quote before any work begins protects both of you. It's a red flag if a tradesperson is reluctant to put a price in writing, or if the quote is vague about what's actually included.
A handful of five-star reviews from years ago tells you less than a steady stream of recent reviews. Google reviews are harder to fake than reviews on a business's own website, so they're generally the more reliable source to check.
Any electrical work should come with the correct compliance certificate once finished (a Certificate of Electrical Safety in Victoria, or a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work in NSW). If a quote doesn't mention one, ask, since it's often the difference between a properly signed-off job and one that technically isn't compliant.
How an electrician handles the initial call or quote is usually a fair preview of how the job itself will go. Clear communication, a straight answer on pricing, and a willingness to explain what's actually involved are good signs before you've even booked anything in.