Electrical work carries real safety risk in a way that most other home repairs do not, making licensing and qualification checks non-negotiable rather than optional when hiring an electrician. Always confirm that an electrician holds current local licensing and carries liability insurance, since faulty electrical work can cause fires long after the original job is considered finished. For anything beyond a simple fixture swap — panel upgrades, rewiring, new circuit installation — a permit is often legally required, and a reputable electrician will handle this rather than suggest skipping it to save time or cost. Ask about warranty on labour separately from any warranty on parts used, since a loose connection discovered months later should be covered by the original visit. Get a written quote that specifies exactly what work is included, since electrical jobs frequently reveal additional issues once walls are opened, and a clear baseline quote makes any added cost easier to evaluate fairly. For older homes specifically, ask whether the electrician has experience with legacy wiring systems, since outdated wiring standards require different handling than modern installations.