Finding a good electrician shouldn’t feel like a gamble. But if you’ve never had to hire one before, or you’ve been burned by a dodgy operator in the past, it can be hard to know what separates the pros from the cowboys. Here’s a practical rundown on what to look for when you’re hiring a sparky in Geelong.
Check Their Licence First
This one’s non-negotiable. In Victoria, every electrician must hold a valid electrical licence issued by Energy Safe Victoria (ESV). It’s actually illegal for an unlicensed person to carry out electrical work, and for good reason: bad wiring kills people and burns houses down.
You can verify a licence on the ESV website in about 30 seconds. Just punch in their name or licence number and it’ll tell you if they’re registered and what class of work they’re qualified for. If someone can’t give you a licence number, or gets cagey when you ask, that’s your cue to walk away.
Make Sure They’re Insured
A licensed electrician should carry public liability insurance at a minimum. This covers you if something goes wrong during the job, say they accidentally damage your property or a fault causes a problem down the track.
Don’t be shy about asking for proof. Any tradie worth their salt will have their insurance details ready to go. If they don’t, or they tell you “she’ll be right,” keep looking.
Read Their Google Reviews
Reviews won’t tell you everything, but they’ll tell you a lot. Look for patterns rather than focusing on any single review. A sparky with 50 reviews averaging 4.8 stars is a safer bet than one with three five-star reviews that all sound like they were written by the same person.
Pay attention to what people actually say. Do they mention the electrician being on time? Was the quote accurate? Did they clean up after themselves? These details matter more than a generic “great job” comment.
In Geelong, word of mouth still carries weight too. Ask your neighbours, check local Facebook groups, and see who keeps getting recommended.
What About Negative Reviews?
Every business gets the odd bad review. What matters is how they handle it. A professional response that tries to resolve the issue is a good sign. Defensive or aggressive replies are a red flag.
Get Multiple Quotes
Three quotes is the standard rule of thumb, and it exists for a reason. It gives you a sense of what the job should actually cost and helps you spot outliers on both ends.
Be wary of quotes that come in way under the others. Cheap work usually ends up being expensive work once you factor in the callbacks, repairs, and stress. On the flip side, the most expensive quote isn’t automatically the best either.
A good quote should be itemised so you can see what you’re paying for: labour, materials, any additional costs. If someone just throws a round number at you with no breakdown, ask for more detail.
Ask About Certificates of Electrical Safety
This is one that a lot of homeowners don’t know about. In Victoria, a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is legally required for most electrical work. Your electrician must provide one after completing the job, and a copy gets sent to ESV and your electricity distributor.
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Get a Quote ↓The certificate confirms the work has been done to Australian standards and is safe. If your electrician doesn’t mention it, bring it up yourself. If they don’t know what you’re talking about, you’ve hired the wrong person.
Communication and Punctuality
You can tell a lot about an electrician before they even pick up a tool. Do they answer the phone or return calls promptly? Do they show up when they say they will? Do they explain what needs doing in plain language instead of burying you in jargon?
Geelong’s not a massive city, but tradies here are busy. A good electrician might not be able to come out tomorrow, and that’s actually a positive sign. But they should still communicate clearly about timing and keep you in the loop if things change.
Understand Their Pricing Structure
Electricians typically charge in one of two ways: a fixed quote for the whole job, or an hourly rate plus a callout fee. Both are fine, but you need to know which one you’re agreeing to before work starts.
A callout fee covers the electrician’s time and cost to travel to your property. In Geelong, this usually ranges from $80 to $150 depending on the operator. The hourly rate then kicks in on top of that. For bigger jobs like switchboard upgrades or full rewires, most sparkies will give you a fixed price instead.
Get the pricing agreed in writing before any work begins. It protects both of you.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Cash only, no invoice: This usually means no tax, no insurance, and no accountability. If something goes wrong, you’ve got no paper trail.
- No licence number on their paperwork: Licensed electricians are required to display their licence number. If it’s missing, ask why.
- Pressure to decide on the spot: A professional will give you time to consider a quote. High-pressure tactics are a warning sign.
- They skip the safety check: A good sparky will test their work before they leave and walk you through what they’ve done.
- No Certificate of Electrical Safety: As mentioned, this is a legal requirement in Victoria. No certificate means the work hasn’t been properly documented.
- They bad-mouth other electricians: Professionals focus on their own work, not tearing down the competition.
Hiring a Local Geelong Electrician Makes a Difference
There’s a practical advantage to hiring someone based in Geelong rather than getting a sparky to drive out from Melbourne. Local electricians know the area, they know the common issues with homes in different parts of town, and they can usually respond faster if something urgent comes up. You’re also more likely to get honest pricing when someone’s reputation depends on a community where people talk to each other.
Whether you’re in Highton, Newtown, Belmont, Corio, or Lara, a local sparkie who services your area regularly will be familiar with the typical wiring setups, common faults, and council requirements specific to your suburb.
Ready to Book an Electrician You Can Trust?
At LCK Electrical, we’re fully licensed, insured, and based right here in Geelong. We show up on time, we explain what we’re doing, and we always provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety with our work. We service all of Greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, and Melbourne’s western suburbs including Melton, Sunbury, and Bacchus Marsh. If you’ve got an electrical job that needs doing properly, give us a call or request a quote online.
