Lisa C.
06/10/2016 12:00:00 SA
I called TE Electric after I had been left with an non-functioning kitchen after I was the unfortunate victim of a non-licensed contractor. Dan Smallwood came out and he was the answer to my prayers. I contacted several other electrical companies and independent electricians. Either they didn't want to do the work with a permit, or they quoted me a price of over $7,000 or they quoted me a price of $1,200 and seemed to leave off a lot of items I felt would end up being important once the inspector came out (and the statement made by one, I don't do so well with plaster walls. I usually just use a hammer so you will have to patch it all up when I am done was NOT something that instilled in me a lot of confidence.)
Ultimately, Dan won my business because he presented himself as honest, knowledgeable, and hard working. He helped me to understand what was a requirement to remodel my kitchen and what was a you could do this but it will cost you $$. The $149.00 whole house inspection was worth it.
In the end, I had him do some additional electrical work that went beyond the scope of the kitchen because his prices were reasonable and, he was here ! Anyone who has ever lived in a 2 prong outlet home knows that it is now a 3 prong world ! Having at least one 3 prong outlet in the living room and master bedroom was something that was really worth the little extra money.
In the end, my kitchen remodel included reworking my panel (not replacing it like others had insisted I had to do), adding in GFI/ARC fault breakers, rewiring my kitchen so it was up to code, installing the electric for the dishwashers, garbage disposal, range hood, under cabinet lights, ceiling light, timers and undoing the dangerous/non-code compliant work previously done. The work required Dan and Blaine (as helper) and lasted a full two days with a third day just to wait for the electrical inspector. And, we passed with flying colors !
The inspector was so impressed with the work done and, when Dan was not around, told me the work I received was excellent, honest, and would make sure my home and family can sleep safely at night. He warned me about unlicensed contractors and not having work permitted. I very much enjoyed meeting the inspector and am grateful I had a second set of eyes to make sure my family will be safe.
If you need electrical work, always ask if it needs to be permitted. The inspector told me about the county website where I can go look up things myself but I also had asked each electrician ,does this need to be permitted? Every one of them, EXCEPT DAN SMALLWOOD, said Yes, but you don't want to permit it because it will be more work, cost you more, the inspector will require this/that... In the end, the inspector didn't want anything more than what Dan Smallwood said was going to be needed. The cost was the same or less as what the non-permitted jobs would have been, and now I have a fully permitted kitchen, updated electrical panel, and some 3 prong outlets, all of which will add to the resale value of my home and the quality of life of my family.
And on a personal note, Dan was in the middle of moving his own family to a new home. Even though he had all the pressures of buying a new home and moving his own family, including not having water for a long weekend, he never let it interfere with the job he was doing in my home. That is the sign of a true professional. Thank you Dan, I appreciate all of the hard work.