Hitchingham Electric

Found Mike through Yelp when my power went out at 11pm. Even though he wasn't available, he was kind enough to call me up and talk through the situation and how to check the breaker boxes for a tripped fuse. He also even shared *other* folks in Brooklyn who might be available. Ultimately his diagnosis was correct. He's a pro and I'd definitely make him my first call in any future issue.

I reached out to Mike via Yelp on a Sunday for a power problem in my new apartment. He was very responsive, got on the phone with me, and walked me through what he thought the problem was. He was even willing to FaceTime me while I went down to the basement and found the route cause of the issue. He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Would highly recommend working with him! I will be using him again in the future for any issues.

Mike is extremely quick to respond to inquiries, and manages expectations properly on services he can provide. Was able to solve my issues efficiently.

Will definitely look to hire him again.

Seriously the kindest, most helpful and knowledgeable electrician ever!

I run a business in NYC and he has saved me twice already.

Once he even came out at 2am to help us solve an electrical issue. He's truly the best. Absolutely recommend him and his company.

Full disclosure: I didn't actually hire Mike.

I called him because there were sounds coming from my fuse box and Mike seemed to have good reviews. It was the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend so I asked if he was working and he said he was out of town, but asked me what was wrong. He then stayed on the phone with me for about 10 minutes guiding me through steps I could follow to try to fix the problem. Those steps worked. He also asked I text him back to let him know if things didn't improve.

I much appreciate Mike's kindness and clearly, aptitude. I will not hesitate to call him again for any electrical issues.

Here is an update to my original review.  I have written this as a reply to the business owner's response as Yelp does not appear to allow me to reply publicly to the business owner.  As a side note, I am considering lodging a complaint with the Better Business Bureau regarding this incident.

Hitch, as I noted in my initial review, a civilized and normal response to a bounced/bad check should be to reach out to the person who cut the check in order to rectify the problem in a business-like fashion.  Why was I singled out to bear the burden of your mistrust of others?  As you say, you have encountered this issue before with other customers, some of whom I am sure were perfectly honest and were, like me, a victim of a misunderstanding.  Were you as duplicitous with them or did you make an exception for me thinking that I would just roll over and let this go?

You lied to my face about a problem with work that you performed.  You made me anxious about (i) the safety of the people staying in my apartment (which included a 2+ year old child), and (ii) the potential for property damage.  Hopefully you can see how twisted that is.  If not, then I feel sorry for you.

Sure, you do not have the time to wait for a few weeks for a check to clear or go to small claims court.  I understand that as I am a busy man too and I certainly did not have time to waste for you to come to my home under false pretenses.  Do you think that I have ample time to read through fine print that does not constitute a contract that I am (1) agreeing to, or (2) attaching my signature to?

If you were not comfortable with a check or if that was not your preferred payment method, you could have told me while we were conducting business in my home that Venmo, Paypal or credit card were alternative payment options.  The onus is on you (as the business owner) to inform me (your former client) of this.  Why was this not done?  Please do not rely on the fact that you sent me something in writing more than a month ago at this point.  We met face to face to settle payment when the work was done.  This could have easily been avoided if you spoke up.

More importantly, your first instinct should not have been to lie to me.  You have seen the building and the apartment I live in.  Does it look like it belongs to someone who (a) could not afford to pay your fee, or (b) would willfully and intentionally avoid payment for services rendered?  If you had even thought this through for a minute and reflected on our course of dealing, I do not think you would have approached this the way you did.

Lastly, I want to fully acknowledge the fact that you saved me significant cost with respect to my light fixtures.  Thank you for that.  However, I will also say this - cost was never an issue for me and I would have gladly hired you to do more extensive work if it was necessary.  What is important for me is that my home not be a fire hazard and that the lights function properly.  In addition, we agreed on a fee rate for the work done (in your words, let's get this down to the minute) and you wound up overcharging me for the work.  How is that fair or honest?  Again, please do not try to rely on a set of terms that we never agreed to for this work.  Especially when we had reached a hand shake deal on cost during our course of dealing.

I am sorry that things have turned out this way as well, but I have not done anything unconscionable, unethical or dishonest here.  Sadly, I cannot say the same for you.

5/5 stars! It's New Years Eve and I managed to cause a circuit to overload. I figured best case scenario was it wouldn't be fixed until after New Years and be a couple hundred bucks out. I found this company through yelp and gave Mike a call. Mike kindly walked me through what the problem was over the phone and managed to help me fix the issue and told me what to look out for in the future! I'm beyond impressed with his kindness and patience especially on New Years Eve. Thank you!!

Expensive , charged 600 for one hour of work and left exposed wires. Would not reccoment to others

I had a complicated issue I had no idea how to start solving. I contacted Mike via a neighbor's recommendation. Even though he said he probably wasn't the guy for the job, he meticulously walked me through root causes that could have prompted the problem: essentially sky high coned bills in spite of my low power use. Mike stopped by after consulting with my neighbor who is contracting him for a job, and he and his teammate Paul took a look at my meters. They invested the time and energy outside on a very cold day, in walking and talking me through how to troubleshoot the issue I've been struggling with. They were more helpful than various electricians I spoke to, even one who stopped by my place earlier that day. I could not recommend Mike wholeheartedly enough, for his kindness, diligence and thoughtfulness.

Picture this; a hot and muggy New York City night, fresh groceries in the fridge, and work on the horizon. But one thing... no power in my entire apartment. I'm no dummy but I'm certainly no electrician either. Our building super was on vacation and our office wasn't picking up the phone. My wife and I were at a serious crossroads. I went to Yelp, obviously, and found these guys because t said thy were still open this late on a Sunday night (10 pm). I worked with Mike and he assisted me with getting the electricity back on in my apartment. He walked me through testing each circuit to figure out which was the faulty one. He was patient, calm, and knowledgeable. I have his name and number proudly taped to the inside of my breaker box should I ever need him to come and do some work for us.

To Mike, thank you so much!

Mike's a solid guy. Tried to help me fix the problem over the phone First so he wouldn't have to come over and have to charge me the emergency price. I thought it would be safer getting it properly checked out and the price was worth the piece of mind. You shouldn't mess with electrical issues yourself! Leave it to the professionals.

He showed up and so far so good.

Give him a call.

Patient, honest and easy to work with while I was out of state.

Contacted multiple Electricians via Yelp. Michael was the only one that called back and followed through.  Had a few rounds of back and forth calls and emails to outline the job and ease of it, only to find out, what I was looking to have done wasn't feasible.

I can only estimate that Michael spent a few hours of his own time including a home visit to really assess our plans.  Quickly...realizing it wasn't going to work out the way I needed it to...we terminated the job and without cost to me or guilt.

Michael was professional and handled both myself and the situation well. So, I'm very happy to put ina good word here on his behalf. I would definitely recommend Michael and his company for jobs small and large

Mike was super helpful, he even tried to help me trouble shoot things over the phone to get things done quicker and avoid me having to pay. He seems like a stand up guy who truly knows what he's talking about. Although I did not need to use his services in the end, he will be on the top of my list the next time I do.

I simply called to get a quote and have some questions answered and Mike was beyond helpful. He took the time to ask thorough questions about the problem and appliance and instead of sending someone out and charging me $250+ just for showing up, he was honest about not being able to do the work that was required and sent me over to a couple of others who could help me. I really appreciated his honesty.

Professional, fast, efficient, and overall a genuine dude, I couldn't have asked for a better electrician. I've been through a fair share of electricians in NYC and these guys seemed to be all the same. They all carried disgruntled, rude attitudes while also overcharging, many didn't even do a satisfactory job. Overall I never had any positive experiences with electricians until I found Hitch. Everything about him reassured me that he was going to do a great job without ripping me off, and especially I felt comfortable around the guy. When he came to replace my breaker panel, not only was his work quick and excellent, on top of that he even fixed my broken intercom, free of charge! This guy is simply awesome and I recommend him to everyone. I'm just so glad I was able to find the #1 electrician in New York!

A good man, very thorough.

The project ended up looking spectacular, with a few hairy moments that only made the outcome more satisfying. Hitch was always willing to go above and beyond for our project, and to teach me about electrical nuances that I'm more worldly to have understood.

I recommend Hitch & Paul whole-heartedly.

Mike is so professional and detail oriented. Extremely helpful and personable. He loves his work and it shows. There was an issue with a few of my electrical switches and Mike went out of his way to find replacements and see through project completion. Would 100% recommend him again.

I called Mike looking for help with a somewhat niche electrical issue at the office I work at. Although he couldn't help me he took the time to send me a list of other electricians he recommended. It was a huge help and I really appreciated him making the effort. Thanks Mike!

Professional, honest and trustworthy! I will definitely come to Mike if I ever have an electricity problem. The review is a bit late but it is never too late. My air conditioner was acting weirdly last summer and I texted Mike via Yelp for a quote. He replied me immediately and offered to call me before he can give the quote. On the phone I explained to him the issue and he told me a few simple ways to determine it is truly an electricity problem. He can easily charge me for coming to my place without the initial assessment. Instead he helped me on the phone and turned out the air conditioner needs a cleaning service. I really appreciate the help he offered.

I have used Mike Hitchingham a few times, most recently to come into our apartment while we were away for several weeks to replace some under-the-cabinet lighting fixtures.  We did all correspondence by email including selecting the new fixtures (with some solid advice from Mike), getting a quotation, providing a down payment (to purchase the fixtures), and arrange with the building doorman to let Mike it.  We returned from our summer holiday this week, and the new fixtures were perfect -- brighter and better than before.  My only disappointment was that I did not have him replace all the similar lighting in the kitchen.  Nothing was out of place, all old fixtures, new boxes, etc. were left behind (neatly) so that we could verify the work, and the final bill came out far less than the quote.  Mike is 100% reliable and trustworthy; I could not recommend his work more highly.

Hitch is extremely honest, trustworthy and professional. He is very knowledgeable and completed a major electrical panel replacement over evenings and weekends to accommodate my schedule. He kept me informed throughout the process and educated on the work he was doing. I recommend him for any electrical work, big job or small.

Mike rewired a small commercial space for me after I took down some drywall leaving tons of exposed conduit. The project took longer than I had expected but his work was thorough. Mike has a great work ethic and even persevered when there was a mild plumbing disaster within his work space. Thanks again.

I'm giving 5 stars to Mike for being a nice person and going above and beyond.  Unfortunately Hitchingham wasn't able to do the job for me as I needed it done the next day (totally understandable, they were already booked), but Mike took the time to send me recommendations - I used the first one on his list and they were excellent.  Mike was a decent person to just listen to my situation and go out of his way to help me when there was nothing in it for him.  This is the type of person/company I would want to do business with and recommend  contacting them.

When you call an electrician you expect to be misguided and ripped off. It's like having heart surgery without medical insurance. You cringe and anticipate the final bill. You expect to have more work done than originally expected. You look to hock jewelry to pay this surgeon of voltage. That was far from the case when calling these guys. Mike quickly diagnosed and quoted an estimate on cost. Repair was done within 2 hours and quote was on point. It was like having your favorite uncle come over to fix the situation. Three adjective to describe... Fair, honest and funny. Highly recommended!!!!!!!

Mike was booked and unable to accommodate the project we had, but he took the time to respond to my email inquiry letting me know that this was the case, and recommended several other area electricians.

I had a complicated job to get done, and contacted a few electricians - Mike was the only one that offered a solution that didn't require going through walls and was easy on the wallet.

The project is now done, and we are very happy with how it turned out. He was very professional, gave us advice on how to handle some other electric projects, and his quote was accurate. I would definitely recommend him.

Mike was really friendly, very helpful, and fast. He replaced the ballasts on a few of my business's fluorescent light fixtures. He even offered the diagnostic for free because he wanted to try out a new piece of equipment. I don't know if he normally does free diagnostic visits, and I wouldn't expect it, but I think it shows that he's a businessman that cares about making the customer happy.

I have been using Hitchingham Electric for a number of years. I recently had them change light fixtures in my kitchen and hallways, replace some dimmer switches and install a bathroom towel heater. Mike , the owner is incredibly patient and detailed in explaining what is involved  before he starts the work. He and his partner are meticulous in their work. Everything is working wonderfully, especially the towel heater! and is perfectly installed. I especially like that Mike  takes the time to explain all the options so I can get the best deal for my money.

Mike was so professional and helpful throughout the entire process. Pricing was reasonable and he even came in under his original estimate. Will continue to use him for all of our electrical needs

I reached out for a quote, and was delighted and impressed how honest and helpful Mike was.  After speaking to him about what I needed, he explained what needed to be done, and it became clear that he was not the best fit for my scope of work, but he continued to talk to me and give me advice.   Honesty and receiving explanations are very important to me.  I wish I could have hired him.

Mike works mainly through Angie's list, so I thought I would spread the word about him through Yelp too. First off, Mike is amazing. With almost 30 years of experience under his belt, I would trust him with any residential electric job I could have. He is courteous, professional, and most importantly, he gets the job done in time. He quoted my roommate and I at 2 hours to install 2 new spot ceiling fixtures with 2 new dimmers, and he did the install comfortably in that timeframe. He is very knowledgeable and will give you advice on products, as my roommate and I had no idea which dimmers to buy. He is very friendly and trustworthy and will give you an honest and fair rate, and he will not waste your time. I went out on a limb hiring him without seeing any Yelp reviews, but after speaking with him on the phone and emailing back and fourth before the job, I could tell he knew what he is doing. Hopefully others will read this review and give Mike a call, because this was one of the best experiences I have bad with an electrician so far. Thank you Mike!

Mike was immensely helpful when I had an electric problem caused by a leaky roof during a storm. I was really worried it might be hazardous, and he was very generous with his advice and his willingness to come check it out ASAP (at midnight!). It ended up resolving itself, so I didn't need Mike to come in, but would certainly use him in the future. He knew all about the wiring in my type of building and helped me understand possible solutions. He was courteous and very knowledgeable. I highly recommend him!

I concur with the numerous 5 star reviews here already.  Last year I contracted with Hitchingham Electric to replace my entire electrical panel and then run a 220 line for a new dryer.  Mike had excellent communication throughout the quotation process, and at one point when it looked like I might not be able to use him, he provided me with a list of other electrical contractors that might be able to help.  He showed up on time, got the job done ahead of time, and even LOWERED the bill since he was able to get the run done without as much labor as they thought they would need (haven't had that happen with a contractor before!).  The work was very professional and I haven't had any issues with the panel or  the line.  Mike even helped me get some of the drywall in place so I could patch when they were done,  Quality, professional outfit that I would have no hesitation in recommending or using again!

Mike was great.  First helping me over the phone to determine the issue.  The he stopped by and immediate knew the issue and fixed it.

I was very favorably impressed with Mike Hitchingham. For starters, he actually responded to my request a quote inquiry on Yelp within a day! I responded to his message by calling him, and described the problem over the phone.  He asked some clarifying questions, and agreed that I was probably right (I suspected a 110V outlet was receiving 220V power). There were only 6 YELP reviews and I generally like to see more reviews before selecting a vendor, but his courteous, open manner and willingness to take a little time on the phone convinced me that he was the right guy to look at this. He stopped by within a day or two when he was on the UWS to check it out. He confirmed the problem in a brief visit, and said he'd return on Sunday to fix the problem. Then he actually returned on Sunday, and fixed the problem! His price was fair, and I was happy to pay his invoice. I've given his name and number to the guy across the hall, and to a friend who lives 6 blocks away. I found him to be straightforward, direct, honest, and willing to answer questions and educate me. He kept in touch re scheduling, and was responsive. I'd hire Mike again in a second!

Master electrician Mike Sparky Hitchingham is one of a rare breed these days.  He loves what he does and takes pride in his work in the manner of 'old world' craftsmen.  First, Mike tried to 'talk me through' an electrical solution on the phone that would have made his service call unnecessary.  Wow!  When that phone coaching proved too difficult, he promptly came up and solved an ongoing electrical problem that we've had for years.  If you like to be hands on, Sparky is your man.  He will put you to work (that's optional!) and teach you what he's doing so you can be an electrician's apprentice!  He will curse out your previous electrician and tell you what a lousy job they did and why.  He will correct the problem and predict what is likely to fail in the future so it can be prevented.  Oh, and did I mention this was on a Sunday??  So, yeah, I have become a Sparky Hitchingham fan.  But don't make him so busy that I can't get him the next time I need him!

I am extremely satisfied with Mike's services! I chose Mike over other recommended electricians because he came to my home to see the project (relatively small - I needed an outlet for a washer/dryer in a closet) before giving me an estimate. Other electricians gave me much higher estimates over the phone, they understandably didn't want to trouble-shoot and take the time to figure out a solution. Mike is a meticulous worker, he planned the job out in advance, asked for more information and had me email pictures to minimize the chances of any surprises (or extra holes in my walls!!). In the end, the cost of the job was less than his estimate, which was already quite reasonable. He didn't charge me for any of his prep/planning time. He provided me with his certificate of insurance and license number. Communicating with Mike was easy, he arrived promptly at the appointed time and cleaned up after the project. I would strongly recommend Hitchingham Electric!