Electrical work is one of the few home projects where a bad hire can literally burn the house down. Seattle has plenty of qualified electricians — and plenty of unlicensed handymen quoting electrical jobs. Here's how to tell the difference in ten minutes.

The 7-point checklist

1. Verify the license — don't just ask

Every legitimate electrical contractor in Washington is registered with the Department of Labor & Industries. Look the company up in L&I's Verify a Contractor tool (search "L&I verify contractor"). You'll see their license status, bond, and insurance on file. If a "contractor" isn't in that database, walk away.

2. Confirm they pull permits

Panel changes, new circuits, EV chargers, rewiring — all of it requires an electrical permit and inspection in Washington. A contractor who says "we can skip the permit to save money" is transferring all the risk to you: failed home sales, denied insurance claims, and unsafe work nobody ever checked.

3. Ask about warranty — in writing

Good electricians stand behind their work. At Galaxy Electric, every job carries a 2-year workmanship warranty. If a company won't put a warranty in writing, that tells you what they expect to happen.

4. Look for local, recent reviews

Check Google and Yelp reviews from your own area — an electrician with strong reviews in Seattle, Shoreline, and the Eastside knows local inspectors, local utilities, and local housing stock (knob-and-tube in Ballard craftsman homes is a different job than new construction in Redmond).

5. Get a written, itemized quote

A serious contractor evaluates the job (on-site or via photos) and gives you a written price before work starts. Vague "time and materials" arrangements on big jobs are where surprise bills come from.

6. Ask who actually shows up

Is the work done by licensed electricians employed by the company, or subbed out? In a family-run shop like Galaxy Electric, the owner oversees every project — that accountability shows in the results.

7. Match the specialty to your job

Installing an EV charger? Rewiring a 1920s house with knob-and-tube? Adding a standby generator? Pick a contractor who does that specific work every week, not once a year.

Red flags to avoid


Questions worth asking on the first call


Want a contractor that checks every box? Galaxy Electric is a licensed, family-owned electrical contractor serving Seattle and the Greater Seattle area for over 20 years — transparent quotes, permitted work, and a 2-year warranty. Call (206) 414-1211 or book online.