Electrician vs handyman for a $150 outlet swap in Seattle - who's right?

My neighbor said I was crazy for calling an electrician to move one outlet 3 feet. Said his cousin the handyman would do it for $50 cash. But my dad always told me never skimp on electrical work. Got quoted $150 from a licensed guy. Neighbor says I'm wasting money, dad says I'm being smart. Which side are you on for small stuff like this? Any horror stories from going cheap?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryan_hart3815d ago

$150 is cheap insurance against finding out your neighbor's cousin learned electrical from watching YouTube at 2am... so really you're paying to not wake up dead.

lee.cora15d ago

Did you ever find out what happened with their buddy's wiring jobs after that?

zarag1715d ago

Tackled a similar situation last year when my neighbor's "electrician buddy" offered to rewire their garage for cheap. I told them flat out to get a licensed pro and they got mad at me for being dramatic. Told @ryan_hart38 I'd rather pay $150 for a permit and inspection than deal with a fire that starts at 2am. Ended up helping them find a real electrician who did the job right for not much more. Trust me, that $150 feels like nothing when you hear stories about houses burning down from bad wiring. Professional work just saves you headaches and peace of mind long term.