Debate: licensed electrician vs. a handyman for a panel upgrade in Edmonton

I went with a licensed electrician for my 200 amp panel swap last summer and paid $2800, while my neighbour used a handyman for $1500 and his inspector flagged every junction box during resale, so which is the smarter bet for a simple service upgrade in this city?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_patricia8d ago

Used to think handymen were fine for electrical work but that resale story totally changed my view.

hall.nina8d ago

Funny you mention that @the_patricia, because a friend of mine learned that lesson the hard way. She hired a handyman to swap out a few outlets and add a ceiling fan in her old house. Everything seemed fine until she tried to sell it and the home inspector flagged the whole thing. Turns out the fan was wired without a junction box and the outlets weren't grounded right. Cost her nearly a grand to fix it all before closing and she almost lost the sale. Definitely made me a believer in licensed electricians for anything beyond changing a lightbulb.