Hiring commercial lighting services is a difficult process. It’s not as easy as just picking the first company that comes along and signing up for their service. You need to be careful about who you hire, and there are many factors to consider before signing any contracts with them. Here are five questions to ask before hiring commercial lighting services.

1. Are You Insured?

You should always look for a commercial lighting service that is fully insured. This will protect you from any damage, accidents, or injuries that might happen during the installation process. If they are not insured, and something does happen, you could face big problems with your insurance provider. The last thing you want to do is bring an uninsured contractor onto your property.

2. How Long Have You Been Operating?

When hiring commercial lighting services, you should always look for companies that have years of experience. When it comes to things like installing lights on your building, experience truly does matter. The more years a contractor has under their belt, the better they will be at their job. You do not want to hire someone who is a rookie.

3. Can You Provide References?

One of the best things that a commercial lighting service could do is offer up references for previous clients. By getting in touch with their previous customers, you’ll be able to find out how it truly went during the installation process. You should always take the contractor up on this offer. If they are hesitant or unwilling to provide you with any references, it might be a sign that they are not the right company for you.

4. Can You Provide a Written Estimate?

Hiring commercial lighting services should always start with a written quote. If this is not possible, it might be a sign that the contractor is too busy to take on your job. To make things easier for both parties, it’s important to have everything in writing from the very beginning.

5. Can You Provide a Timeline?

Last but not least, before hiring commercial lighting services, you should always ask for a timeline of the installation process. Having everything laid out in front of you will make it much easier for you to plan and prepare everything necessary for them to complete their job. If they can provide such a timeline, then you’re good to go. If not, it might be a sign that the contractor is inexperienced and unable to handle an installation of this magnitude.

Voltage surges large enough to cause equipment damage happen on a monthly basis or more in 76% of industrial sites, 69% of healthcare facilities, and 80% of IT environments, according to data collected by EPRI. That’s why it’s important to ensure your facility has a reliable surge protection solution, which means calling commercial lighting services to have the job done.