My daughter almost spent way more than necessary for some work on her home. Way more. But the lights were flickering pretty seriously and the electrician – who was recommended by a handyman company she’d used – said some pretty scary things. Scariest of all was the price: $8,300 for three different issues.
Years ago, Abby’s Seattle home caught on fire due to a panel that short-circuited. So you can see why she’d want to get any electrical issues fixed, pronto.
Usually a cautious woman with regard to researching costs and always looking for the best deals, this time she panicked and put down a deposit.
Thank heavens for friends in smart places: Her pal Andre, who’s an engineer, said that cost sounded high to him. A consultation with his friend the electrical engineer proved him right. Abby got another electrician in, and what do you know? During the troubleshooting call ($186), he got everything squared away. And as is her wont, she wrote about the situation: “Why you should always always always ALWAYS get a second opinion.”
