How to prepare for the electrician's visit

The electrician cannot price what they cannot see. Most delays on a first visit come from a locked gate, a panel hidden behind boxes, or a missing bill. This list fixes all three.

Photos you can take now

Open the panel door. Do not take the cover off. Take four pictures:

1. The whole panel with the door open, so the breakers and the main breaker are visible.
2. The label on the inside of the door. It often lists the panel brand, the amp rating and the circuit names.
3. The main breaker, close up, so the number on the handle can be read.
4. The meter and the wall it sits on, plus the wire that comes to the house.

Brand matters. Some old brands, such as Zinsco and Federal Pacific, need replacement, not repair. The panel reading guide shows what the labels mean. If you want a first read before anyone comes out, you can send a photo of your panel.

Clear the space

The electrician needs room in front of the panel and the meter. SDG&E’s Express Program, for example, asks for a clear, level 3 ft by 3 ft work space at the meter panel. A good rule for any panel is to keep that much clear. Move bins, shelves, a freezer or a bike. Also check that:

• gates and side yards are unlocked
• a ladder can reach the meter and the roof mast
• pets are secured
• there is a place to park near the panel

Gather the numbers

An electrician often asks for your usage history. A year of demand data can replace a worst-case formula in a load calculation (the load calculation guide explains), and it can show there is more room in your panel than the formula says. Log in to your utility account and download 12 months of data. If you cannot, have the latest bill ready.

Also write down:

• every 240-volt appliance: range, dryer, water heater, AC, spa
• any appliance you want to add: EV charger, heat pump, induction range, battery
• the year the house was built and any past electrical work or permits
• the square footage of living space

Know what you want and where

Be specific. “An EV charger” is less useful than “a 48 amp Level 2 charger on the garage wall about 25 feet from the panel, for a car with a charge port on the left side.” A quick sketch or phone photo with a pin helps. If the charger goes outside or in a detached garage, say so. The route changes the price.

Bring approvals

Condo, townhouse and HOA owners often need written approval before work. California law limits what an HOA can refuse for EV chargers, and the HOA charger guide explains. Renters need landlord permission in writing. For an ADU or remodel, have the plans or a sketch.

Ask these questions

Write them on your phone before the visit. A few that matter:

• Do you hold an active C-10 license, and what is the number? (Then check it with the license guide.)
• Who pulls the permit and schedules the inspection?
• Is a load calculation part of the quote?
• Which utility steps are needed, and who handles them?
• What is not included in the price?

The quote checklist lists what the written bid should cover, so you can compare it against the answers you get at the door.

On the day

Stay out of the panel. Do not remove the cover yourself, and do not turn off the main breaker unless the electrician asks you to. Show them the photos, the bills and the sketch. Ask for the quote in writing, with the scope, the equipment and the payment steps. If a number is a range, ask what pushes it to the top.

Extra prep by job type

• EV charger: note the car’s charge port side, the parking spot, and whether you want the cable to reach a second car later. Photograph the route from the panel to the spot, including any attic, crawl space or masonry wall.
• Panel upgrade: note any breakers that trip, hot spots, buzzing, or lights that dim when the AC starts. Those details help the electrician judge the age and health of the panel.
• Rewiring or old wiring: note which rooms have two-prong outlets, cloth-covered wire or fuses. Know where the attic hatch and crawl space door are, and clear the way.
• ADU or remodel: bring the drawings, the planned location of the kitchen, water heater and heating, and the path from the main house. The electrician needs those to size the feeder.
• Backup power: list the circuits you must keep on in an outage, such as the refrigerator, internet, a medical device and a few lights.

If you are not sure which job you need, say what you see or what you want to run, and the electrician can name the job.