Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for electrical contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Electrical Heroes Inc., keeping clients happy begins with responsive and detailed communication. “We’re quick to respond to our customers, whether it’s to schedule an appointment or to answer any questions they have,” says CEO Idan Cohen. “We’re always happy to provide them with a thorough explanation of our work so they can feel comfortable about the money they’re spending.”

Electrical Heroes provides a variety of electrical services for residential and commercial clients in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties. In addition to handling the electrical wiring for all types of building and remodeling projects, the company is qualified to install indoor and outdoor lighting systems, upgrade and replace electrical panels, perform home consultations, and more.

Unlike less experienced electrical contractors that use inferior materials in an effort to reduce their operating costs, Electrical Heroes exclusively uses high-quality products that are made to last. “With electrical work, when something is low-quality, it’s noticeable right away,” says Mr. Cohen. “We always let our clients know the full scope of their options and recommend products that will provide long-term quality. At the end of the day, the choice is theirs, but we try to steer them in the right direction.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Electrical Heroes is its ability to take on complex jobs that many companies aren’t qualified to handle. “To do a large ‘smart home’ installation, for example, you typically need to hire an IT specialist and an electrician separately, but we have the expertise to perform both sides of the work,” explains Mr. Cohen. “Our clients really appreciate the fact that they only need to hire one company to take care of everything.”

When planning for electrical upgrades, find out whether building code requirements will affect the scope of your project.

Planning to make some changes to your home’s electrical system? You may want to do some research in advance. Depending on the nature of your project, you could be required to do a lot more than you expected. “Before taking on an electrical project, it’s important to find out whether your home’s electrical system is up to code,” says Idan Cohen, CEO of Electrical Heroes Inc. in Concord. “If it’s not, you may have to take additional steps to bring it up to current standards.”

Mr. Cohen gives an example of how building code requirements can turn a small job into a big one. “We recently did the electrical for a kitchen remodel where the homeowner needed some outlets moved. However, since the electrical wasn’t up to code, we had to make a few additional upgrades. For example, we had to run a dedicated line for the exhaust fan so it wasn’t on the same breaker as the lights. In the end, the job was substantially more expensive than the homeowner had anticipated. On the plus side, they won’t need to worry about their electrical system for a while.”

In many cases, the need for additional code-required measures depends on whether a permit is required. “Typically, if the work requires a permit—something like a kitchen or bathroom remodel—everything will need to be brought up to code, including the electrical system,” explains Mr. Cohen. “However, not all electrical jobs require permits, so as long as it’s not part of a larger project, you might not have to do additional upgrades.”

Homeowners often don’t understand why they’re required to bring their electrical systems up to code. Mr. Cohen gives a few reasons. “Primarily, building code standards are all about safety. Most code requirements exist because something happened in the past and the state wants to prevent it from reoccurring.” Other factors that influence building code requirements include accessibility and functionality. “For example, the code says each room in the home must have electrical outlets every six feet. That’s not so much a safety issue as a functional one. Due to the amount of electricity we use nowadays, it’s important to have enough outlets to provide for modern needs.”

Q: How much do you charge?
A: We typically provide two options: an hourly rate or a flat rate for the entire job. That way, if you’re concerned about how long the job will take to complete, you’ll have the option of paying a flat rate, which eliminates the guesswork.

Q: How long will it take to complete my job?
A: When we deliver our estimate, it’ll include a firm timeline for the project. We’re very good at determining how long a project will take to complete, whether it’s a couple of hours or a week.

Q: Do you handle permits?
A: Yes, we’ll obtain any required permits related to your job.

Q: Are LEDs a worthwhile investment?
A: Definitely. LEDs are extremely energy-efficient, so they cost less to run. Plus, they have a much longer lifespan than traditional lightbulbs, so you don’t have to replace them as often.