How to Vet a Network Installer in Idaho
Seven questions to ask any contractor before you let them put cable in your walls. Skip this and you'll pay twice.
Anyone with a ladder and a crimper can call themselves a cabling contractor. Here's how to separate real installers from the ones you'll regret hiring.
1. Ask for a current Idaho low-voltage contractor license number. Verify it on the Idaho DBS website. If they dodge the question, move on.
2. Ask which tests they run for certification — and ask to see a sample report. Real installers test with Fluke DSX or equivalent and hand you a PDF per drop. 'We tested it with a tone and probe' is not certification.
3. Ask who is actually on site. Some contractors win the bid and subcontract the install to whoever is cheapest that week. Ask to meet the lead tech before signing.
4. Ask for three local references from projects over the last twelve months. Call them.
5. Ask about warranty — both workmanship and manufacturer. A legitimate install of certified components should carry a 15-25 year manufacturer warranty in addition to the installer's workmanship warranty.
6. Ask about labeling and documentation. If they don't hand you an as-built, you're going to pay someone else to trace cables later.
7. Get the quote in writing with cable type, jack count, and a line-item breakout. 'It's all one price' quotes make change orders impossible to argue.