Why We Provide Detailed Job Reports - And why all trades should
Documentation is important for all trades, particularly when working in a high risk trade such as electrical. Gone are the days when tradies could just show up, do some “stuff” and send you a bill for whatever they want. Whether we are working on a small residential project or a large commercial installation, keeping detailed records of our work is crucial for several reasons. In this post, we will explore the importance of documenting our work as an electrician and how our detailed job reports protect both us and our clients.
Our job reports are something I came up with myself and it was an idea I got from my wife’s medical notes and how important they are in the event of an investigation and for future reference, I thought about how similar it really is and how important the “health” of your home or business is and that was the start of what I have named the Blink Electrical Job Reports, it is not something I have seen done in this kind of detail in any other electrical or trade business before but maybe it will catch on and everybody will decide to provide this kind of transparency to their clients. It does take a bit of extra time on each job but it is something I believe is worth the small extra cost in the long run.
Ensures Compliance with Industry Standards: The electrical industry is regulated by various safety standards and codes, and documenting our work is an important part of ensuring that we are in compliance with these standards. By keeping detailed records of the materials and equipment used, the wiring configurations, and the testing results, we can demonstrate that we have followed all relevant regulations and standards and give sour customers the peace of mind that the job was done right.
Facilitates Problem Solving: If a problem arises with an electrical system, having accurate and complete documentation can be invaluable in diagnosing and resolving the issue. Detailed records of the wiring configurations, materials used, and testing results can help us quickly identify the source of the problem and make the necessary repairs.
Provides a Reference for Future Work: Our job reports can serve as a reference for future projects. It is common for us to work on multiple projects for the same client, and having detailed records of our previous work can help us to quickly identify any potential issues and ensure that our work is consistent with our previous installations. We provide the full report to all our clients if they want it and this also means you can show it to any other electrical company or other trade when you are getting future work done to help make their job easier and in turn reduce their costs.
Improves Communication with Clients: Detailed documentation also improves communication with our clients. By providing them with a clear and comprehensive record of the work that we have performed, we help them understand the scope of the project and the materials and equipment used. This can also be helpful if they need to make any changes or modifications in the future.
Protects Our Business: Documenting our work helps to protect our business in the event of a dispute. If there is a disagreement over the scope of work or the quality of our work, having detailed records including photos helps demonstrate that both our work and your property complies with industry standards and provides evidence of the work that we have performed.
Our reports are continuing to evolve to ensure they include the most up to date and accurate information that is important to both us and our clients. There is no use in us counting every screw we use and putting it in the report but we list the major components with estimated cable lengths and provide before and after photos (where possible) with a detailed description of the work completed. We also provide a list of recommendations for future work that may be required to update your property and ensure it meets all of the current standards, there is no obligation with this list, it is purely to help our clients understand some of the issues that may pop up in the future and if it is something you wish to look at further we can provide more info or provide a quote for any work you wish to have done.
