By LEAH WEATHERSBY

If you're a homeowner, chances are there is something in the electrical system at your house that could stand updating, improving or out-and-out replacement.

While there are a lot of do-it-yourselfers out there, electrical improvements are often intimidating - even scary projects to undertake.

Fortunately, there are qualified professionals who stand ready to help.

One such electrical contracting company, Kemly Electric in Ballard, has grown from humble beginnings as a one-man, home-based outfit 10 years ago to a company that now has its own offices, a fleet of vans and a staff of 14 workers.

"Basically, I started with a pickup truck and myself," said Brian Kemly, owner of Kemly Electric.

Kemly began his career in New Jersey when he was 18 and, by his own admission, was leading a bit of a wild lifestyle.

"One day my dad grabbed me by the back of the neck and drove me (to an electrical contracting business) and said 'Brian needs a job,'" Kemly explained.

Kemly went to technical school for two years to learn more about the trade and earned an associates degree in electrical engineering. After 6,000 hours of work in the electrical field as an apprentice, he passed the test to become certified as a master electrician. He briefly ran a sign business in New Jersey, but found that industry wasn't for him.

"You know what they say "You need to fail a few times before you succeed," Kemly said. After his sign business closed, Kemly went back to work as an electrician in the Garden State for five years.

In 1989 Kemly and his wife Kathleen, now Crown Hill residents, moved to Seattle to escape the high cost of living in New Jersey.

"It was a tough move for me," he said. "I was 30 years old and grew up in New Jersey." Kemly said that he and his wife had considered moving to upstate New York, but when they visited Seattle for his sister-in-law's wedding, the beauty of the city and well as the close proximity of the mountains and cultural attractions won him over. In the end, Kemly said, moving to Seattle was the best decision of his life.

At first Kemly took jobs with other companies in Seattle, but got frustrated because he worked fast and jobs weren't coming in steadily enough. Eventually, at the urging of his wife, he decided to start his own business.

"I was in the backyard reading one trash novel after another," Kemly explained, laughing. "Kathleen threatened me with a rake and said 'go start your own (company).'"

Kemly also credits his wife's excellent bookkeeping skills with helping get Kemly Electric off the ground, but even with her assistance he said that the business was not successful in the beginning. He and his family ate a lot of noodles and peanut butter and jelly and he often worked long hours."

However, eventually good word-of-mouth and a friendly persona around customers helped him expand.

"Ninety percent of my work comes from referrals," Kemly said.

"I have to stress the very long days," Kemly said. "I would start at 6 a.m. and come home at 9 to 9:30 p.m. I still work long hours, but it's not physical work like installing - it's just mentally grueling."

Kemly's customer service skills also helped him navigate some embarrassing moments working in clients' homes.

"There was a lady who had mushrooms growing behind her refrigerator," Kemly said. "When I pulled back the refrigerator, she screamed. I told her 'Oh, I always see mushrooms!'"

Kemly said that with a large part of his business coming from service and repairs in homes, polite employees are still a key to his success.

"You have to have nice, happy people working for you," he said.

After years in the business, Kemly had some tips for homeowners looking for an electrician. First, he said, getting referrals is always a good idea, and homeowners may even want to call the Better Business Bureau to check potential contractors out. Also, he said never give any contractor a deposit before they start the work, and ask for prices ahead of time, as service rates can vary widely. (