Everybody has a friend who does . . . . You name it. You know, he's a carpet-layer, a plumber, a carpenter, a mechanic, a handyman, an electrician, etc. When a problem arises, or a need comes up, call the friend, or the friend's friend who does XYZ on the side. You'll get your job done, and you'll save money.
At least, that's the theory. One of the reasons I send an electrician through every 
home I sell is because of the friend, the friend's friend, the uncle, the neighbor etc. When I sell a home to a client, I want to know that he/she will be safe from those past workers and their handyman skills. That goes double for electrical wiring.
Your friend may cause your basement to flood by his incompetent plumbing work, but he is unlikely to kill you in the process. But, the friend who dabbles in a little electrical work on the side sure can kill you and your entire family. I dropped by a client's home Wednesday to check on an electrical issue he found while tearing out some drywall.
In nearly 45 years of doing electrical work, I've only seen a rodent destroy one wire. I find that a little surprising, but that's it. So, when I see something like I found at this house, it is obvious that it was done by a human and not by a squirrel or a mouse.
Someone, some past homeowner, friend, friend of a friend, uncle Vinny, you name it, had pulled wires through a rough place in the wall and in the process they pulled the insulation off the wires. Rather than fixing it, they separated the wires sufficiently to keep them from arcing and then they insulated and put the drywall up.
No problem, right? Maybe, maybe not. If a squirrel had gotten into that area and touched those wires, he could easily have electrocuted himself and while his smoldering carcass was lying against those bare wires he could have caught fire igniting the exceptionally dry materials in this vintage home.
It's important that you use competent professionals when you're life is on the line. You wouldn't let someone take out a kidney just because he had gutted a deer and knew what a kidney looked like. Why would you allow someone to tinker with your electrical system just because they could install a car radio?
Go with the pros, and even then, look at everything before the insulation goes in and the drywall is in place. Take pictures so you can refresh your memory as to where things are if something goes awry. Safety is your responsibility. Always make sure you're aware of the work that goes on in your home. It may save your life.
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