Getting an estimate from electrician?

lyndasharp

I'm in the process of buying a house that hasn't had much done since it was built in the 70s. It has had some surface wiring added though. The survey has come back saying I should get the electrics looked at by an electrician as it is likely to need partial rewiring.

The estate agent* was going to organise quotes for a few other bits as well as the electrics, but it seems that to get a quote from an electrician I'll have to pay (not sure how much yet). Is this normal? If so what is reasonable?

*Not that I'd necessarily accept quotes provided by the estate agent given that they have a vested interest, I've lined up a builder to look round for a second opinion already, but not keen on having to pay twice for an electrics quote!

Any electricians in the Swindon area on here that would like some work?

sparky883

You will be charged for an Electrical report £120 ish the same as all purchasers who require one,You cannot have a Free Quote as you do not know what you want quoting for.
I would quote you free if you told me what you wanted carring out-But if you wanted me to find any problems i would charge you (This is the work bit)

brightontraveller

Any electrician that knows there stuff would recommend a rewire cables, switches, fuses with movement wear and tear, corrode and deteariate etc etc If a house wiring is nearly 40, years old it is coming towards the end of its safe working life short and sweet it will need a full rewire any other would be a false economy

robby-01

brightontraveller wrote: »

Any electrician that knows there stuff would recommend a rewire cables, switches, fuses with movement wear and tear, corrode and deteariate etc etc If a house wiring is nearly 40, years old it is coming towards the end of its safe working life short and sweet it will need a full rewire any other would be a false economy

Rubbish.
If the electrical installation was designed and installed correctly there is no reason to assume that the fixed wiring will have deteriorated at all.
It is quite possible that the installation will require upgrade work which will be much cheaper than a rewire.
It may have previously been rewired anyway.
It is often the case that surveyors request that wiring is checked because the existing consumer unit appears obsolete.They do this to cover themselves.
The only way to be sure is to have a full test done that is what you are paying for.120 -150 should cover it.

brightontraveller

robby-01 wrote: »

Rubbish.
If the electrical installation was designed and installed correctly there is no reason to assume that the fixed wiring will have deteriorated at all.
It is quite possible that the installation will require upgrade work which will be much cheaper than a rewire.
It may have previously been rewired anyway.
It is often the case that surveyors request that wiring is checked because the existing consumer unit appears obsolete.They do this to cover themselves.
The only way to be sure is to have a full test done that is what you are paying for.120 -150 should cover it.

The Surveyors are in the most there to see that the building is worth the money the building society lend you and for no other purpose… many but not all have no electrical, building, plumbing, gas etc knowledge or qualifications at all, they will simply pass the buck

No installation of 40years old would meet current regulations if the installation has as you say been updated then wear is the paper work to prove so 610-4 + 514-9 BS 7671 , The installation if designed and installed correctly this was 40 years ago… the regulations have changed a lot in that time… Items do deteriorate after 40 years chapter 51 BS 7671 may help you understand this….

Just finding a 40 year old board that will take a RCD etc would be nearly impossible there are so many changes that to say “will require upgrade work” is an understatement although stating a installation requires a rewire without seeing it is not what I would normally do for a 40 year old one to be brought up to current regs would be cheaper to rewire in the long run



I would get a quote to rewire based on the age etc of the installation this saves you the money that you have to pay for the inspection and if the owner is not happy to drop the money off they would have to prove the installation is up to current standards if they agree you have saved on the price of the property if they do not you still have the option to get a survey but the advantage of knowing exactly what your worst situation would be money wise

You sound as if you are just thinking of gold plating an installation rob if I remember correctly last time I had to explain to you regs for height of switches, the difference between a light switch and a fan isolator, what a RCD does and how it works
:rotfl:

ClubOne

And so the issue goes on, i am a 15th/16th and now 17th edition spark- and have many years experiance in the trade, and the 40yr old cables would/have habit of corrosion at connection point due to damp (they go a lovelly green colour), but back to the regs (of which the new 17th edition concentrates on earth bonding) you would proberbly find its out of date.
Get the check done, its worth every penny :money:

baldelectrician

I would definately have a full Periodic check done

Another couple of points.
I give free VERBAL quotes, but don't do full detailed written quotes unless the client is happy to go ahead and book a date / time.

This seperates the serious from the 'I need a bit of paper for my insurance company' ones.

I don't get any issues with this as I get most of my jobs through word of mouth and repeat business.

You should use a competent person for the work, links below
In Scotland:
Individuals registered;
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/ListAC.asp
Companies
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/SearchCo.asp?T=Construction&ID=2
In England and Wales:
http://www.competentperson.co.uk

brightontraveller

Just to add the Niceic Eca and other organisations always recommend that you get at least three written quotes before accepting (a verbal quote would be nearly impossible to substantiate) Discuss the quotation with each contractor; the
lowest price may not necessarily be the best. Don’t forget to ask if there is a charge for the quotation, and discuss payment terms such as the deposit
and/or stage payments before work begins. Agree a timescale of the installation with a
definite start and finish date. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – no reputable electrician will have a problem with that


would you trust a firm that adds this to your quote
The standard hourly rate is chargeable at £75.00 per hour- before discount.
This is not the rate applied to the invoice that you pay. A discount will be applied of at least 50% on the labour rate (more discount will be applied to pensioners). This is due to a few non-paying / late paying customers.

baldelectrician

baldelectrician wrote: »

BT
Thank you for highlighting a link to my company ad, just for the records here are the full terms and conditions on my own website.
As things go I have enough work to keep me in business, and usually weed out rogue customers at the quotation stage.
As most of my customers come from word of mouth I don't have to invoice work. I usually take a card or cash on completion.
I am unsurprised you seem to feel I don't run my business in the manner you would like me to, but it's your problem - not mine.

Have you got saddle sores from your high horse yet?

I don't post links to my web site on here as I go on this forum to help and advise people, but I will put the link to my terms and conditions HERE.

MODS
If you wish to remove the link please feel free, as I am not wishing to advertise

No point repeating my self- better to copy and paste from the other rant and rave post by BT

brightontraveller

baldelectrician wrote: »

No point repeating my self- better to copy and paste from the

Many such companies will want to get a start date and take a non refundable deposit based on a verbal quote the customer could be letting them in for a shock in more ways than one when it comes to making the payment
an observation of a quote £35 per hour but on the web site says £70 - 80 with a discount ???? especially if you could not see on what exactly constitutes a late payment an hour a week for example stating on completion you could be out at work the firm finishes at 2 o clock you at 4 you may have to pay a late payment this could lead to vunarable people being exploted, my point is taking a verbal quotes the poster could find added extras that may or may not be told to them with the verbal quote most organisations would always recommend that someone gets three written quotes and all the terms and conditions prior to giving anyone a start date for works or feel pressure in anyway to give the first person that quotes the work as often they are in need of the electrical works to be done quickly and may feel that if they do not say yes they may have to wait weeks to get the works done….

baldelectrician

BT

In Scotland verbal contracts are legally binding, but we do have a decent courts system up here (no gazzumping). If a trader were to act in a dodgy manner it would be thrown out- a contract is only enforcable if it is fair.

I will now explain things in more simple terms purely for bt's benefit

1. I put all things in writing before a customer hands over a deposit
2. The start date is written down, along with an estimated timescale.
3. The prices are stated clearly along with any discounts (if applicable)
4. The client and myself both sign a copy and keep one each
5. All works on the sheet are included, if it is not on the sheet it's an extra. This makes all very clear- socket locations are noted but changing a location of an item prior to work comencing is not chargable.

This is to stop me wasting my life writing up quotes for people who want things for insurance companies and have no intention of using my servicies.
I make a point of putting all in writing when a date and time are booked, a deposit secures a place in my diary. If no deposit is given the slot is still open to any customer that gives a deposit.

Quote:
I am still also the M D of an electrical company
A little bitter with it. Have you made a lot of mistakes?

As I said earlier I do not have to justify the way I run my company to you, but I have answered your unwarranted concerns for the benefit of the forum readership. I have decided to refrain from replying to your inane rambligs in future and suggest you pick on another victim, as I will not become yours.

Why are you posting at 3.34 am if you are doing a days work? This lack of sleep appears to be clouding your sense of reason.