Electrical quote seems expensive...

ds2003

Hey,

I've been quoted £250 to wire a cooker into a cooker snout, replace two light switches and fit two lights. 

I can see that places like John Lewis and Appliances online charge £100 to wire a cooker into a cooker snout but even that seems quite expensive - and then £150 to fit 2 new ceiling lights (replacing existing roses) and fit two white plastic light switches with metal ones seems a bit steep. 

Tammykitty

If you aren't happy with it, get a second quote
Electricians are expensive - i assume that you have checked that they are registered?
It will probably take them over half a day to do everything you have asked, so that's essentially a full days work as they won;t have time to go to another job that day.., so £250 a day is reasonable.. and probably includes some materials cost..
Metal switches are dear (well the good quality ones are)

ds2003

Perfect, thank you! The materials are already purchased so the switches and lights are ready to go - but I hadn't factored in that if it takes over a half a day that they should charge for the full day but that does make sense. 

I am awaiting 2 further quotes so hopefully I'll be able to get a bit of a better idea. 

Tammykitty

Mickey666 said:

They wouldn't all charge a full day for half a day's work.  The regular electrician I use often pops in at the end of the day to do simple jobs like this, though it does mean it might take a weeks or two before he comes out, so depends on the urgency I guess.  Wiring a cooker into an existing outlet is really only a 30 minute job.  Last time I used him to connect up an outside socket for which I'd already laid the SWA cable in place, I had to persuade him to take £20 for the half hour job, but then that's the advantage of having used someone a number of time before I suppose.

Thats one small job, which yes can be fitted in around other jobs - the OP is looking 5 small jobs done..and these may take time to do, a job may be seem simple but due to shoddy existing wiring etc can take longer..

OP - in terms of the metal switches - i would advise that if you return yours do, and get the electrician to source these for you, as that way if there is a fault, and you need to get the electrician out again, its guaranteed, but if you use your own, its not, but the electricians work still is, but if you call him out and the fault is with the switch, then you will have to pay for his time

Risteard

Mickey666 said:

They wouldn't all charge a full day for half a day's work.  The regular electrician I use often pops in at the end of the day to do simple jobs like this, though it does mean it might take a weeks or two before he comes out, so depends on the urgency I guess.  Wiring a cooker into an existing outlet is really only a 30 minute job.  Last time I used him to connect up an outside socket for which I'd already laid the SWA cable in place, I had to persuade him to take £20 for the half hour job, but then that's the advantage of having used someone a number of time before I suppose.

It's really not to disconnect an old oven and replace it, do it properly, inspect and test the work. Verify bonding etc. It's not a half hour job in almost all circumstances. I would want at least about £80 for a simple cooker replacement with no alterations to the existing wiring.

donemedosh

I have found that most trades vary in price the closer to a city you are the higher the price except London where they seem to think of a number then double it. So £250 is not a bad price but if you are getting other quotes then its a case of compare the quotes & also which electrician "feels right"