New wall sockets installation

Niy

Hi all,

Finally got the keys to our new place, the electrician who has done a few jobs in the house already happens to be a neighbours on the same street. I think he is quite expensive, or maybe the one I have been using in my old place was cheap, not sure. We are now in the East Midlands.

Anyway, he is quoting £560 for 3 new double sockets with USB, which I think it's quite expensive? We haven't discussed location yet because I asked him to give me a range for have them next to the existing ones and having the on the opposite side of the room, but he chose to ignore this. Surely location of new sockets affect the price? Or is it just a case of using more or less cable, so the difference is negligible?

He knows the layout of the house well as he has been a couple of times and lives in one with an idential layout.

grumbler

Niy said:

Anyway, he is quoting £560 for 3 new double sockets with USB,

Sockets, with USB or without, cost peanuts. So does the cable (compared to the labour cost)

which I think it's quite expensive? We haven't discussed location yet because I asked him to give me a range for have them next to the existing ones and having the on the opposite side of the room, but he chose to ignore this. Surely location of new sockets affect the price?

Surely.   He is an opportunist if he gives an inflated price without discussing this. The opposite side of the room can involve big disruption, depending on the floor and walls construction. Also,  the existing wiring is important, as, generally, a spur can be added to a socket that is a part or a ring, not a spur itself.

FreeBear

grumbler said:

Niy said:

Anyway, he is quoting £560 for 3 new double sockets with USB,

Sockets, with USB or without, cost peanuts. So does the cable (compared to the labour cost)

which I think it's quite expensive? We haven't discussed location yet because I asked him to give me a range for have them next to the existing ones and having the on the opposite side of the room, but he chose to ignore this. Surely location of new sockets affect the price?

Surely.   He is an opportunist if he gives an inflated price without discussing this. The opposite side of the room can involve big disruption, depending on the floor and walls construction. Also,  the existing wiring is important, as, generally, a spur can be added to a socket that is a part or a ring, not a spur itself.

Are the sockets going to be flush mounted with back boxes & cable chased in to the wall ?

There will be a lot of mess if that is the case, and you also need to know who will make good afterwards (and the standard of finish).

Surface mounted sockets and trunking stuck to the wall would not be acceptable at £560, and that seems steep even for flush mounted.

ThisIsWeird

Yes, it sounds pretty high. Unless, as Grumb suggests, there could be a reason such as the difficulty in running cables from one side to the other. But, they've given you only one quote, regardless of the spurring location. 

Hmm.

Is this a 'fully make good afterwards' job?

It's a weird one. The 'obvious' suspicion is that they are trying it on a bit, but then why would a neighbourhood sparky do such a thing - a complete lack of shame and self-awareness amongst folk they are likely to bump into on a regular basis?!

I guess the only way you'll really know is by obtaining another quote...

What to do? It's an awkward one. I guess the choices are to just bite the financial bullet in this case, on the assumption that an alternative quote wouldn't be that much less, at least not enough to compensate for the awkwardness, and just not use the guy after this. That's the whimpy way. Or, you do get another quote - make up an excuse such as a work colleague put you in touch (again, whimpy ) - and be matter-of-fact assertive;  point out the difference, and how you'd love to use the guy, but things are tight after the cost of moving... (did I mention whimp...)

Sophie4120

We had some new sockets installed a few months ago - we found quotes were variable, but not as high as yours! However, we had them done along with a lot of other work, so it is possible they are charging you a day rate? Although I still wouldn't expect it to be that high...

As a point of reference, we were charged £131 (incl. VAT) to fit two additional double sockets (this was in a new location, chasing out a brick wall). So maybe worth getting some more quotes?

prowla

The cost of the sockets themselves is incidental (maybe £10 each); the installation could be quite involved.

It very much depends how much work is required to run the cables and what level of finish is required once the job is done.

ThisIsWeird

Niy said:

We haven't discussed location yet because I asked him to give me a range for have them next to the existing ones and having the on the opposite side of the room, but he chose to ignore this. Surely location of new sockets affect the price? Or is it just a case of using more or less cable, so the difference is negligible?

Re-reading, it could be that the figure was worst case scenario, based on the most awkward spurring from across the room?

Any idea how the cable could be run from one side to another? Under the floor? If so, what is access like? Type of floor? Or, up the wall, above ceiling, back down - is ceiling/floor access available from above?

And when are you going to decide where you want these sockets, or is it price-dependent?

Perhaps time to simply ask for clarification - what difference will the two options make? The 'adjacent' spurring should be a lot less.

Nobbie1967

Sounds like he has plenty of work and has given you a figure that will cover him for any eventuality so he doesn’t have to waste his time planning a job he might not get. Try someone else for a quote.

ComicGeek

Make sure that you pick the right type of USB sockets for what you need. The cheaper ones have 2 USB type A points, whereas the latest more expensive ones also have a 20A type C as well or instead of.   

I installed a handful of standard USB type A sockets a couple of years ago, but have changed a couple for USB type C to keep up with the latest iPads.

Niy

Currently waiting for 3 additional quotes. If I am honest, I already think this sparky was trying it on a bit with the last 2 jobs. So he dida EIRC test for £240 and that's already £20 cheaper becaue he didn't have to travel. I chose him as he was the cheaper one and also I was betting on the fact he knows the layout of the house and any potential hidden issues. Then he quotes £250 to install 3 junction boxes for the lighting circus (whatever that means, I asked and he didn't answer), updated the RCD on th main consumer unit and the RCD in the shed. I thought whatever, he did the test. let him be.

Then I wanted the ceiling lights moved because it's an old house so the ceiling lights were by the windows, he wanted £400 for 3 rooms, it was probably a bit on the high side, but it needed to be done on a particular day so the plasterer could start, I gave him the job.

However, with the wall sockets, I feel he might be starting to feel confortable with thinking I don't care much.

I will ask more Qs and report back.

FreeBear

ComicGeek said:

Make sure that you pick the right type of USB sockets for what you need. The cheaper ones have 2 USB type A points, whereas the latest more expensive ones also have a 20A type C as well or instead of.   

I installed a handful of standard USB type A sockets a couple of years ago, but have changed a couple for USB type C to keep up with the latest iPads.

Or you could get some type A to type C cables for not a lot - Poundland sell them cheap enough to make it worth buying a few spares.