Is this a reasonable quote for a couple of jobs?

[midiman]

Hi,

I need to get some work done so that I can get an electrical safety certificate for property.

I called in an Electrician and he suggested that I need to do the following;

1. Replace old fuse box with Consumer unit (£350)
2. Upgrade Gas and Water main earthing and bonding (£90)
3. Upgrading to all switched sockets and lights (£100)
4. Replace bathroom light with a dome fitting type (£60)
5. Installation condition report (£100)

Would you say that these are reasonable prices?

I'm not sure what amount of work needs to be done for some of them.

1. (Ok) Seems ok?
2. (Unsure) Is this a quick job?
3. (Unsure) I thought everything was switched. Maybe he means making sure that everything is earthed and the wiring is all sorted.
4. (Unsure) Is this just a case of changing the cover? Or wiring the light all in?
5. (Ok) Seems to be the normal price for most reports.

Thanks

 

[Andy78]

No idea what item three means. Item four sounds about right. The rest of it sounds far too cheap, cheap enough to be worried about the quality of work.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I call that a fair price ,wait around for a bus full of sparks will say different.

 

[Charlie_]

Are you actually getting this work done or are you checking out what you have told someone and subsequently trying to charge them?

 

[NDG Elecs]

Hi,

Firstly there is no such thing as an electrical safety certificate. Electricians issue certificates for carrying out work and can also carry out an EICR which is a report not a certificate.

It is really hard to say whether those quotes are reasonable, they certainly don't seem expensive. I would do number 5 first though myself, but £100 is not a reasonable amount unless we are talking about a one bedroom flat. My minimum rate for an EICR is £130. Any less than that and corners are probably being cut. If your board is replaced then I don't see a need for a EICR so soon afterwards.

 

[midiman]

I guess that some people work for whatever they can afford to in order to get the work. And I'm ok with that as long as it conforms to the standards of the electrical regs.

What I would like to know is what amount of work has to go into some of the above in order to justify what I have been quoted. So I can see if the cost is reasonable and I am not being taken advantage of.

For example
The bonding job could be a 10 minute change of two wires for all I know or it could be something that takes over 1 hour.

Thanks

 

[midiman]

Are you actually getting this work done or are you checking out what you have told someone and subsequently trying to charge them?

Hi Charlie, I will be getting this work done if the prices are reasonable.

I decided to get someone in after we talked about the lack of earth in my lighting switch the other night on here.

I need to get most of the above done in order to bring the place up to spec and get the instillation report.

Thanks

 

[Charlie_]

Over the last however many years you have been asking questions on how to do loads of jobs in your house..
What did he think to the consumer unit you installed for your home lab?
And didn’t you already upgrade your light switches?

 

[Charlie_]

I think you are plying your trade as an electrician and using this forum as a back up for what you are struggling with

 

[MJPD29]

I'm not sure what all of it is but it is too cheap I'd say if be questioning the standard of work and whay sort or consumer unit is going in

 

[Andy78]

I guess that some people work for whatever they can afford to in order to get the work. And I'm ok with that as long as it conforms to the standards of the electrical regs.

When it comes to cheap work you, as the customer, wouldn't necesarilly know if it complied or not. Test results can be faked, inspections can be skimmed over and invented.

If a customer asked me my opinion on those prices I'd reckon it was not an electrician that quoted and probably some chancer.

 

[Charlie_]

Definitely chancer!

And the chancery has even got the cheek to come on here and check out his prices

 

[midiman]

Over the last however many years you have been asking questions on how to do loads of jobs in your house..
What did he think to the consumer unit you installed for your home lab?
And didn’t you already upgrade your light switches?

Have you been smoking something? What has an old post about a lab got to do with anything that I am asking?

I'm hardly going to be doing the work myself and asking what needs to go into it and asking if the prices are reasonable.

Thanks i'll just get a comparison from another company.

 

[midiman]

When it comes to cheap work you, as the customer, wouldn't necesarilly know if it complied or not. Test results can be faked, inspections can be skimmed over and invented.

If a customer asked me my opinion on those prices I'd reckon it was not an electrician that quoted and probably some chancer.

That's why I am asking.

But what if they were an approved NICEIC contractor and on the register. Surely that means something?

 

[Toneyz]

You are paying for the electrician's knowledge and expertise as well as "just a 10-minute job" installing some bonding cables.

 

[Charlie_]

You posted that you were putting a consumer unit in your lab at home.

Obviously you are smoking something and you even have the lab to boot..

Post some pictures up of the cu, bonding and all the other stuff that needs doing then

 

[buzzlightyear]

But what if they were an approved NICEIC contractor and on the register. Surely that means something

because they wear a sheriffs badge does not mean they are good ,you are has good has the work in front of you.

 

[Andy78]

That's why I am asking.

But what if they were an approved NICEIC contractor and on the register. Surely that means something?

Does it balls. They let anyone in with minimal quals and the right sized cheque.

 

[midiman]

You are paying for the electrician's knowledge and expertise as well as "just a 10-minute job" installing some bonding cables.

That depends how you look at it. I don't think that it is a big job that requires an abundance of knowledge but I could be wrong. That's why I am asking and I will consult other sparks in order to see what they charge. If its the norm then there is not much I can say or do.

 

[Octopus]

Hi,

I need to get some work done so that I can get an electrical safety certificate for property.

I called in an Electrician and he suggested that I need to do the following;

1. Replace old fuse box with Consumer unit (£350)
2. Upgrade Gas and Water main earthing and bonding (£90)
3. Upgrading to all switched sockets and lights (£100)
4. Replace bathroom light with a dome fitting type (£60)
5. Installation condition report (£100)

Would you say that these are reasonable prices?

I'm not sure what amount of work needs to be done for some of them.

1. (Ok) Seems ok?
2. (Unsure) Is this a quick job?
3. (Unsure) I thought everything was switched. Maybe he means making sure that everything is earthed and the wiring is all sorted.
4. (Unsure) Is this just a case of changing the cover? Or wiring the light all in?
5. (Ok) Seems to be the normal price for most reports.

Thanks

Hum .. Talk about being light on detail ..
Where is the property?
How many circuits?
Dual RCD board or rcbo's
How many switches?
How many sockets?
White ?
Shiny chrome?

A pointless post imho

 

[midiman]

Does it balls. They let anyone in with minimal quals and the right sized cheque.

Ok thank I didn't know that.

Well I will check out some of the other NICEIC approved companies in my area. There are some good ones to choose from so at least that will help me to make a better decision.

 

[buzzlightyear]

That depends how you look at it. I don't think that it is a big job that requires an abundance of knowledge but I could be wrong. That's why I am asking and I will consult other sparks in order to see what they charge. If its the norm then there is not much I can say or do.

to save the headache could you put on the forum the estimate .

 

[Andy78]

Ok thank I didn't know that.

Well I will check out some of the other NICEIC approved companies in my area. There are some good ones to choose from so at least that will help me to make a better decision.

So you've taken on board my point that being a member of the niceic is no guarantee of quality, so you'll check out more members of the niceic ?

You'd be better off asking friends and relatives who have had significant electrical work done for their recommendations.

 

[Charlie_]

Who lives in a house like this?

Let’s go through the keyhole...

We’ve got a home made lab with a dedicated consumer unit..

We’ve got a fan that has prematurely broken down

The house seems to be occupied by many different people all of which seem to be a bit daft..

And finally a fuse board that needs to be upgraded..possibly due to it being continuously overloaded

Forum, it’s over to you ...

 

[ChipFanDave]

I have my popcorn.

Except I can't actually stand the stuff, bloody chaffy bits always get stuck between teeth and somehow down around your cheeks and gums.

 

[Andy78]

I have my popcorn.

Except I can't actually stand the stuff, bloody chaffy bits always get stuck between teeth and somehow down around your cheeks and gums.

 

[midiman]

Who lives in a house like this?

Let’s go through the keyhole...

We’ve got a home made lab with a dedicated consumer unit..

We’ve got a fan that has prematurely broken down

The house seems to be occupied by many different people all of which seem to be a bit daft..

And finally a fuse board that needs to be upgraded..possibly due to it being continuously overloaded

Forum, it’s over to you ...

Are you for real? Because I would be extremely worried I had to employ you.

I was asking for some advice but I'm sure that I can get better elsewhere.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

We’ve got a home made lab with a dedicated consumer unit..

Plant Room

 

[midiman]

View attachment 49023

Thanks I'm going to phone up the NICEIC and ask them if I can trust any of their approved contractors and that I will be willing to sue the --- off them if my work is not compliant with electrical standards because they shouldn't be allowing these people in without the proper training and experience.

 

[Charlie_]

Post up some pictures of the equipment then

How did the consumer unit job go in your lab?

 

[Charlie_]

Thanks I'm going to phone up the NICEIC and ask them if I can trust any of their approved contractors and that I will be willing to sue the --- off them if my work is not compliant with electrical standards because they shouldn't be allowing these people in without the proper training and experience.

Brilliant!
Also you can invite them round to see all the work you have been doing illegally and then they can get your --- sued too

 

[Deleted member 105166]

How did the consumer unit job go in your lab?

Is that a trick question for the OP, Charlie?
You know full well that 'plant room' circuits originate further upstream than the CU...

 

[ruston]

Is that a trick question for the OP, Charlie?
You know full well that 'plant room' circuits originate further upstream than the CU...

This thread is going all to pot.

 

[Charlie_]

I’m sure there’s a few more comments to weed out yet

 

[midiman]

The consumer unit in my lab went very well and it was part of something that I was trying to create as part of old project that I done at College.

Thanks but I'm done.

I'll either get this bloke to do the work or another company. It's not like that there is a shortage of Electricians on the market.

I just wanted to know if the prices were reasonable.

The electrician was recommended to me by past customers and they all appear to be alive and happy.

Maybe it has something to do with his reasonable charges and quality work.

 

[Charlie_]

Ahh right ok
Whereabouts in the country are you?
Put some pictures up and we can advise better.
A cu change can be anywhere between 2 to 4 hours work

 

[Charlie_]

We can have a good look at it and then come up with a joint solution

 

[cliffed]

Yea seems too cheap,Eicr about £150.
Main bonding could take a day or half a day,that’s gotta be at least £150.
DB £450.

 

[midiman]

Yea seems too cheap,Eicr about £150.
Main bonding could take a day or half a day,that’s gotta be at least £150.
DB £450.

Hi Cliff,

Cool thanks at least that gives me some idea about the amount of time that is involved in doing the job. I'll confer with some other people in the area and see what they would charge in order to get a better idea.

I'm not looking to pay the cheapest price. What I want it for the job to be done properly for the best possible rate.

That's business.

 

[Octopus]

Hi Cliff,

Cool thanks at least that gives me some idea about the amount of time that is involved in doing the job. I'll confer with some other people in the area and see what they would charge in order to get a better idea.

I'm not looking to pay the cheapest price. What I want it for the job to be done properly for the best possible rate.

That's business.

I still think you are dreaming ..........

no confirmation to the numbers of circuits, numbers of switches or sockets.

For all we know you might live in a castle.