1. Before getting an electrician in to look at your property to quote or estimate for your electrical house rewire, you should write down exactly what you want in each room and if possible supply a copy to the electrician. another great idea would be to draw a plan of each floor of your house and mark out where you want each electrical point.
   
   
2. As ever, you should get at least three quotes, but go with the one you feel most comfortable and that you see will give great value rather than the cheapest, you are making an investment in your property after all.
   
   
3. You should ensure that you are going to employee the services of a professional electrical company and that they are registered with one of the electrical bodies such as the NIC EIC, ask for the electrical companies registration number and then check this with the electrical body either via their website or calling them. If they are members of any other organisation you should check this too.
   
   
4. Make sure you get a detailed estimate that includes cost of labour, materials and certification, also a schedule of all the work to be carried out, This should mirror you list that you gave the electrician when they came round to quote for your house to be rewired.
   
   
5. Prices vary for an electrical rewire from property to property and can range (for a 3 bed house) from £2500 if you were to have just standard light fittings and sockets to £4000+ if you wanted the best brushed chrome fittings and downlights (these should be fire rated), extractor fans, security & garden lighting. Something else that can affect the cost of a house rewire is the structure of the building: Is it old Lathe and plaster with floor boards or are the walls rock solid with a chip board floor. Having a lot of furniture around especially heavy furniture will also be worked into the cost as it takes time to move it around to get under the floor boards or to the walls that you want electrical sockets on.
   
   
6. Having a rewire is a messy business even for the most professional electrical contractor especially when you are having your electrical sockets and switches chased (As seen in the picture) in to the wall! It would be a good idea to put away items that you don't want to get dusty, If possibly you may wish to put them into storage.
   
   
7. Once work has begun, If you have any questions or wish to make changes, you should bring this up with the qualified electrician doing your rewire as soon as possible, Any delay and you could find it expensive.
   
   
   
   
8. At the end of the electrical rewire, you should receive 2 certificates one should be one for the electrics that includes data on the inspection and testing of the new electrical installation from the electrical contractor and one should be from building control to say it's been registered. These are both required if you've had your house rewired and you may have trouble selling your house in the future without them.

If you live in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas (see our Work Area Map for the areas we cover) then Electrical Concepts would be more than happy to supply you with an estimate for the works and any more advice you may need, You can call us for free on 0800 458 9118 (Mon-Fri between 0900 - 1730)