What Is Included in a Full House Rewire Quote?

A house rewire quotation should do much more than state a price. It should explain what will be installed, what protection and certification are included, how disruption will be managed, and which costs remain outside the agreed scope. Without that detail, two apparently similar quotations may describe very different jobs.

A full rewire is a major investment, so homeowners should be able to see exactly what they are paying for before work begins. This guide explains the principal elements of a clear quotation and the questions worth asking when comparing electricians. If you are planning the work locally, you can also explore Gabe Electrical’s house rewiring services in Cardiff.

The short answer: what should a rewire quote include?

A properly prepared quotation should normally identify the property and agreed scope, list the circuits and electrical points to be installed, describe the consumer unit and protective devices, explain testing and certification, and state how floor protection, chasing, making good and waste will be handled. It should also distinguish firm inclusions from allowances, optional work and exclusions.

• The rooms and areas included in the rewire.
• The number and approximate position of sockets, switches and lighting points.
• Dedicated circuits for appliances and higher-load equipment.
• The proposed consumer unit and protective devices.
• Smoke, heat and carbon-monoxide alarms where included.
• Testing, certification and Part P notification.
• The approach to wall chasing, floor access and making good.
• Whether the quotation includes VAT.
• Any exclusions, assumptions, provisional allowances or optional extras.
• How changes requested after acceptance will be agreed and charged.

1. A site visit and an agreed specification

A reliable quotation usually begins with a site visit. Bedroom count alone does not reveal how difficult a property will be to rewire or what the homeowner expects. Floor construction, wall finishes, loft access, extensions, previous alterations and the location of the electrical supply can all affect the work.

The electrician should also discuss how the property will be used. A family home, rental property and home office may require very different numbers of sockets, data points, outdoor supplies and dedicated circuits. Agreeing these details before pricing reduces ambiguity and makes later comparisons much fairer.

If the property is occupied, the quotation should reflect the additional protection, temporary supplies and daily reinstatement needed to keep it safe for the people living there. Homeowners can use our house-rewire preparation checklist to plan access, possessions and essential services before the start date.

2. The circuits and electrical points being installed

The scope should show what the new installation will provide rather than relying on a phrase such as “complete rewire”. It may list the circuits individually or provide a room-by-room schedule.

• Socket circuits and the quantity of double sockets in each room.
• Lighting circuits, switches and lighting positions.
• Kitchen appliance circuits, including ovens, hobs and dishwashers where required.
• Electric-shower, immersion-heater or boiler supplies.
• Smoke and heat alarm circuits.
• Outdoor sockets, lighting and outbuilding supplies.
• Data cabling, television points or home-office requirements.
• Provision for future loads such as an EV charger, heat pump, solar panels or battery storage.

The quotation should make clear whether it includes standard white accessories or a different finish. Decorative sockets, smart controls, specialist lighting and customer-supplied fittings can materially alter both labour and material costs.

3. Consumer unit and protective devices

Most full rewires include a modern consumer unit, but its specification should still be stated. The quotation should identify the proposed arrangement and whether circuits will receive individual RCBO protection. It should also explain the provision of surge protection and any other protective measures required for the design – such as arc fault devices.

A price that simply says “new fuse board” leaves important questions unanswered. The equipment manufacturer, number of usable ways, circuit protection, labelling and allowance for future expansion all contribute to the quality and usefulness of the finished installation.

4. First fix, second fix and final connection

First fix generally covers installing cables, boxes and containment before the finished accessories are fitted. Second fix covers sockets, switches, light fittings and other accessories. The quotation should make clear whether both stages are included and whether return visits are expected because of plastering, kitchen installation or other building work.

Where other trades are involved, it helps to state who is responsible for coordination and when the electrical work must take place. Delays or repeated visits caused by an incomplete kitchen, unavailable light fittings or changed room layouts can otherwise create avoidable additional costs.

5. Floor protection, access and making good

Rewiring often involves lifting selected floorboards, routing cables through floors and loft spaces, and chasing walls for concealed accessories. A quotation should explain the intended approach and the level of reinstatement included.

“Making good” does not always mean returning every surface to a fully decorated finish. An electrician may refill wall chases ready for a decorator, while full plastering, painting, wallpapering, specialist flooring repairs or replacement tiles remain separate. This distinction should be written down before work starts.

6. Testing, certification and notification

A new installation must be inspected and tested before it is put into service. The quotation should include the appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate together with the schedules of inspections and test results.

Domestic rewiring is normally notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Where applicable, the quotation should confirm that notification is included and that the customer will receive the relevant compliance documentation after completion.

Certificates are not optional paperwork to be added later. They record how the installation was designed, inspected and tested, and they may be important when the property is sold, let or insured.

7. Smoke alarms and related safety work

A rewire provides a sensible opportunity to review the property’s smoke and heat alarm provision. The quotation should say whether alarms are included, their proposed locations, how they will be powered and whether they will be interconnected.

Other associated work might include upgrading main protective bonding, improving earthing arrangements or rectifying supply-related concerns. Some issues can only be confirmed after testing or after previously concealed parts of the installation become accessible, so the quotation should explain how these discoveries will be handled.

8. Waste, cleaning and working arrangements

The quotation should indicate whether the electrician will remove waste generated by the work and what level of daily or final cleaning is included. It should also set expectations about working hours, access, keys, parking, power interruptions and whether the occupants can remain in the property.

If the house will be occupied, ask how essential lighting, refrigeration, heating controls and internet equipment will be managed. Keeping a property habitable can increase the programme and labour requirement, so it should not be assumed to cost the same as an empty rewire. Our guide to how long a house rewire takes and whether you can remain at home explains this in more detail.

9. Exclusions and work that may cost extra

Clear exclusions protect both the customer and the electrician. They do not necessarily indicate a poor quotation; they show where another contractor, specialist or further investigation may be required.

• Full plastering, decoration or specialist wall finishes.
• Carpet fitting, replacement flooring or repairs to fragile floor coverings.
• Asbestos surveys, sampling or removal.
• Repairs or alterations to the electricity distributor’s or energy supplier’s equipment.
• Structural work or access that could not reasonably be assessed during the survey.
• Customer-requested changes after the specification has been agreed.
• Decorative fittings, smart-home equipment or appliances not listed in the quotation.
• Work by builders, kitchen fitters, plumbers, network installers or other trades.

If an allowance is provisional, the quotation should explain what it covers and how the final amount will be calculated.

10. Variations and unexpected discoveries

Even a careful survey cannot expose every hidden cable route, damaged joist, inaccessible void or undocumented alteration. A professional quotation should explain what happens if the scope changes.

Additional work should be discussed and agreed before it proceeds wherever practical. The customer should understand the reason for the variation, the additional cost and any effect on the completion date. This is preferable to discovering a collection of unexplained extras on the final invoice.

How to compare two house rewire quotations

Comparing only the total price can be misleading. Our guide to house rewiring costs explains the main factors that influence the price. Place the quotations side by side and check whether they describe the same number of points, the same standard of equipment and the same approach to protection, testing, making good and certification.

• Are the socket, switch and lighting quantities comparable?
• Are kitchen, shower, alarm and outdoor circuits included in both?
• Does each quotation specify the consumer unit and circuit protection?
• Are testing, certification and Part P notification included?
• Is VAT included or added later?
• Does the price assume the house will be empty?
• What floor protection and making good are included?
• Are waste removal and final cleaning included?
• What warranties or third-party protections apply?
• How will additions or changes be authorised?

A substantially cheaper quotation may simply contain fewer sockets, exclude making good, use a different equipment specification or make optimistic assumptions about access. Asking for clarification is reasonable and gives each electrician an opportunity to explain the value and limitations of their proposal.

Questions worth asking before accepting a quotation

• Who will carry out and supervise the work?
• Is the business appropriately registered and insured for the work proposed?
• What documents will I receive when the rewire is complete?
• How long is the quotation valid?
• What deposit or stage payments are required?
• Will the property be safe and usable if I remain living there?
• Who is responsible for plastering, decorating and flooring?
• How will unforeseen work and customer-requested changes be priced?
• When could the work begin, and what could affect the programme?

A good quotation should make the project easier to understand

A house rewire is disruptive, but the quotation should not be confusing. It should translate the survey and design discussions into a clear written scope so that the homeowner knows what will be installed, what preparation is needed and what will happen when the work is complete.

Gabe Electrical prepares house rewire quotations after assessing the property and discussing how the customer wants the home to work. If you are planning a full or partial rewire in Cardiff, call 07894 349680 to arrange an initial conversation.