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Does my house need re-wiring

I am in the process of selling my house. Around two years ago before deciding to sell I was made aware by an electrician that I may need to look at having the house re-wired. It has been on my 'to do' list since then. Now I am selling two things are coming into my mind. 1) Should I sell my house and let the person buying know the same advice I received 2) Should I get it done before selling. I only want to do number 2 if it will add value to the house.

So will it add value and what price range would you expect to see on quotes for a 2 bed semi detached house.

Hi

Extremely sorry for the late reply, I need an expert have only just notified me about this message.

I am not sure if you are still in the process of selling your house however I would advise in the situation that you described the best course of action would be to have an EICR completed on the property. This is an Electrical Installation Condition Report. This is a full inspection and test of the electrical installation together with a full detailed written report on the findings. This would act to a) tell you whether a rewire was really necessary and if any other (smaller) work may cover the problems and b) certify that the electrics are safe to both the new buyer and any mortgage surveyor who sees it. Surveyors can ask buyers to have this completed to prove the installation is safe for continued use. The report is in the region of £100 and, although it is unlikely to increase the value of the property on it's own, it could be used in the bargaining process to help keep your price higher (IE: the electrics have been signed off as safe so leaving them with no room to negotiate on price regarding that)

If the EICR report was to highlight that a rewire was required then it is likely that having this done would indeed increase the value of the house, by how much is impossible to say but recently rewired is a definite plus point for a new buyer as it signifies it won't need doing again for many years.

If you would like to discuss this with me further please either email me on info@electricblu.co.uk
or call 07943 584410

Kind regards
James Raby
Electric Blu

To have a rewire is not really going to add value and there is the issue of redecorating after. But if the buyers are aware that the work is required they may use it as a bargaining tool to reduce the price of the house.

Sorry for the late reply, i am certain that this question has since been answered. I would recommend carrying out an electrical installation condition report. This will give you a good indication as to the actual condition of the electrical installation as it stands. From that, you would then have a better understanding of what step next to take. It isnt always necessary to rewire. If you are selling the property, my advice would be to bring the existing installation up to specification in order to leave the property in a safe electrical condition. Obviously, if the condition report highlights serious deviations to the installation, then a possible rewire should be considered. An approximate price for a condition report would be in the region of £160 - £200. An approximate price for a rewire would be somewhere in the region of between £1500 - £2000. These are broad values and a visit to the property would give better indication of cost.

I'm sorry to say I cannot answer this question. I am a portable appliance tester, not an electrician and as such do not deal with the wiring of a property.

I wish you good luck with your sale.
Regards
Gareth France

The most cost effective answer is to have the house Tested, its called a periodic inspection and should be carried out by a competent electrician, just because its old/older doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it,. Even an old rewireable consumer unit still meets regulations until you start adding to it,

I am in bournemouth, if you are local i am more than happy to visit to give some informed advice.

My mobile is 07841652471 and email is wadeandson@sky.com

Hi Richard.

Does your house even need rewiring, would be my first question. I would be interested to see the periodic report from your previous electrician to determine what remedial work is needed. With the question of added value to your house, that would be best answered by your estate agent.

If you need any further advice, feel free to contact me.

Cheers
Tim Duncan

Hello Richard, thanks for asking the question. I can think of many things to consider. Firstly if you want to add value to the house by rewiring it I think it may be a selling point but may not necessarily add value to the house. Being part of the fabric of the building and something that isn't an aesthetic for people to see, may not increase the "value" of the property. You may consider having a EICR (Electrical Instillation Condition Report) completed which will tell you the overall condition of the wiring and any remedial or crucial items that need urgent attention can be fixed at the time. This will show the buyer that the electrical wiring is current and unto date and conforms with current regulations. It is like an MOT if you like.
To answer the questions 1) If you tell buyers about your concerns will they want to take on such an undergoing? 2) I doubt it will add much value to the property, this is just my personal opinion.
My suggestion would be best to find out the problems and consider correcting them as it will be cheaper in the long run than a complete rewire, unless it is that bad and really needs doing. Rewiring completely with new consumer unit would have to be priced upon inspection as the amount of sockets, switches, light fittings etc has to be taken into account. As would ease of access for new cabling. A rough price is always hard to give as location also has to be considered.
I hope this helps you out a little.
Kind regards Simon

I would recommend having an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) do eon the property. It will give you a full test on all of the houses electrical circuits and systems. You will then be present vided with a certicate that outlines all of the tests that have done along with the results. There are then a oberservations listed on the propertys systems, these are given a catogorie of C1 - C3 dependent on the severity of the observation.

Your electrician should discuss the results with you and you can decide if you want to progress with any work or just provide the report to prospective buyers.

As for adding value, it is difficult to say, most people when they move into a house will undertake work so it is sometimes a false economy as new work may be removed or altererd.

Price range for the work is dependent on your location but I would expect to see quotes between £2000 - £3000 for a complete rewire dependent on finish and how much access there are to the areas to be worked in.

yes think it will add a little bit of value to your house although it wont be much, i believe that will help to sell the house quicker also the buyer will not ask for the price to go down to accommodate future rewiring of the house so your price will be stable. As for rewiring a 2 bed house you will be looking quotes from around £2500 to £3000 , best thing is to arrange for an electrician to come and give you quote. If you are from the south west around Somerset area i will be happy to come and give you a free quote.
cheers powernet-electricals

Thank you for your query. The normal procedure is that the building surveyor will advise the potential buyer to obtain an Electrical Condition Report if the surveyor finds that the electrical Installation needs attention. The potential buyer will then arrange to obtain the report from an approved inspector. If the property needs rewiring then the potential buyer might expect the seller to contribute toward the cost in the form of some discount on the sale price. You do not have to mention anything to the potential buyer about existing condition. In our experience, majority of the buyers update/refurbish the property once they have bought. It is purely between the buyer and the seller to negotiate. Of course, you will get better price if you put the property in the market with the up-to date electrics, plumbing, heating, double glazing and insulation. If you would like, we can provide you with the FREE and no-obligation survey and quote for re-wiring. Please get in touch with us on 0844 443 7824 or 07957 333 652 to discuss your requirements.