If you are in need of some form of electrical work for your property, one of your first considerations before you book an electrician is going to be the price.
The overall cost of electrical work is one of the most important aspects when choosing an electrician – you don’t want to get overcharged but you also don’t want sloppy, unprofessional work.
So how much do electricians charge in Port Macquarie on average? Read on to find out more.
The Average Cost of a Port Macquarie Electrician
Licensed electricians provide a wide range of services at varying costs, so how much they charge will depend on the specific job as well as other factors. With that said, most electricians will start off by charging a flat service fee alongside an hourly rate.
Service fees range anywhere from $50 to $150 depending on the electrician, so there is a fair amount of difference between individuals. The hourly rate is normally broken down into 15-minute increments to accommodate pricing for smaller jobs and to give accurate pricing at the end of work.
There are a few things that determine the overall cost of an electrician, such as the complexity of the work or ease of access on-site.
Location can also affect pricing – so if you live in a rural area, you may have to pay more for the services of an electrician.
How Much Does An Electrician in Port Macquarie Charge For Different Jobs?
As mentioned, there are a lot of services that an electrician can offer and the costs of these services will vary depending on the complexity of the job.
To give you a good idea of what you might expect to pay, we have broken down common electrician jobs and given rough estimates of pricing:
Installing powerpoints: You should expect to pay anywhere from $140 to $200 for the installation of a new powerpoint, including labour and materials.
Installing hard-wired smoke alarms: Installing a smoke alarm is a similar job to installing powerpoints, so again you shouldn’t expect to pay over $200 for this service.
Installing LED lighting: This type of job is normally charged per installation point. Expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $80 per installation point for LED lighting.
Installing wiring and connections: Pricing this work will vary depending on the complexity of the work, but generally speaking, anywhere from $400 to $900 for installing 5 power points would be reasonable.
Installing ducted heating: This is a big job that requires a lot of work and specialised equipment. Installing a three-star ducted heated system in a small property could cost anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000.
Installing a home automation system: This is also an expensive job to consider for your property. Full home automation systems for a small property could cost anywhere from $18,000 to $22,000.
Below are some important questions to ask an electrician when discussing pricing. You can ask these to help get the best price and service possible for your electrical work.
Do you subcontract?
This question is worth asking because it lets you know who will be conducting the electrical work. This person will be in your home, so ideally they won’t be subcontracting the work to someone else who you have not met before.
Most professional electricians, like us at O'Brien Electrical Port Macquarie, don’t use subcontractors so you can rest assured the work is performed by the company that you hired to do the job.
What is the cost of labour and parts?
It is always a good idea to find out exactly what you are paying for when it comes to electrical services. Ideally, you want to obtain an itemised breakdown of charges, but asking about the costs of labour and parts should help you understand the price better.
How soon are you available?
Knowing when the work is going to be performed is an essential question to ask your electrician, especially if it’s an electrical emergency. Most reputable electricians can perform same or next-day appointments, so always query their availability.
Will there be any additional or unexpected costs?
This question protects you from any unexpected charges stemming from the electrical work. Electrical services can be expensive, so knowing exactly what you will pay is a good way to keep costs down.
Is the work covered by a warranty?
A warranty ensures that the work is safe and if anything does go wrong it can be remedied by the electrician. It offers peace of mind to you and protects you from having to pay to have issues such as faulty wires repaired again.
Are you insured?
Enquiring about the insurance coverage of your electrician is a smart move because much like a warranty, it protects you and your property in the event of an accident. If something goes wrong during the electrical work, then the insurance ensures you are fairly compensated.