Choosing The Electrician

Our ID didn't include quotation for electrical and plumbing works as he told us that he could recommend his electrician and plumber to us but we pay them directly should we decide to engage their service. We thought no harm getting a quotation from them first, so the ID brought his electrician for a site survey because we have a false ceiling, which may pose a problem when doing electrical rewiring. At first, he said it could not be done but after my ID prompted him, he replied okay. 

The quote came back with a total price of $4,662, and this price does not include any PUB testing. A 13A single and double socket outlets cost $70 and $80 respectively, installation of a lighting point is $45 and a cooker hood point costs $120. The most ridiculous price was for the cooker hood point as the market rate is about $60!!! Seriously, double the market rate? I didn't bother to think twice and drop this electrician/company immediately as I find myself being chopped like a carrot. 

Next, we got a quotation from KS Electrical at $3,163. The staff who quoted us, not the electrician, told us that we have to remove the false ceiling in order to do rewiring. A 13A single and double socket outlets cost $45 and $60 respectively, installation of a lighting point is $35 and a cooker hood point costs $60. When I asked if can do a site survey, she replied that there would be a $40 charge, if I were to sign up with them after the site survey, the $40 will be taken as deposits. Also, the quote comes with standard package with 15A socket for air-con & never quote upgrade to 20A isolator despite us telling the staff. We were also told that we have to shift our DB box down as that's new HDB regulation but it's not true, only so if you need to get PUB testing. We were also told that we need to change the wiring from our DB to the main outside but other electricians said no need. After hearing from other electricians, we decided to drop KS Electrical as we were quite skeptical about what we were being told.

My hubby got his cousin to recommend an electrician who does electrical works for HDB residential flat. At first, he said site survey was not necessary, asked my hubby to take photos of the false ceiling and whatapps the photos to him. After seeing the photos, he arranged with my hubby for a site survey. He told us that it's possible if we really want to do electrical rewiring with the false ceiling intact it but he needs to open 3-4 ~450mm by 450mm holes to access to the top of the false ceiling, which our ID would have to patch them back. He may not be able to remove old wirings/pvc casings in the false ceiling & not possible to fix new pvc casings, so he would have to use conduits instead to run through the false ceiling.

After weighing the pros and cons of keeping the false ceiling, we decided that it's time to have a change! We'll remove the false ceiling. Overall, we would spend lesser as compared to keeping it. We also decided to get the electrician recommended by hubby's cousin. His quote for a 13A double socket outlets cost $60, we didn't ask for single socket outlet as the price difference between a single and a double is about $10-$15. Installation of a lighting point is $35 and a cooker hood point costs $60. For these few items, they cost the same as KS Electrical but I guessed speaking to the electrician and a sales staff make a difference when you were clarifying your doubts with them. After making some adjustments, the cost of rewiring our 5 room flats is close to 3.2k.