How Much Does It Cost to Rewire a Property? (2024)
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Rewiring a property is not a task that many homeowners relish, but it’s one that needs to be done every 30 years or so. And while it can be costly, you’ll spend much more down the line on faulty electronics if you don’t complete it in the recommended time frame. Plus, once it’s done, you won’t have to worry about it for another few decades.
Luckily, if you know how much you can expect to pay in advance, it’s much easier to prepare financially for this hefty job. Let’s get into the costs of property rewiring and how to find the right professional for the job.
What is rewiring?
Image credit Melville Electrical
Rewiring a property involves completely overhauling your home’s electrical system. This typically involves removing old wires and installing new ones but can include other upgrades such as new or improved power sockets.
While all homes should go through this process at some point, it’s especially important if you have an older property with electrics that haven’t been updated.
How much does it cost to rewire a home?
The cost of a property rewire varies depending on various factors, but you can expect to pay between $3800 and $7200 on average. The price depends on the size of your house - the bigger your property, the more you can expect to pay. Some properties will cost $12,000+, but rewiring rarely has such a high price tag.
Some regions and cities cost more too - Sydney and Melbourne charge more for electrical work.
The wiring itself costs $500 to $700, then you’ll need to pay the hourly rate of the electrician, which ranges from $80 to $130. A new switchboard will cost upwards of $600 and the cabling for the switchboard alone can cost a couple of thousand bucks.
The table below shows how much you can expect to pay for different apartment/unit sizes.
| Size of apartment/unit | Cost of rewiring |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment | $1000-$3000 |
| 2-bedroom apartment | $1500-$3500 |
| 3-bedroom apartment | $2500-$7000 |
| 4-bedroom apartment | $5000-$10,000 |
| Average cost | $2500-$5875 |
And the table below shows the average costs for houses.
| Size of house | Cost of rewiring |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom house | $1500-$4000 |
| 2-bedroom house | $2000-$5000 |
| 3-bedroom house | $3500-$9000 |
| 4-bedroom house | $8000-$12,000 |
| 5-bedroom house | $10,000-$12,000+ |
| Average cost | $5000-$8650 |
How often should I rewire a property?
The general advice is to rewire your property every 25-30 years. While a year here or there doesn’t hurt, waiting decades longer than you should can put your home at risk.
The timings depend on the state of your property, too. If you’re buying an old property in which the rewiring hasn’t been done for decades, this should be a priority.
How long does it take to rewire a property?
While this depends on the size of the home and the scale of the job, it typically takes between a few days and a few weeks. If you want new power points, a ceiling fan, or other electrical items installed during the rewiring, this will add extra time.
To make sure the job happens as efficiently as possible, clear space in your home before your electrician arrives to save them time and avoid extra costs.
Find the best professional to rewire your property
The first (and most important) step to a successful rewiring is finding the right professional. Using our free quote comparison tool at Word of Mouth, you can source three up-to-date quotes from experienced local professionals, helping you to budget successfully for your upcoming rewiring project.
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