Electrician Quotes for Outlet Installation & Ceiling Fans? [VIC]

Lthisisangusyo on 23/12/2024 - 09:23
Last edited 24/12/2024 - 08:07 by 1 other user

Hi everyone, I'm looking to hire an electrician to install three power outlets and two ceiling fans in my apartment. I’d like to get a rough idea of what this might cost so I can plan accordingly.

Here are a few details:

The outlets will be installed in bedroom walls where outlets don't currently exist. Plaster walls
The ceiling fans will be installed in new locations. Provided by me around 2.3m high ceilings
The wiring in my apartment is new (2021 build)
If anyone could share their experiences, price ranges, or what to expect, I’d really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • solidussnake on 23/12/2024 - 10:01

    Who have you found so far ?

    • JimmyF on 23/12/2024 - 10:03
      +4

      Just asked ozelectrical for a quote, waiting for them to get back to them.

    • thisisangusyo on 23/12/2024 - 10:21

      I've received two quotes so far both around $1100. It seems high but I've never engaged an electrician before so that might just be what the going rate is.

      • Kirbieb on 23/12/2024 - 10:39
        +2

        honestly that's under what I would charge, but I'm not residential so I don't know how fast they could get it done.

      • JimmyF on 23/12/2024 - 15:06
        +2

        So you have never used an electrician before, got two quotes for $1100 each, and then think they are too costly.

        What did you think this job would cost? $50 bucks?

        • Nugs on 23/12/2024 - 20:30
          +2

          Tree fiddy
          .

    • thisisangusyo on 23/12/2024 - 10:20
      +13

      $2-$5k for an installation of 2x ceiling fans and 3x outlets are you mad?

      • ozbs25 on 23/12/2024 - 10:29

        Do you have the fans already or does the electrician need to provide them too?

      • Xistn on 23/12/2024 - 12:10

        Them jetskis are pricey..

      • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 13:26

        $2-$5k for an installation of 2x ceiling fans and 3x outlets are you mad?

        If you shop around long enough, you'll find at least a dozen sparkies who'll quote in this range for the job.

        If you're lucky, they'll point out a few things that they deem are "non-compliant" and must fix if they do any work at your house.

        I'll be you $2k that you're 2021 switch board needs an upgrade too.

      • JimmyF on 23/12/2024 - 15:04
        -3

        $2-$5k for an installation of 2x ceiling fans and 3x outlets are you mad?

        You asked for a price guide, I gave you one. You supplied zero details on the job. From who supplies the fans, to what the walls are.

        But I see you have 2 quotes for $1100 yet still complain they cost too much. LOL.

        So add fans on to that, and you're not getting much change out of $2k are you? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  • Stewardo on 23/12/2024 - 10:27
    +3

    What are your walls and ceiling made out of? How high are the ceilings? Who’s supplying the fans and switches, do you require a remote?
    It’s a bit hard for ozbargain to quote without knowing all the variables

    • cashless on 23/12/2024 - 11:57

      This is correct. If ceilings/walls are concrete, cost is like to be higher than other materials

    • thisisangusyo on 24/12/2024 - 08:08

      Plaster. Around 2.3m high. I'm supplying fans and yeah probably require a remote

      • Stewardo on 24/12/2024 - 08:49
        +1

        $150 per power point, $250 per fan is pretty common.

        • thisisangusyo on 24/12/2024 - 09:22

          Thanks, appreciate it. I'm seeing quotes for 120-180 outlet and 300-400 per fan install

    • Euphemistic on 27/12/2024 - 11:40

      Is there access to the ceiling or is there another apartment above?

  • CheapandUsed on 23/12/2024 - 11:24

    https://ceilingfanswarehouse.com.au/ceiling-fan-installation…

    $255 per ceiling fan (when doing 2) install + the ceiling fan looks to be the going rate.

    I had 2 ceiling fans installed replacing existing lights and the price the electrician charged was close to the above fixed price.

    Also had a couple of PowerPoints swapped out, you need to be specific about what ones you want otherwise you get whatever the electrician's wholesaler has on discount.

  • JIMB0 on 23/12/2024 - 11:45
    +2

    Depends if its a Sunday job.

  • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 11:48
    +3

    Most tradies don't want to get out of bed for under $500 these days. You're looking at 1k if the job actually involves some work and not just tightening a screw while on the phone.

    My gut feeling is the job should be around 4 hours at $100/hour, assuming you're supplying the fans, but your chance of finding some to work at these paltry rates is slim to none.

    /waiting for the tradie brigade to pile on and tell me how they're left with nothing after paying their taxes from $100/hour.

    • netjock on 23/12/2024 - 12:20
      +1

      /waiting for the tradie brigade to pile on and tell me how they're left with nothing after paying their taxes from $100/hour.

      That is $800 a day if working 8hr days.

      Assuming 230 working days a year $184k

      Most tradies have a cost problem (and it isn't work materials) not a revenue problem

      • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 13:20
        +1

        That is $800 a day if working 8hr days. … Assuming 230 working days a year $184k

        Indeed. Yet somehow they want a 30% profit margin on top of that. In fairness, they probably do have substantial overheads for admin and quoting (which is unpaid), but I can't imagine it's more than 25% of their workload.

        Most tradies have a cost problem (and it isn't work materials)

        Not sure what you're referring to here. I would call it an attitude problem. Starting with the overpriced raptor or gold plated wildtrak … finishing with expectations of making more money than a surgeon.

        • netjock on 23/12/2024 - 13:39
          +4

          🤣 30% profit margin on top when you are on $180k a year.

          Maybe if you hired someone at $120k and get 30% on top to take it to $180k for that employee.

          It was a polite way of saying their cost problem is lifestyle cost problem.

          Most of them pay a bit to their spouse and kids so they are not even at top tax rates.

          Some of them spend the money fast as it comes in so when tax bills come they have nothing.

          Real overheads are not that high once you take out the toys rather than real business expenses

          • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 14:16
            +1

            @netjock:

            It was a polite way of saying their cost problem is lifestyle cost problem.
            🤣

            Real overheads are not that high once you take out the toys rather than real business expenses

            This guy gets it.

            Every one thread on every other forum swiftly descends into a pissing contest about to can exaggerate their overheads more or downplay their margins.

            • netjock on 23/12/2024 - 14:27
              +1

              @salmon123:

              Every one thread on every other forum swiftly descends into a pissing contest about to can exaggerate their overheads more or downplay their margins.

              Problem is there is real cashflow implications. Not actually having retained profits to weather when times are bad. Given Australian construction haven't had a recession for like 30 years they could easily have a $100k - $200k rainy day fund unfortunately if things do go bad there will be a queue to sell boats / jetskis at knock down prices.

              The same problem is happening with builders right now. How could they not make money. They are just not supervising jobs properly and either going bankrupt by defect rectification costs or they are spend too much time spending money on themselves.

              Other trades aren't helping themselves, either doing bad jobs and sending builders bust then they try to load the cost onto other jobs / consumers. Already word of building slowing down.

              Had a talk with a builder who built 2 units, he does a lot of the work himself. Took him 2 years to build 2 single story units because the trades were rubbish at their job. He is a concreter by trade so he picks up a lot of the work himself on site.

              Imagine the level of self harm these people are doing to themselves it is hilarious this country still functions.

              • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 14:34

                @netjock:

                Already word of building slowing down.

                Not really seeing any evidence of that with threads like this.

                Imagine the level of self harm these people are doing to themselves

                Exactly - I see so many tradies turn up to quote on a job, decide they aren't interested so they quote a f*** y** price instead of saying a polite no thanks. If only they realised that they're hurting any prospect of future business with the same client with those sorts of quotes.

                • netjock on 23/12/2024 - 14:37
                  +2

                  @salmon123:

                  f*** y** price instead of saying a polite no thanks

                  Just say you are too busy on the phone. Remember home builder grant and all of the builders decided to build a 2 year pipeline then got into trouble with rising costs. Most of them don't know how to manage their pipeline of work.

                  Not really seeing any evidence of that with threads like this

                  Only new builds. Will spill over once new builds slow down. Small jobs are good money if you can get a good flow of them. I had an electrician quote me $500 to install an exhaust fan. $25 fan and $475 to do what would be a 1 hour job tops.

      • sprocketoctopus on 24/12/2024 - 11:55

        Sorry, but in my personal experience you cannot bill for 8 hours/day unless you are doing at least 11 -12 hours work per day; OR it's a worksite/building site where there is no travel, organising materials, not getting stuffed around by other tradespeople, etc

        • netjock on 24/12/2024 - 12:55

          Sorry, but in my personal experience you cannot bill for 8 hours/day unless you are doing at least 11 -12 hours work per day

          But you think they are quoting $800 per day? I think not. More like $200 per hour to cover all the time lost stuffing around.

          I've sat in Cert 4 building and construction tutorials where the discussion is how shifting cost to next customer because they screwed up a project. Building and construction have a big problem. If you are charging $200 per hour I'd suggest it should be made a university level course.

          Builders and tradies are not going bust due to the rates they are charging. Something else is seriously wrong with the way they work and nobody wants to talk about it.

  • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 11:50

    Seriously though, put it up on airtasker, you'll find someone (licensed electrician) that will do it for $400 or so in between other jobs or after hours.

    I would also say that putting in the new outlets is a waste of time if you have brick walls. The electrician will just piggy back off the nearest power point and use external cable + conduit. You might as well chase an extension code around the walls with some cable clips.

    • JimmyF on 23/12/2024 - 15:09
      +1

      Seriously though, put it up on airtasker, you'll find someone (licensed electrician)

      Sure 'licensed'…….

      • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 15:50
        +1

        Sure 'licensed'

        I don't know about VIC, but in NSW it literally takes 30 seconds to check a tradies' license.

        Yes - there's plenty of unlicensed people on airtasker, but there's plenty of licensed ones too. Do your homework and you'll be fine.

        • JimmyF on 23/12/2024 - 16:55

          Yes - there's plenty of unlicensed people on airtasker, but there's plenty of licensed ones too. Do your homework and you'll be fine.

          Do you think the OP will do their homework?

          They are complaining about the 2 quotes of $1100 each.

          • salmon123 on 23/12/2024 - 17:14

            @JimmyF:

            Do you think the OP will do their homework?

            Certainly will.

            He went to the effort of creating a forum post about it. I'm sure he did the same on reddit/whirlpool/facebook too.

            I'm sure he's carefully studied every comment posted on each of those forums and will pass them through chatGPT for a concise summary.

            Heck, he probably has chatGPT hooked up to his airtasker account to automate the license check!

            • JimmyF on 23/12/2024 - 19:10

              @salmon123:

              Certainly will.

              You have more faith than me.

              He went to the effort of creating a forum post about it.

              Mostly because they think $1100 is too much money, so trying to find a 'cheaper' price.

  • godofpizza on 23/12/2024 - 12:02
    +1

    if it a new build why contact the group that did you electrical work. They'll probably still have your plan and can advise you much better than anyone else.

  • elgrande on 23/12/2024 - 13:19
    +1

    What suburb are you in?

  • websterp on 23/12/2024 - 13:50

    I doubt you'd find anything cheaper as the quote you got seems quite reasonable (for licensed work). A new fan install would be around $250 (so 250 x 2 = $500). Fan and controller would be provided by you and this involves a bit of ceiling work as well which includes strengthening the frame so the fan could be hung safely. I'd say they have charged $200 for an outlet (200 x 3 =600). There could be some savings here provided there are existing sockets close by (i.e. directly on the other side of the wall) where they could use to extend the circuit without needing to go through walls and ceilings to reach the existing power circuit.

  • soan papdi on 23/12/2024 - 16:07
    +1

    Metro Melbourne, I had a double power point installed last week, cost me $200 all included. Had 4 ceiling fans installed 2 years back, were about $180 each. I provided the fans and he had to replace the wall switch (was for ceiling light) so that it had the fan control and light switch.

  • notfrodo on 23/12/2024 - 17:55
    +2

    Price is reasonable. Got some done recently.
    Ceiling fan - 285
    New power point - 220

  • WordsToSayIt on 23/12/2024 - 19:47

    I got quoted $550 for 1x new ceiling fan install recently in Melbourne and 1x wall switch in apartment. I didn't go ahead as realised my air filter on full blast does the job.

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 23/12/2024 - 22:18

    We purchased some Brilliant DC fans from Bunnings to replace existing fans. We engaged a friend of a friend to do a cashie.

    No receipt.

    Big mistake.

    One of the fans stopped responding to the remote in our bedroom. Remote was ok, so obviously the receiver.

    I contacted brilliant, who were happy to return/exchange it upon receiving an invoice from a licensed electrician. I could have replaced the part, and done a dodgy invoice, but didn't want to jeopardise things, so we just hired another eleco, who was rewiring an outlet for our NBN, who did changed the part over for @ $150-200, and we just used his invoice.
    As above, there maybe a few new wires that need running thru walls and the ceiling, if they are in new locations, so $1100 would be reasonable.

  • sprocketoctopus on 24/12/2024 - 12:01
    1. The outlets will be installed in bedroom walls where outlets don't currently exist. Plaster walls
    2. The ceiling fans will be installed in new locations. Provided by me around 2.3m high ceilings
    3. The wiring in my apartment is new (2021 build)

    Electrician here. If walls are internal, and no other outlets on that wall (or the one immediately behind it) it will mean extra time. Internal walls can be a bastard.
    Ceiling access for fans? Easy or hard access? They also take a bit of time if the fan need to assembled.
    ~2021 S/Board should be OK - You should have Residual Current Devices (ie Safety switches) and circuit breakers or combo units; RCBO's

    I'd say that's an OK price.($1100). Are they licensed AND insured?

    • thisisangusyo on 24/12/2024 - 12:49

      it's an apartment so no ceiling access so that'll likely be a pain in the ass. I think the fans are quick to assemble (from reviews, but you never know).

      They're licensed and not sure if insured but would confirm. Appreciate your reply

      • sprocketoctopus on 24/12/2024 - 15:10
        -1

        There will be some sort of ceiling crawl space.

        If it's in Victoria, to operate as an Electrical Contractor, you must have $5M public liability (minimum).

        You can search here to check Electrical Contractor's license status.

        https://portal-public.energysafe.vic.gov.au/prod/RECView.htm…

        Note, in Victoria, an Electrical Contractor's license does not automatically mean 'A' Class licence holder. But if the person on site does not have an 'A' class licence they must be adequately 'supervised'.

        Also in Victoria, you must be provided with a Certificate of Electrical Safety on completion of the Job.

  • hueylewis on 24/12/2024 - 12:55

    my guy (licensed) just charges me $120 cash per hour for stuff like power points and fans.

    • soan papdi on 24/12/2024 - 14:53

      Did you get an electrical certificate for the powerpoints?

  • 82norm on 25/12/2024 - 03:57

    If you go for a remote control ceiling fan, it may end up cheaper as they wont need to run cable back to the wall. Remote control fans aren’t a bad option, however, get one with a decent remote. As such, get the sparky to quote both options.

    • websterp on 27/12/2024 - 11:12

      Maybe a sparkie can comment but I don't think it is legal to have the fan permanently hardwired to AC and use only a remote to control it without a proper wall switch to isolate it.

      AS3000 says: 2.3.2.2.1 General Devices for isolation shall effectively isolate all active supply conductors from the circuit. A semiconductor (solid-state) device shall not be used for isolation purposes"

      Not an electrician so I'm not sure if you could consider the RCBO as the only isolation device in this case.

      • Euphemistic on 27/12/2024 - 11:47

        AFAIK Remote fans can be run on existing light wiring and use the light switch as the isolator. Electrician did that for us a while back.

        • websterp on 27/12/2024 - 11:58

          Yes that is the correct way but the OP above claims no wiring is required back to wall if a remote is used which is different (unless he meant no new cables are required)

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