Got quoted $18k for a rewire and almost had a heart attack

Honestly, I was just getting some old knob and tube replaced in my 1950s bungalow near Whyte Ave, and the first electrician hit me with $18k. Got two more quotes and landed at $11k with a smaller outfit. Has anyone else seen insane price swings like that for a basic panel swap?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ray16d ago

Did you check if that first quote included a full service upgrade or just the panel swap? I read something recently about electrical prices being way higher if they have to bring everything up to current code, not just swap the box. Ngl, $11k still sounds steep but at least that second guy was realistic.

blair_dixon16d ago

@the_ray that's a good call, I had the same thing happen with my last panel swap. The first guy quoted me $9k and then added another $4k when he realized the grounding was outdated and needed a full rework. Ended up going with a smaller outfit that did it all for $8.5k after they walked through the code stuff upfront. Still not cheap, but at least I knew what I was paying for before they started.

the_james16d ago

Oh man, that's basically the same trap I fell into a few years back. Big company gives you a number, then halfway through they hit you with "oh by the way, your panel needs a whole new ground rod setup because the old one is basically a paperclip in the dirt." The smaller outfits usually have one guy who actually walks around with you and points at stuff before they start digging. Smart move going with the folks who showed you the full picture upfront. Saves you the headache of watching your bank account cry after they already got your signature.