ᐅ Electrical Billing – What Is the Standard Approach?

Especially if you take the initiative. Ask around in the neighboring district. Who knows someone? Then call and say: You were recommended to me by xy.
If you’re also flexible with timing, it will work out. The apprentice runs the cables, installs the outlets, and the journeyman connects and checks everything.
Always have coffee and cake ready and give a tip. Then everything goes smoothly.

If the electrician thinks as entrepreneurially as the original poster sometimes demanded here, then he will be available and everyone will be happy. Until the original poster finds a replacement, there will be two losers.

Milo3 schrieb:

Dunning-Kruger effect, nothing more comes to mind. As far as I’ve noticed here, you recently bragged about a refinancing deal... where do you get the expertise to make such claims? In fact, there are some craftsmen who are not fully booked.

So what? One doesn’t exclude the other.

I occasionally need a professional. I had 5 sockets to install because I don’t handle electrical work myself. Nobody shows up. No one yells, "Here, come on, I’ll install your sockets for free."

They charge travel fees, small parts, tools, and an apprentice comes along.

If I remember correctly, the original poster wanted 4 sockets. Just 4! For that, the electrician has to block half a day for around 100€ (about $110) or something?

He’d rather take a large order during that time. That also requires setup time.

Since I still have to deal with this topic myself, it seems there are different approaches.

If the general contractor’s (GC) electrician charges prices that are unreasonable, it might make sense to have the sockets included in the package installed optimally, so that later on your own electrician can multiply the number of sockets. From what I have gathered here and based on my research, multiplying the sockets is fairly simple: in addition to the original socket box, further holes are made for the plastic inserts, which are then connected to the first box with a bridge, right?

How does the circuit protection work in that case? The initial electrician will probably only set the protection for their own work, or does it not really matter how the individual sockets are expanded, since the circuit protection is generally designed to prevent any issues and is sufficient?

If sockets are needed in addition to the GC package and placed in locations where none from the package are used, it surely makes sense to have the GC electrician handle that, including pulling cables, chasing walls, and all related work, rather than having your own electrician perform these probably more complex tasks?

Any other thoughts on this?

What would be a reasonable price for expanding a socket from the package to add additional outlets? For example, converting a single to a double or triple socket. Is this kind of “expansion work” something out of the ordinary or common practice? How have others handled this here?

Thanks!

Andre77 schrieb:

Since this topic is still ahead of me as well, it seems there are different approaches.

If the general contractor’s (GC) electrician charges prices that are outrageously high, it could be a good idea to have the sockets included in the package installed in the optimal locations, and later have your own electrician multiply the number of sockets. From what I’ve understood here and from my research, multiplying sockets is pretty straightforward? Besides the original socket, additional holes are made for the plastic inserts and connected to the first socket using a bridge?

Correct. With outlets, it usually doesn’t really matter exactly where they are located in the room if you have underfloor heating. You can simply run the new cable along the edge between the screed and the wall.

Andre77 schrieb:

How does the circuit protection work in that case? The first electrician will surely only install the protection for their own work, right? Or is it more or less irrelevant how the individual sockets are expanded because the protection is already designed to ensure nothing happens and is sufficient?

In 99% of cases, the protection is sufficient. If you want a specifically protected outlet, I would have that done by the GC’s electrician. Paying 80-110€ is reasonable for that. For example, in a kitchen—which nowadays often has an island—the stove and oven used to be combined as one unit, which is usually still in contracts. If you plan a kitchen island, you can safely budget for that extra 100€.
If you are planning an electric fireplace in the living room, I would also have that outlet protected separately.

Andre77 schrieb:

If additional sockets are needed beyond what’s included in the GC package and are to be placed where no sockets from the package are used, does it make sense to have the GC electrician handle this—regarding wiring, chasing walls, and related work—to save your own electrician from probably more complex tasks?

That depends on the price your electrician charges. As mentioned above, it’s not particularly difficult to install new sockets as long as the painting and flooring work are still pending.

Andre77 schrieb:

What is a reasonable price for expanding one socket from the package to add multiple outlets? For example, from a single socket to a double or triple. Is this kind of “expansion” a special case or quite common? How have others handled this?

Personally, I’ve never heard of this until now.
I know two approaches:
a) Increasing the number of sockets in a room. Up to 30€ I find reasonable, though up to 40€ is quite common. You just tell them where you want the sockets, and each outlet costs the same.
b) As described above with examples like the fireplace or stove/oven: a cable is run from the socket to the distribution board where it is separately protected.

An extension with a few additional sockets is completely normal and is usually still inexpensive or included at no extra cost when finalizing the purchase. Later on, it becomes more expensive.