Home Project Summary

Electrical Service

Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Electrical Maintenance project

February 2011

Homeowners have many important questions about their Electrical Maintenance Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Electrical Maintenance investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?

Costs, materials and best practices for the example Electrical Maintenance project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.

Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.

Electrical Maintenance - Project Overview

The approximate costs and value of a typical Electrical Maintenance project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).

Project description	Common home electrical maintenance and service projects. Projects include modernization, restoration, addition and repair.
Project size	Average electrical service call
Material and labor cost	$563 - $656
Do-it-yourself assessment	This is not a project recommended for the do it yourselfer. A successful Electrical Maintenance requires the work of skilled trade contractors as well as special materials, tools, fabrication and installation techniques. Do it yourself mistakes may be expensive to remedy and will likely reduce the marketability and value of your home.
First year Return on Investment - ROI	Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Electrical Maintenance project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost.
Long term Return on Investment - ROI	Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Electrical Maintenance project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost.
Green rating	Electrical Maintenance projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials.

Electrical Maintenance - Proven Ideas and Project Tips

Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Electrical Maintenance project plan.

To keep Electrical Maintenance costs low and quality high, specify simple wall and ceiling transitions and use common surface finishes
For best home resale value, follow a consistent design and decorating theme throughout the home
Perform major Electrical Maintenance work with permits to help protect value at resale time
Understand how your project will change property taxes (assessed value) and home insurance - before the project begins
Identify and consider construction materials and components that will qualify for tax credits or utility company rebates
Consider eco friendly appliances with the Energy Star certification
Match appliances and fixtures to electrical circuit, hot water and gas capacities

Electrical Maintenance - Project Plan and Details

The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Electrical Maintenance. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Electrical Maintenance project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Electrical Maintenance project cost and quality.

Task

Service Provider

Duration

Do-it-yourself difficulty

Target cost