Can you draw up your own plans for electricians?

[linspins]

We are buying a house that needs a complete re wire, and will be getting this done first before we live in it. The builder who is over seeing all the works has given me a rough estimate from his electrician, but to get a proper quote, he needs plans detailing where each socket and switch etc will be, plus any tv points, smoke detectors etc.
Can we draw them up ourselves, on the computer, making a scale drawing? Or does it need to be done by a professional?
I will be asking a million questions on this board I think, with this project ahead of us!

[kayessbee]

Hi. It'll just be so the electrician gets a better fix on the scale of the work, how much product he'll be supplying and, most importantly, that everything he puts in it will be where you want/need it. The best thing to do would be draw up yourself what you want (or think you want) then ask for advice from the electrician to make sure you've covered everything. Am sure he'll come up with ideas that you hadn't thought of, and perhaps direct you away from things that aren't quite right....

[linspins]

Good idea, kayessbee. I wasn't sure how precise or professional it needed to be, but hopefully we can produce something on our computer that does the job.
This house needs absolutely everything doing to it, and I'm getting a bit daunted! Certain things depend on others, e.g. We can't decide for definite whether we can afford underfloor heating until we have proper quotes back from kitchen fitters, and we can't get this planned until we know if there will be radiators in the way of kitchen layout! Catch 22.

[kayessbee]

Ooh, sounds like you're project managing a big job! That takes a lot of time & confidence - am sure you'll do fine, and good luck!!

[SliceOfLime]

Sounds like you have a lot to do! Exciting. Do you have an architect involved? It can make a big difference in terms of planning layout, knowing about structural walls, best ways to use the space, etc. I'm lucky that my stepdad is one and he's advised us and done some drawings, we've ended up with stuff I wouldn't have thought of myself eg splitting a bedroom into a good size bathroom, boiler cupboard, separate laundry room and storage. If you look on the RIBA website I think it has a 'find an architect ' bit. I know this isn't really helpful to your question but might be helpful overall.