Help my electrics are dodgy and I am clueless!

[lyndsey66]

This is going to sound really ignorant of me - but here goes!
I have moved into a house that needs a lot of work and am feeling swamped. One of the jobs is that there are wires coming out of the wall and some plug socket are hanging off - all sorts. (one plug socket is actually not attched to the wall - just dangling by the wire!).

So now you get the picture I am in a pickle. So I think I need an electrician. Does any-body know:

1. How much they charge (rough guesses??)
2. Where do I get them to start??
3. How do I find a decent one from any cowboys?

Thanks for any tips/advice anybody can give me.

Hi Lyndsey66, not ignorant at all, why should you know about electrics!
First thing, don't try and fix anything yourself okay!?

prices vary enormously but you can get free quotes from reputable ones, who should charge you per job, not necessarily by the hour. You don't get them to start anywhere though, they will sort out the order of the jobs - it will probably make more sense for them to do it by fault, rather than by room IYSWIM

Try the yellow pages for reputable ones, you will probably pay a bit more but I think they have to be registered to advertise. Or if you know anyone who works for the council, police, hospital etc, ask them who they use, they are usually pretty well vetted. Or just word of mouth

You might be able to get a bit of a grant towards it too from the council, but don't know much about that

Good luck!

Lyndsey - got mine from Netmums highly recommended and cheap (for London) - £40 for 4 sockets. Does sound dangerous though so get it fixed PDQ.

hi lindsey
i agree with lisa
you could also try asking your neighbours if they know of a someone,it'll be a good way of introducing yourself as well,dh is an electrician so if you lived near he could help,mind you i've been asking him to put a light in the garden for the last 3 years
good luck

message withdrawn

lyndsey, if you don't find a good recommendation look in the ads for NICEIC (I think those are the right letters in the right order). It's the electricians' equivalent of CORGI for gas.

What area are you in. In London they run around £150 to £200 a day. I can recommend one in West or South london. As was suggested by others, make a written list and come up with a day's worth of work because you'll be charged for a day even if it only takes half a day. If you want him to put up lights make sure you have them there for him to put up.