Should we rewire?

[HettyMeg]

We bought our house 4 years ago thinking we might extend it one day but the costs of extension are so prohibitive it's now looking like it will be cheaper to move house so now strongly considering that instead. Our wiring is old and while not unsafe (been checked by electrician) we've been advised it wouldn't make sense to redecorate if not rewiring first. Problem is now we want to redecorate as we've been here 4 years, we did nothing in terms of painting when we moved in and the place is looking tired. Now I'm wondering if it's worth it if considering moving in 2.5/3 years time.

Should we:
A) redecorate but not do a rewire to save ourselves £5k+
B) potentially add more value to house by rewiring/ doing all the redecorating too

Thanks

Are you talking a complete, full, plaster-off-the-walls rewire? If so, I'd be getting a second opinion and then some quotes: other electricians might say differently.
But there's no point in doing loads to the house if it needs rewired. Anything more than fresh paint etc probably wouldn't do if it needs rewired.

Rewiring a house will cost a lot more than £5k if you're going all in with it.

When was the wiring done? If it was 1970s or later and it was done to a good standard you’ll probably only need new switch and socket fronts and a new consumer unit.

I mean I wouldn't decorate expensively a house to sell anyway.

People are pretty fickle and a lot want their own decoration style. So doing something like wallpapering to sell a house is a no no as 9/10 people will want to rip it off and put their own style on.

If I was thinking of selling I would probably just paint in neutral colours, which shouldn't cost that much to sort out.

Yes it's a full rewire, but even the electrician who gave me the quote was on the fence about whether we should do it. I suppose it's more the question of is this worth our while if thinking of selling in 2 years? Is it something that would put off a potential buyer if not done?
The consumer unit was all done a couple of years ago and kitchen had new wiring put in at some point

I wouldn't rewire for a house you're going to sell in 2-3 years. It's really not worth it unless dangerous. I'd honestly only do it for forever home...

We were quoted £5500 but that obviously doesn't include the plastering & redecorating aspect after the wiring

When I bought my house I was expecting a full rewire. However, when an electrician took a really good look at it, it became apparent that it only needed a partial rewire, moving of some sockets out of the skirting, and a new consumer unit. That was far cheaper than a complete rewire and patching up rather than replastering.

If your house has had any renovation work done to it, for example new kitchen, it is likely the electrics there were updated at that time to comply with modern regulations.

It might be worth getting a second and third opinion before you make a decision.

Depends on what you are expecting? All new sockets and light switche cover plates? , new positions or like for like, if the distribution board isn't that old I wouldn't bother