The cost of rewiring is not determined by apartment size or socket count alone. Existing wiring, access to cable routes, wall work and any changes to the electrical panel all affect the job. The most useful way to compare quotes is to define the same scope first, then check what each electrician includes and what is left out.
Related read: how to choose an electrician in Israel.
What does rewiring actually mean?
The phrase “rewiring” can describe very different jobs. One proposal may cover a new circuit or a few replacement cables, while another may involve replacing much of the apartment’s concealed wiring and changing how circuits are arranged. Ask which rooms and circuits are included, what will remain untouched, and whether the electrician will also inspect connection points and the panel.
An electrician needs to understand the existing installation and the routes cables take before giving a firm scope. In older homes, or apartments that have already been renovated, the actual routes may be hidden or different from what the owner expects. Access can require opening finished walls or ceilings, so the work may become clearer only after an on-site inspection or once a section has been opened.
What can change the quote
The layout and size of the apartment, the number of outlets and dedicated circuits, the condition of existing wiring and access to cable routes can all affect the proposal. There is a practical difference between replacing accessible wiring and work that involves chasing walls, passing through concrete or protecting finished surfaces. The quote should identify the materials included rather than leaving them under a vague general description.
Check whether the proposal includes work on the electrical panel, connecting new circuits, fitting socket and switch mechanisms, identifying circuits and testing the installation. Removing rubble, filling chases, plastering and painting may be handled by other trades and are not necessarily part of the electrical work. An occupied home, coordinating a power shutdown or arranging additional visits may also affect how the job is planned.
How to request comparable proposals
Before arranging a visit, gather an apartment plan if you have one and list what the household needs to support: appliances, air conditioners, lighting, work areas and other equipment. Photos of the panel and a description of known problems can help with an initial discussion, but they do not replace an inspection. Ask for the proposed work to be described by room or work area, including anything excluded.
Compare proposals against the same items: treatment of old wiring, new cables and routes, connection points, panel work, circuit testing and making good. Ask who supplies materials and how extra work will be approved if a concealed fault is found after opening a wall. A brief quote showing only a total does not tell you what will actually be done, so get important clarifications in writing before work starts.
Safety, licensing and handover
Electrical work should be carried out by an electrician whose licence is appropriate for the proposed scope. Ask to see a current licence and, if unsure, check the licence category through an official source. Do not choose on the strength of a verbal assurance or photos alone: a site inspection and a clear explanation of the work matter too.
Before the job begins, agree how the new circuits will be checked and what information you will receive at handover. Ask the electrician to explain the panel and identify the circuits, and confirm which parts of the apartment were rewired. If wall repairs, rubble removal or restoring access to concealed routes are not in the quote, agree who will handle them. For practical checks before booking, see how to choose an electrician in Israel and this guide to electrician work in an Israeli apartment.
