Upgrading the electrical wiring system in older housing yields added value

       

Further reading

• Renovation case1 (1646)
• Renovation case2 (1402)

These 2 case studies demonstrate that high-quality rewiring of domestic electrical systems in older residential buildings can yield a significant increase in home comfort.

We describe some examples of electrical refurbishment work aimed at illustrating how electricians can tap into this market.

We begin in the city of Jena in Thuringia in the east of Germany. Many of the residential areas in Jena are situated on the slopes of the Saale valley. One such development comprises detached and semi-detached houses all built in the 1930s and 40s.

These solid, comfortable residences were built with typical German thoroughness, but with electrical systems that reflect the requirements of that time.

For its time, the electrical installation work was fairly modern using copper wires within a protective metal sheath. However, each house was fitted with only a few wiring circuits comprising two copper conductors with a 0.5 mm² cross-section and protected solely by a 6 A fuse.

One such semi-detached house is owned by the seventy-year-old pensioner Herta Engels - renovation Case 1 

The second case takes us to the Rapp family from Jena that owns a detached house built in the 1950s that is situated on the slopes of the Saale valley.

The original quote for the electrical installation work was for €3,500. The final bill, however, totalled €10,000 – not because the electrician failed to do the costing properly, but because he succeeded step by step in explaining to his customer the added value and long-term benefits of carrying out a comprehensive electrical modernization programme.

This article demonstrates that the big challenge facing electricians today is convincing their customers that, when comparing quotes, the bottom line is not enough – they have to ensure they are comparing like with like - renovation Case 2