Electrical works look like a commodity on paper. They are not. The same line item — "replace DB" — covers everything from a 90-minute swap-out with no testing, to a half-day job that includes labelling, insulation-resistance readings and a circuit schedule. The price reflects the method, not just the parts.
Six questions worth asking before you sign
- Who is the Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) on the job, and what is the licence number?
- What is the written scope — points of work, accessory brand/grade, cable size, reinstatement?
- What testing is included at handover — insulation resistance, polarity, earth continuity?
- How are variations handled mid-job — verbal okay, or written change order?
- What is the warranty period on workmanship, and on supplied accessories?
- For HDB / condo / commercial, who liaises with HDB, the MCST or the landlord on access and timing?
Verify the LEW number on the EMA ELISE Licensed Electrical Worker directory. The directory is public and the licence type tells you whether the worker can supervise the scope you are buying — Electrician class is fine for an HDB DB swap; an industrial sub-DB on a commercial fit-out usually wants Electrical Technician or Engineer class.
Red flags
- Verbal-only quote, no scope on paper
- No mention of testing or test record at completion
- Quote dramatically below market for the same scope — usually a sign that something is being skipped
- "Cash discount" pricing on licensed work
- No site visit before quoting on anything beyond a like-for-like swap
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest invoice
A power point install that misses earth continuity will get re-done by the next contractor. A DB upgrade with no labelling will burn an hour every time a circuit needs to be isolated. The "saving" disappears at the first fault.
What a clean handover looks like
A clean handover is a one-page document: scope completed, accessories used (brand and rating), test readings per circuit, and a circuit schedule taped inside the DB door. That document is what the next contractor — or the resale inspector, or the insurance adjuster — will ask for years later.