Electrical problems are the jobs you should never hand to a general handyman. In Istria many houses have wiring from several decades, added to piece by piece: a stone house extended in the 1980s, an apartment converted for guests, an air-conditioning unit connected wherever it fitted. We organise the work for you and bring in a qualified electrician from our network for every electrical task, so you deal with one English-speaking contact and the right person does the work.
What we can arrange
- Small jobs. Replacing or adding sockets and switches, fixing a socket that has stopped working, swapping old fittings for new ones.
- Lighting. Ceiling lights, wall lights, outdoor and terrace lighting, lights in a new drywall ceiling.
- Kitchens and bathrooms. Connections for new appliances, a cooker or oven, an extractor fan, mirror lights, a water heater.
- Upgrades during a renovation. New circuits, more sockets where you actually need them, cables laid before plaster, tiles or drywall close the walls.
- Checks in older houses. An electrician looks at the existing installation and tells you what can stay and what should be replaced.
If you are not sure whether your house needs a full rewire, read our guide to electrical upgrades in old Istrian houses. Houses from the 1970s to 1990s often need it during a wider refresh too: see modernising a 1970s–1990s house.
How it works when you live abroad
- Send us photos or a short video on WhatsApp: the fuse box, the socket or light that is the problem, the room you want to change.
- We give you a rough idea of the work and, where possible, a price range before anyone visits.
- An electrician from our network inspects on site. If you are away, we can collect the keys and send you photos.
- The work is done, and you get photos of the finished result and a written invoice.
Electrical work is often one part of a bigger job. When cables need to go into walls, it makes sense to plan them before drywall and ceilings, tiling or painting, so nothing is opened twice. We coordinate that order for you as part of a renovation.
What affects the price
A single socket or light is a small job; most of the cost is the visit. Larger work depends on the size of the house, the state of the existing installation, whether cables run in stone walls or in drywall, and how much plaster and tiling has to be repaired afterwards. Material choices, such as fittings and outdoor lights, matter too. For a first feel of the total cost of a renovation, try the free renovation cost calculator; for electrical work itself we give a range only after seeing photos.
Where we work
We work across Istria: Pula/Pola and Medulin, Rovinj/Rovigno, Poreč/Parenzo, Novigrad, Umag, Labin and the inland villages around Motovun/Montona, Višnjan and Buzet. Holiday homes are a big part of our work, so pre-season electrical checks often go together with holiday home maintenance.
Send us a photo of the problem or the room on WhatsApp, and we will tell you what the job involves and who will do it.
Frequently asked questions
Who actually does the electrical work?
A qualified electrician from our network. We organise the job, keep you informed and coordinate the timing with other trades, but electrical work is always done by an electrician.
Can you change sockets and lights while I am not in Istria?
Yes. Many owners send photos, leave keys with us or a neighbour, and receive photos of the finished work. We agree the details on WhatsApp first.
Does an old house need complete rewiring?
Not always. It depends on the age and condition of the installation and on what you plan to use. An electrician can inspect it and tell you what can stay and what should be replaced.
Can you add more circuits for air-conditioning?
Often yes, but it depends on the existing installation and the power supply of the house. The electrician checks this on site before anything is promised.
Guides on this topic
Electrical Upgrades in Old Istrian Houses: What to Know
Old wiring, too little power for air-con, no safety switches: how to tell if your Istrian house needs an electrical upgrade and how the work is done.
Modernising a 1970s–1990s House in Istria: What to Upgrade
Insulation, windows, wiring, plumbing and layout: a practical guide to bringing a 1970s–1990s Istrian family house up to modern standards.
Renovating Your Istrian Home from Abroad: How It Works
How remote renovation in Istria works in practice: photo estimates on WhatsApp, keys and access, progress updates, payments and avoiding surprises.