The first week in a new home tells you a lot. You find the bedside table has no power point near it. The kettle and the air fryer fight over one double outlet. And the alfresco, built for summer barbecues, has nowhere to plug in a fan.
Almost every new homeowner in Alkimos hits this moment. Builders deliver a compliant home, but the base contract rarely matches how a real family lives. That is why new build electrical upgrades after handover are now one of the most common jobs in Perth’s northern suburbs.
This guide explains what owners in Shorehaven, Alkimos Beach and nearby estates usually add first, and why. It is based on the jobs an experienced electrician alkimos families call out sees week after week, from simple extra outlets to EV ready circuits.
A builder base package is designed to pass inspection and keep the contract price sharp. It gives you enough power points to meet the rules, a TV point in the living room, and usually one or two data points. It is not designed around your furniture, your gadgets or your car.
Most buyers sign off the electrical plan at prestart, months before they move in. At that stage, it is hard to picture where the desk, the fridge or the gym bike will go. Once you live in the home, the gaps become obvious.
There is also a WA-specific factor. Most new homes in Alkimos use double brick construction. Adding cables to brick walls after handover means chasing a channel into the brick and patching the render. It is very doable, but it takes skill and planning to keep it neat.
After hundreds of post-handover visits, a clear pattern shows up in the electrical services alkimos owners request. Here are the upgrades owners ask for most, roughly in the order they ask for them.
Extra power points solve daily frustration fast. The most common spots are both sides of the bed, the kitchen bench near the coffee machine, the home office desk and the garage workbench.
Many owners now choose outlets with built-in USB-C ports for bedsides and benches. They cut down on chargers and power boards. If you plan to add four or more points, do them in one visit. One visit means one round of chasing, one round of patching and less dust through the house.
Outdoor power is the second big request. Alkimos homes are built for outdoor living, but many come with just one outdoor outlet, or none at all.
Owners add outdoor power for the alfresco fan, the barbecue, a pond pump, festive lights and pressure washers. Every outdoor outlet should be weatherproof, with a rating of at least IP56, and protected by a safety switch. Keep outlets clear of reticulation spray. Salt air near the coast also shortens the life of cheap fittings, so quality matters here more than inside.
An EV ready circuit is the fastest-growing upgrade we install. Even if you do not own an electric car yet, many owners want the wiring in place before they buy.
A typical home charger needs its own dedicated circuit from the switchboard to the garage. Before anything is installed, a licensed electrician must check your switchboard capacity and your total household load. Homes with solar can often set the charger to use daytime solar first, which lowers running costs.
Data points are easy to overlook until your Wi-Fi drops during a video call. A wired Cat6 point gives fast, stable internet to the places that need it most.
We suggest data points at the main TV, the home office, the gaming area and a central spot for a Wi-Fi mesh node. Running all cables back to one tidy data cabinet makes future changes simple.
Good planning saves more money than any discount. Before you book work, run through this checklist with your electrician:
Here is a real example. A family in Shorehaven called us three months after moving in. They wanted bedside USB outlets, two alfresco power points, a garage EV ready circuit and Cat6 to the office. The team at Universal Connect checked the switchboard first and found only one spare position. We fitted a small board extension, then did all the work in one day, with clean chases and patched render. This is the kind of planning that experienced electrical contractors alkimos homeowners trust should bring to every job.
New does not mean fault-free. Experienced electrical contractors alkimos homeowners call see the same electrical repairs in homes under two years old:
If your home is still within its warranty period, report faults to your builder in writing first. For anything urgent or outside warranty, book a licensed electrician alkimos residents rely on.
These are the mistakes that cost the most time and money:
These small choices make a big difference:
Reliable electrical services alkimos homeowners use will explain these choices clearly, without pushing extras you do not need.
Start with what frustrates you every day. For most families, that means extra power points, then outdoor power, then data points and an EV ready circuit. Plan them together, check your switchboard first, and keep your warranty in mind.
The smartest new build electrical upgrades after handover are planned once and done once. A clear plan turns a long wish list into one clean, efficient visit.
Licensed electrical contractors alkimos families recommend will check your switchboard before quoting, so there are no surprises on the day.
If you have just moved in and your list keeps growing, talk to a local electrician alkimos owners trust. The team at Universal Connect is happy to walk through your home, check your switchboard and help you decide what to add first.
You can add upgrades any time after handover, but timing still matters. Many owners wait until they have lived in the home for a few weeks, so they know exactly where they need extra power points and data points. Before any work starts, check your builder warranty and report any existing defects to your builder. This keeps the warranty clear and makes sure you only pay for genuine upgrades, not builder faults.
Your electrician will chase a narrow channel into the brick, run the cable and patch the render. When done well, the patch is hard to see once painted. Most owners touch up the paint themselves or use leftover paint from the builder. Doing several points in one visit keeps dust and patching to one round. Always ask your electrician how they protect floors and furniture during chasing work.
You do not need one today, but many Alkimos owners add it now to save hassle later. An EV ready circuit runs a dedicated cable from the switchboard to the garage, ready for a charger. Doing it while your garage is empty is quicker and cleaner. It also adds appeal when you sell. Ask your electrician to check your switchboard and total household load before you decide.
First, ask for the contractor’s WA electrical licence number and check it on the Building and Energy website. Next, ask whether they have worked in local estates and with double brick homes. Make sure they will provide an Electrical Safety Certificate after the job. Finally, choose electrical services alkimos providers who give written quotes, explain each option clearly and check your switchboard before recommending extra work.
Most Alkimos families find two to four outdoor points work well. A common setup is one in the alfresco for fans and the barbecue, one near the garden for tools and lights, and one at the front for festive lighting or a pressure washer. Every outdoor outlet should be weatherproof and protected by a safety switch. Position each one away from reticulation spray and direct coastal wind where you can.
