Unit Pricing

[frank_n]

Tomorrow morning, I am going to start my first proposal on a new home. I was wondering what unit pricing people were using. Celtic helped me a lot last year at this time win a proposal for an addition.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Frank

[Romex Racer]

I don't understand the question. What type of unit pricing? Can you rephrase?

[celtic]

Frank, I don't understand what you mean either...do you mean like assemblies for devices?
x' wire
box
x# staples
etc
?

[RUWIREDRITE]

I think what he's referring to is unit pricing for an outlet, recessed fixture, surface light, etc.....
There is no set price to go by usually, it really comes from your overhead, current material values, and the amount of outlets for that project.
Residential has a different unit installation cost than commercial.My personnal unit cost lately runs about 75 dollars and outlet. recess fixtures with lamps and trims about $125. It all depends on your labor rate, at the moment mine is about 75 dollars an hour per man. With the cost of copper lately your unit pricing changes with almost every project you bid.
Hope that helped.

[IllinoisContractor]

Get yourself a good estimating program (http://www.turbobid.net) Frank. It's a good investment.

[emahler]

Illinois, I gotta ask...Does that estimating program have an affiliate program?

[frank_n]

I think what he's referring to is unit pricing for an outlet, recessed fixture, surface light, etc.....
There is no set price to go by usually, it really comes from your overhead, current material values, and the amount of outlets for that project.
Residential has a different unit installation cost than commercial.My personnal unit cost lately runs about 75 dollars and outlet. recess fixtures with lamps and trims about $125. It all depends on your labor rate, at the moment mine is about 75 dollars an hour per man. With the cost of copper lately your unit pricing changes with almost every project you bid.
Hope that helped.

That's exactly what I mean. How much for a receptacle, a switch, a recesed light, etc..

Last year I used $32 for a receptacle, $42 for a switch, and didn't make much money.

I have the Craftsman and HD program. Is there a way to use that program to figure out how much I should charge for a receptacle, a switch, a GFCI, recessed light, smoke detector, etc.?

I'm going to do a take-off this morning. I'll let you know.

Thanks,
Frank

[RUWIREDRITE]

I been in contracting a long time and can't even remeber charging $32 per outlet installed. I guess in your area that works by not in the Garden State. Glad i'm not bidding against you here.lol

[IllinoisContractor]

I don't know. I'm a contractor. At times it seems that I spend way to much time at it. (I think my family shares that opinion) It's what I do. I reply to any post that I think I can offer advice on. It doesn't matter if it's regarding estimating, methods of installation, union relations, etc. However, when it comes to estimating, I am very passionate about it. I want to learn from others on this forum how they estimate to see if I can tweak my own methods. To me, my company will live or die based on how I estimate our jobs. I can have the greatest workers in the world, (which I do) but if I screw up the estimate, it won't matter.

[emahler]

Frank,

It's really, really easy.

Determine your actual material costs for your average switch, receptacle, etc.

Make sure you account for the box, the device, the wire (avg about 20'/device) misc screws, etc

add that all up.

figure out how long it will take you to rough AND finish each device. multiply that by your labor rate.

add your markup and margins...and voile, you have a unit price for what you need. Based on your costs, wants and desires.

Some guys use 3rd world migrant labor that costs them $10/hr total. You may actually pay a living wage and have labor costs of $25+/hr. Try to compete on price with the 3rd world labor, and you won't make any money.

good luck

[RUWIREDRITE]

Thats what i meant before about trying to bid against a guy working out of his trunk.My bids usually come in somewheres in the middle of all bids, its not a science ,just how i figure them. I get alot of work that way, most people affraid to go with the low baller and get sticker shock with the high. It's all good
Enjoy

[celtic]

That's exactly what I mean. How much for a receptacle, a switch, a recesed light, etc..


I have the Craftsman and HD program. Is there a way to use that program to figure out how much I should charge for a receptacle, a switch, a GFCI, recessed light, smoke detector, etc.?


Something like this?

[emahler]

that's a whole lot just to put in an outlet....you are making this difficult.:D

[celtic]

that's a whole lot just to put in an outlet....you are making this difficult.:D

If it were any easier monkeys would be doing it ;)

[emahler]

If it were any easier monkeys would be doing it ;)

you know they already are...go to any resi new construction site and find me an electrician...go ahead, I triple dog dare you...

[celtic]

you know they already are...go to any resi new construction site and find me an electrician...go ahead, I triple dog dare you...

Those are "trained" monkeys ...at the very least potty trained :D

[emahler]

Those are "trained" monkeys ...at the very least potty trained :D

I beg to differ....the last resi new construction job we were on (about 4 yrs ago) had many who were not potty trained...i kid you not.

We weren't doing the work for the houses, we were doing the clubhouse and site lighting.

[celtic]

If they ain't potty trained, I can't use them :D

[frank_n]

I worked on unit prices for the past 2 nights and worked out a proposal. Let me know what you think. It is new construction in central NJ.

I hope the attachment works.

Thanks,
Frank

[emahler]

forgot to price your combo.

sounds about right for central NJ...good luck with it.

funny part is, the house will probably sell for about $500-$600,000

and the plumber will get about $800-$900 per fixture. x20 fixtures or so...

[SeanKelly]

you know they already are...go to any resi new construction site and find me an electrician...go ahead, I triple dog dare you...

We're shooting for inspection friday but I planned on snapping some pics tomorrow for our company. I am no monkey:)

[emahler]

We're shooting for inspection friday but I planned on snapping some pics tomorrow for our company. I am no monkey:)

show your pics and mr. pocket protector will be the judge :D

i really should have clarified that to be specific to track homes. My bad..I understand spec and customs are different.

now, let the beatings continue

[celtic]

Let's talk about the GFI's...an outdoor GFI cost the same as an indoor GFI - does this include the cost of a "bubble cover"?

Or are you including the same GFI 2x?
(Double check the counts)

6 GFI's in the kitchen? ALL the devices are GFI - no feed throughs?


3-ways vs. single pole switch...difference of $2 ....is that accurate? (Check the pricing)


Who is doing the t-stat?

I would suggest going over the print again (::groan::), re-doing the take-off count, re-calculating the item costs.
I know it seems like a lot of work...but you want to be fair:
- Fair to the customer with accurate pricing
- Fair to yourself by not leaving mony on the table

If you have the luxury of time, wait a few days...you may be surprised by your original numbers.

[brantmacga]

in our area, most everyone charges by the square footage. in south georgia, you'll get anywhere from $2-$3.25 per heated sq. ft. (heated for residential contractors, total sq. ft. for self-contracting or a one time job) this is for a CODE job. as in, you'll get one switch controlled light in a room, and recep every 10-12 ft. that price will cover a 200a panel, but not the SER and disconnect if required. you'll get one heat and air, one water heater, one stove, hood, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, etc. . . anything that isn't required by code is not included. recessed fixtures are $40-$45 for lithonia lcp's w/ co1 plain white trim. its the easiest way to figure a house, and you can make money. you have to remember though that the cost of living in south georgia is EXTREMELY low. any extra receps needed will cost anywhere from $30 to $60 a piece. tv and telephone drops are about $30 a piece. bath exhaust fans run about $35 for an el cheapo. on a 2000 heated sq. ft. house, i'll get about $6800.00 which is decent money here (although more would always be nice). I did an 1800 sq. ft. house that ran $13,500. you can build an average house here for $50-$75 per sq. ft. - A "luxury" home will cost you about $130. But i assure you that extremely low wages follow that low cost of living. The median income for my town is $20,200 a year, and the median house value is $56,300. Its all relative. But like i said, sq. ft. pricing is definitely the easiest; you just need to figure what its going to cost you to work in your area.

[quogueelectric]

What about cable and phone lines we get between 75 new work to 150 old work for new lines cat 5 and rg6. I saw pricing for ac disconnects does this include home run and is outside gfci within code to cover condenser maintenance receptacle also who is running t stats and does ac units tie into heat cool t stats and receptacle for condensate pump in basement. co detector near fireplaces and oil burner check local codes . Who suplys tstats and make sure ac contractor runs lv wire for compressor solenoid.

[ptonsparky]

$32 per opening may get you the house in this area, then again you may not even get a "Thank you" for your time.

[IllinoisContractor]

Frank_n

How many man-hours (not monkey hours) did you figure this job will take to complete?

What is your material cost?

[emahler]

i believe that the correct conversion rate is 1 Man Hour = 7 Monkey Hours.

[IllinoisContractor]

Not necessarily. If you get a guy out there that has a chimp on his shoulder...........

[frank_n]

I got the job for $13,400. Thanks everyone

Frank

[Rockyd]

Keep us posted, hope you make a good nickel on this one.

[emahler]

new construction...central NJ...yep, a nickel is about right....it's cut throat..pays the bills, but not much left over. good job and good luck.

[SeanKelly]

I accidetally posted those rough pics in the "did I estimate too much thread" doh!!!:confused: :confused: :confused:

[emahler]

I accidetally posted those rough pics in the "did I estimate too much thread" doh!!!:confused: :confused: :confused:

get your pictures out of here, you filthy ape :D