$2800.00, whats that get you?

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G

GG

Senior Member
Location
Ft.Worth, T.X.
$2800.00
1) outdoor 200A panel, 200A meter base, 2" rigid service riser with 2/0 wire.
2) backfeed existing panel from new panel with 14 circuits to feed existing branch circuits and just make the existing panel a j-box. 2 panels are 20' apart.
3) wire 2 bedrooms with ceiling fans (customer supplied) and 2 closet lights w/ light on a switch. Place 2 bedrooms on AFCI protected circuits.
4) Install 3 smokes (1 in each bedroom, 1 in hallway). Bathroom - exhaust fan, bath light, 2 switches, and GFCI recep. on ded. circuit.
5) Install 2 circuits, 1 20A/240V for AC condenser 5' from new panel, and air handler circuit 30A/240V for new HVAC equipment.
6) install #4 CWG and 8' ground rod w/ #6
7) pull permit and call for inspections
I gave the GC my bid and he said he has another guy comming out to give him another bid. What # would you have gone in with?

[ July 22, 2005, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: GG ]
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

GG, I may be out of line with my advice but this is only an opinion ( we each get one ). I think you guys concentrate too much on numbers when you bid a job. I have found that the job is the important thing. I might be able to talk a homeowner into spending more for a quality job ( when I mention that their children's safety is at stake & long term property value) but a property that's owned by a real estate investor ( turned for quick profit ) is not the same thing. A house where they will let you use a panel as a j-box sounds like a cheap job and it will attract cheap people. Your bid sounds cheap enough but you never know. If they find someone cheaper, you are out ( quality wont be a concern ). The location and intended use of that house are more important than the actual bid price. If the owner plans to rent the property, low ball gets it. When I bid against local established contractors I know I have a shot at getting the work, when I bid against every Tom, Dick & Harry it's normally a waste of time. I try to find out who I'm bidding against and if it's " green teeth Joe",I just walk away. Look over the job site while you are there and see if the GC is neat and professional or if he's a hack. If he's driving an 85 Dodge with a fender missing, you're not going to get premium money. If there are two old cars up on blocks in the drive way, that's not a good sign. Everything about the job can be a variable and can affect the odds of you getting the work. If you bid 10 jobs and don't get any of them, either your prices are too high or you're in the wrong neighborhood.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Is this interior work "open" (gutted)?

The service alone is 2k.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Yes Celtic, the interior is all new construction, wide open. I went to the bid against my better judgement as the guy I gave my bid to was a general contractor and NOT the homeowner. I NEVER get those jobs where the GC is handling all the bids for the H.O., and about the time I forget that I get suckered in to going and bidding on a job for a GC. :mad:
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Originally posted by GG:
$2800.00
Click to expand...
Not even close..

1) $2000
2) $500
3) ceiling fans $100 per (x2)
closet lights $60 per (x2)~ fixture NOT included
NJ has not accepted AFCI's..using GFCI price of $50 per (x2)
4) smokes $75 per (x3)
Bathroom - $170 ~ fixture NOT included
5) AC condenser $300
6) included in service price
7) Permits extra..every city varies...add 2 manhours for paperwork, inspection time

$3495 PLUS permits and fees.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

I don't think the bid is out of line at all. It's about what I would bid on the job.

I mainly only deal with HOs rather than GCs, but I have gotten good jobs from GCs. One nice advantage to working with a good GC is that the GC knows what he is doing, whereas most HOs don't know all that much about remodeling. I just picked up a bathroom job from a GC I've worked with before. He does quality work, and he expects the same from the subs he hires.

Right now I have more work than I know what to do with, so I don't bother chasing low-ball jobs. Do high-quality professional work, and charge accordingly.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Originally posted by growler:
A house where they will let you use a panel as a j-box sounds like a cheap job and it will attract cheap people.
Click to expand...
Using the old panel as a J-Box is somehow "cheap?" If the old location is not suitable for the new panel, what do suggest?
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

I will go with Scott $3800, here in Jersey the cost of doing business is up there.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Unless your working out of the back of pickup and have the front seat as an office you should be around $6800.
I see by this thread electricians are still selling themselves short
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

" If the old location is not suitable for a new panel, what do you suggest"? Not suitable? What a bathroom or closet,an area without proper clearance. I have not seen the house and that may be the last choice. There is a general contractor on the job and that say's remodeling. I would assume that a few of these circuits could be brought straight to the new panel( if it's a kitchen remodel, nows the time to bring things up to code). It may be that I'm in a different area where such practices are frowned upon, other places this may be a common practice. I've only seen it done on quick , hack jobs, where they were trying to turn a cheap house for a quick buck.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

originally posted by celtic:
Not even close..

1) $2000
2) $500
3) ceiling fans $100 per (x2)
closet lights $60 per (x2)~ fixture NOT included
NJ has not accepted AFCI's..using GFCI price of $50 per (x2)
4) smokes $75 per (x3)
Bathroom - $170 ~ fixture NOT included
5) AC condenser $300
6) included in service price
7) Permits extra..every city varies...add 2 manhours for paperwork, inspection time

$3495 PLUS permits and fees.
Click to expand...
I agree with celtic,3500.00 plus great follow up service. I hate when a GC asks for my numbers and then doesn't use me, only the numbers, and gets a hack to do the job. Sound familiar? :)
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

originally posted by celtic:
Not even close...
$3495 PLUS permits and fees.

--------------------
Celtic ~ New Jersey
Nothings impossible - given enough time and money!
Click to expand...
Originally posted by redfish:
I agree with celtic,3500.00

--------------------
Patrick H., Deep South Texas
Click to expand...
When the price in NJ is equal to the price in Tx., there's a problem.
No offense, Patrick, but one of our numbers is out of line.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

$2800.00. Is that for materials only and no labor? A ruff guess of $1150 in materials and a week of work?
If the GC finds somebody else find out who and refer them to all the GC's you don't want to work for. Becareful what you ask for you might get it. I'm from Florida, and they are cheap here. If they want it they would have to pay for it.
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

originally posted by celtic,
When the price in NJ is equal to the price in Tx., there's a problem. No offense, Patrick, but one of our numbers is out of line.
Click to expand...
Is $50.00 an hour too much? :)
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Originally posted by redfish:

Is $50.00 an hour too much? :)
Click to expand...
As long as people are willing to pay that amount - it's not too much.
:p
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by redfish:

Is $50.00 an hour too much?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As long as people are willing to pay that amount - it's not too much.
Click to expand...
Vague answer, but it's not too much right? :p
 
Re: $2800.00, whats that get you?

Only the market (whatever market you in geographically and work wise) can dictate "too much"...just look at housing as an example. A $500,000 1Br,1Bth condo in CA, might buy a nice McMansion in NC or a nice spread in Montana.

The real question is:
Does the $50 cover all the expenses?

[EDIT: It's not my fault I can't spell LOL]

[ August 02, 2005, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: celtic ]
 
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