a little help

[jakobit]

a customer call me for a job. i haven't seeing the job yet. i just need an idea or range price. she got 2 two bed apt. that turned into one 4 bedroom. so she wants me change the two meter into one meter. right now i don't know if she will prefer to have both panel or have everything in one panel.

 

[480sparky]

I'd say somewhere between $100 and a million.

Seriously, there's no way we can price jobs for you. We have no idea what your expenses are, as well as your mark-up and profit.

 

[ceb58]

a customer call me for a job. i haven't seeing the job yet. i just need an idea or range price. she got 2 two bed apt. that turned into one 4 bedroom. so she wants me change the two meter into one meter. right now i don't know if she will prefer to have both panel or have everything in one panel.

I did a job like this last year. The way it was done to meet the owners budget was I set a 400amp meter combo, changed the 2 200amp breakers to 150amp ( existing panels were 150amp mb) and feed them with 4/0al ser. I think I was in the $1800.00 range.

 

[growler]

a customer call me for a job. i haven't seeing the job yet. i just need an idea or range price. she got 2 two bed apt. that turned into one 4 bedroom. so she wants me change the two meter into one meter. right now i don't know if she will prefer to have both panel or have everything in one panel.

I wouldn't go to a job with a price range in mind wait until you see the job and find out what you will have to do and materials and labor cost before trying to come up with a price. Once you know what needs to be done the price range will come to you.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I'd use CEB's experience and not be specific with the customer. Tell them based on their comments, it could be between $1,500 and $3,000 but could be more if she was mistaken about some of the details.

Sometimes you have to give a "budget" number to get to the next step.

 

[satcom]

I wouldn't go to a job with a price range in mind wait until you see the job and find out what you will have to do and materials and labor cost before trying to come up with a price. Once you know what needs to be done the price range will come to you.

Yes, if he gives a customer a price based on the customer information, the customer will only remember that price, and then once you get there and find there is more work, the customer will hold on the that orginal guess price, If they are so worried about having a guess price, can they afford anything?

 

[laketime]

Never provide a price until you have seen the situation. The customer usually knows nothing about electrical installation and even less about describing what needs to be done over the phone. Look at it, price out your materials then guess, I mean estimate how long it will take.

 

[bradleyelectric]

Look at it, price out your materials then guess, I mean estimate how long it will take.

You mean provide a price based on historical information as to how long tasks take with some contingency time built in don't you?

 

[ceb58]

I did a job like this last year. The way it was done to meet the owners budget was I set a 400amp meter combo, changed the 2 200amp breakers to 150amp ( existing panels were 150amp mb) and feed them with 4/0al ser. I think I was in the $1800.00 range.

Do not take what I did or charged and try and give any estimate sight unseen. The situation I described was food for thought as a solution. If the customer wants to combine the two panels into one then go for it $$$$$.
If they cant afford that then this might be a solution. Only a site visit and discussion with customer will determine the scope.