Bid Results

[jmsbrush]

This is a quote I gave to a guy the other day. I found Out I was twice as high as the other 2 contractors. Unreal. My price was $3200.

Take Out old switches
Install 23 Sp Decora Switches
Install 19 3way decora Switches
Install Microwave Ckt 50 Ft
Install 6 floods, ckt wiring in corners of house (not much attic space)and and 2 switches
Install one Halogen light on barn and wiring 20 ft high, add switch tap off existing ckt
Install One spot on barn from switch tap of existing ckt.

What do you think?

 

[hardworkingstiff]

What do you think?

Times are still tough. Not enough work for all of us.

 

[selectelectric]

Underbid

Underbid

Low Balling today is a big thing i was beat out on a bid for a Bowling alley by $100,000.00 so don't think that your to high usually and to me in this case it sounds as though they really need the work and are cut-throating to get it

 

[okeefe]

Contractors are bidding fiercely for jobs, and often the winner, if you can call it that, has offered to do a project at no profit. A year from now you may find those contractors out of business.

 

[highvolts582]

I would have beat it.

I would have beat it.

It may be slightly high

I guess I would think to my self and i only work for my self currently.

Did you purchase all the spot lights themselves. I dont think you did .

maybe im cheap on my self

sounds like i may get this one done quicker than 2 full days. but 2 days your working. at 75 per hour for me sometimes more for set price so lets say 100 per hour thats 1600 for me and no more than 400 in material. equals 2000 bucks. but I did just bid on a house that was moving up 3 blocks and a 2nd floor my price 22500 others 14-15 thousand range. oops lost that real quick... I was really busy at the time.

 

[highvolts582]

I gave a guy a price to wire hot tub. including all materials equipotential fun and permits for 900 he thought 400-500 I was like what? Its always a slap in the face when you dont get a job but its better than working pissed off all day fantasizing how you will tell your customer to screw off if they give you any lip.

Ps I would never tell my customer to screw off but I may think it.

 

[bradleyelectric]

Low Balling today is a big thing i was beat out on a bid for a Bowling alley by $100,000.00 so don't think that your to high usually and to me in this case it sounds as though they really need the work and are cut-throating to get it

I always think it's funny when people say they need work. If anyone needs work stop over my house. I have plenty of wood that needs cut and split. I'm not going to pay, but that's not what is needed. Work is what people want so I've got some. I need money. When I want to work for no money I fire up the chain saw and head for the log pile.

 

[macmikeman]

You know what I think? I think all you guys are charging way too much. You should all dive bomb all your bids. Bid half as much as all the other guys do. I'll give all of you about a year to be still in business. Then I can become a national concern, cause I will be the only one left since I bid everything thru the roof and rely on the odds. Then once your all gone, I'll really clean up......

 

[wireguru]

let the lowballers have it. I would rather sit home and earn nothing than pay money to slave away in some guys attic....

 

[quogueelectric]

this is a quote i gave to a guy the other day. I found out i was twice as high as the other 2 contractors. Unreal. My price was $3200.

Take out old switches
install 23 sp decora switches
install 19 3way decora switches
install microwave ckt 50 ft
install 6 floods, ckt wiring in corners of house (not much attic space)and and 2 switches
install one halogen light on barn and wiring 20 ft high, add switch tap off existing ckt
install one spot on barn from switch tap of existing ckt.

What do you think?

2,700.00......................

 

[electricmanscott]

let the lowballers have it. I would rather sit home and earn nothing than pay money to slave away in some guys attic....

Yeah! Me too. What kind of fool would go out and make at least enough to cover costs and stay in business. Not me. I'm going to sit here and pretend those bills don't have to be paid.

 

[bradleyelectric]

Yeah! Me too. What kind of fool would go out and make at least enough to cover costs and stay in business. Not me. I'm going to sit here and pretend those bills don't have to be paid.

I'm thinking the concern is with guys that are bidding work at levels that don't cover costs.

 

[jmsbrush]

Even if I could have tighten up on my bid, I would not be able to do it at half.
I do feel that contractors are doing work at cost or for pennies. I keep hearing from people, that if they keep doing this they will be out of business.
This has been going on for two years.
What I have found is that a couple have gone under but new ones pop up.
Small shops who feel that they don't any overhead and who are pricing not much more than the wages they made when they worked for someone.

I did notice that 3 to 4 Ecs are not in the phone book but they are still in business. Which makes me believe they must not have been getting great results from their ad but who knows , the ad itself may or may not have been a good one in the first place.

I remain positive though. We all just have to weather the storm.

 

[aline]

I do feel that contractors are doing work at cost or for pennies. I keep hearing from people, that if they keep doing this they will be out of business.
This has been going on for two years.
What I have found is that a couple have gone under but new ones pop up.

This has been going on for a lot longer than two years.
Electrical contracting has been around a lot longer than I have and it's always been a problem.

If all these businesses went out of business and there were no new ones popping up to take their place than it would have ended long ago and all that would be left by now is profitable contractors.

Waiting and hoping for these companies to go under and go out of business is not a sound business plan. There will always be more just like them to take their place.

The only solution is to try to educate contractors to the true cost of doing business and that getting the job because you were the lowest bidder doesn't necessarily mean you won.
Good luck with that though.

 

[jmsbrush]

This has been going on for a lot longer than two years.
Electrical contracting has been around a lot longer than I have and it's always been a problem.

If all these businesses went out of business and there were no new ones popping up to take their place than it would have ended long ago and all that would be left by now is profitable contractors.

Waiting and hoping for these companies to go under and go out of business is not a sound business plan. There will always be more just like them to take their place.

The only solution is to try to educate contractors to the true cost of doing business and that getting the job because you were the lowest bidder doesn't necessarily mean you won.
Good luck with that though.

Well said on the last statement. I have tried that too. Every time I try to offer advice or even if they ask me. There faces become like the deer that just saw the headlights.

My business plan does not revolve on others going out business.
As Emaler once said " I would'nt wish Electrical contracting on my worst enemy."

 

[480sparky]

.............The only solution is to try to educate contractors to the true cost of doing business and that getting the job because you were the lowest bidder doesn't necessarily mean you won.
Good luck with that though.

Well said on the last statement. I have tried that too. Every time I try to offer advice or even if they ask me. There faces become like the deer that just saw the headlights.............."

Business Cost List
Building
Building
Warehouse Space
Trash Removal
Lawn Care
Snow removal
Upkeep & Repairs
Office Expenses
Computers
Stationary
Copy machine
Fax machine
Forms
Printing
Software
Office Equipment
Computer maintenance
Files
Postage
Office Supplies
IT
Internet service
Email accounts
Web site
-Initial creation
-Updating
-Maintenance
GPS services
Benefits
Vacation Pay
Holiday Pay
Uniforms
Uniform Maintenance
Unemployment
Bonuses
Incentives
Retirement Plan
Christmas Party
Taxes
Property Taxes
Tangible Taxes
Pay Roll Taxes
Income Taxes
Sales Tax
Training
Management Training
Office Training
In-House Training
Tech Training
Mfg. Training
Training Equipment
Safety Training
Update classes
License testing
Insurance
Building Insurance
Liability Insurance
Employee Insurance
Life Insurance
Business Insurance
Workers Comp.
Utilities
Gas
Electricity
Telephone / Fax lines
Internet Service
Toll Calls
Telephones
Pagers/Cell Phones
Radio Maintenance
Vehicles
Vehicle Maintenance
Ladder Racks
Interior bins
Fuel
Truck Signs / lettering / vinyl
Tires
Financial
Accounting
Loans
Tax Preparation
Interest
30+ Day Receivables
Bank Charges
Travel
Hotel
Meals
Airline / vehicle
Unique to the electrical trade
Permits
Licenses
Bonds
Inspections
Trade Association
Subscriptions
Memberships
Dues
Retainers
Safety PPE
-Lock-out/Tag-out kits
-Fall prevention harness
-Arc-flash clothing
-Hard hats
-Safety glasses
-Hearing protection
Tools
Company Tools
Safety Equipment
Ladders
2-way Radios
Test Equipment
Replacement Parts
Parts Storage
Damages
Tool Replacement
Job site storage
Misc.
Trips to Supply House
Theft
Uncollected Money
Collection fees
Unbillable Hours
Commissions
Call Backs / Warranty work
Shortages
Bad Checks
Delivery
Credit Card Sales
Drug Testing
Legal
Legal advice
Law Suits
Incorporation / LLC fees
Advertising
Marketing
Business cards
Signs
Radio / TV
Newspaper
Flyers / brochures
Material Purchases
Inventory
Labor
Wages
Salaries
Dispatcher
Answering Service

 

[jmsbrush]

480 that list is one of the most powerful tools for an Electrical contractor.
We use that list to derive our flat rate prices.
What I have found that many EC's say " Half those items don't apply to me."
There on their wife's insurance. They don't have an office and ect ect.
I could keep going and going.
I have actually thought about giving free business classes.

 

[LarryFine]

I have actually thought about giving free business classes.

When can you get here?

 

[fridaymean]

Without seeing the job, I would say $2,450 based on the given info.

 

[jmsbrush]

Business Cost List
Building
Building ( I see those everyday, I don't have one)
Warehouse Space ( That's what my 78 van is for)
Trash Removal ( I'll just throw it in my neighbors yard)
Lawn Care ( I don' have grass I live in my mommas apartment)
Snow removal (That's the city's responsibility)
Upkeep & Repairs
Office Expenses (Included in Mommas house)
Computers (Yeah I like surfing the net)
Stationary ( is that another name for toilet paper?)
Copy machine (Do I look Like a secretary?)
Fax machine ( That's so 90's)
Forms ( Thats what note book paper is for)
Printing ( # 2 penicls)
Software (Never heard of it)
Office Equipment ( I use my sons pencils)
Computer maintenance
Files (piles on my floor, who needs cabinets)
Postage ( I don't mail I drive)
Office Supplies
IT ( I saw that movie along time ago
Internet service
Email accounts ( free on yahoo)
Web site
-Initial creation ( who needs that? Its 2009)
-Updating
-Maintenance
GPS services
Benefits
Vacation (Pay I have every Saturday and Sunday off)
Holiday Pay ( I just paid you $10 an hour, you should be thankful)
Uniforms ( fruit of the loom's)
Uniform Maintenance ( washed once a month)
Unemployment ( I never will be, I charge $40 an hour)
Bonuses ( I woke Up today)
Incentives ( Free hot dogs for your birthday)
Retirement Plan ( I'm gonna work till I die)
Christmas Party
Taxes ( just take cash and don't worry about it)
Property Taxes (momma's appt don't apply)
Tangible Taxes n/a
Pay Roll Taxes ( what does this mean?)
Income Taxes
Sales Tax
Training ( don't touch black to green)
Management Training
Office Training
In-House Training (Telling my wife she better answer the phone)
Tech Training ( I don't need that stuff)
Mfg. Training
Training Equipment ( how do you train eq? )
Safety Training ( Just wear sneakers and jogging pants)
Update classes
License testing (Whats a license? I really need one?)
Insurance
Building Insurance ( Covered under momma)
Liability Insurance ( Government conspiracy)
Employee Insurance (LMAO)
Life Insurance ( Thats a ripoff)
Business Insurance (Thats just for you big guys)
Workers Comp. ( I don't need it, I won't get hurt)
Utilities ( Covered by momma)
Gas ( I get that after eating beans)
Electricity ( turn off a/c and save some money
Telephone / Fax lines (Pay as ya go)
Internet Service
Toll Calls
Telephones
Pagers/Cell Phones
Radio Maintenance
Vehicles ( 77 Pinto choice for the pro's)
Vehicle Maintenance
Ladder Racks ( that's what bungee cords are for.)
Interior bins ( Coffee cans)
Fuel ( that' what my neighbors car is for)
Truck Signs / lettering / vinyl ( I use magnets and sharpies)
Tires ( drvie them till you see metal)
Financial
Accounting ( is that when you add numbers together?)
Loans ( yeah right my credit score is 500)
Tax Preparation
Interest
30+ Day Receivables ( You mean I can get something in 30 days?)
Bank Charges
Travel
Hotel ( good for Friday's after the bar)
Meals ( Hot dogs and Ramen Noodles)
Airline / vehicle
Unique to the electrical trade
Permits ( I don['t need those)
Licenses ( N/A on the next 9)
Bonds
Inspections
Trade Association
Subscriptions
Memberships
Dues
Retainers
Safety PPE
-Lock-out/Tag-out kits
-Fall prevention harness ( I wear suspenders)
-Arc-flash clothing ( Long sleeve cotton shirt)
-Hard hats ( I do residential)
-Safety glasses ( sunglasses from Walgreens)
-Hearing protection
Tools (stole them from my former boss)
Company Tools (same as above)
Safety Equipment ( Drink a beer before working on live wires)
Ladders
2-way Radios ( strings and Cups)
Test Equipment ( My helpers wiggy)
Replacement Parts ( old parts form the last job)
Parts Storage ( my pinto)
Damages
Tool Replacement ( Call up my old Boss)
Job site storage ( Buckets)
Misc.
Trips to Supply House ( They come to me)
Theft ( any Tips?)
Uncollected Money ( thats what My bat is For)
Collection fees ( Louisville slugger)
Unbillable Hours
Commissions
Call Backs / Warranty work ( When I'm done I'm done)
Shortages ( I'll just make a splice)
Bad Checks ( Only cash)
Delivery
Credit Card Sales
Drug Testing ( if I do that I can't smoke the ganja)
Legal
Legal advice
Law Suits ( I have had quite a few of those)
Incorporation / LLC fees
Advertising ( word of mouth)
Marketing ( Huh)
Business cards ( print them my self customer like the rough edges)
Signs ( card board and sharpies)
Radio / TV ( I like to listen and watch)
Newspaper
Flyers / brochures
Material Purchases
Inventory
Labor ( We pay the lowest in town)
Wages ( negotiable)
Salaries ( Can I please put you one)
Dispatcher ( My wive, she works for free)
Answering Service ( same as above)

For entertainment only.