Biding on a Remodel Job

[Sonny Boy]

Need some help on how to price the job. Small house maybe two bedrooms one bath.

Sheetrock removed from all walls and ceilings. Will have to wire it to current NEC and state codes, arc-faults for bedrooms, smoke detectors, 4 wire range and dryer hookups, etc.

What's the best method: dollars per opening or by the sq foot.

Thanks.
Mike

 

[jeff43222]

I'd say the thing to do is to go look at it and make your determination based on what you see. There are way too many variables in a remodel job to be able to accurately price it on a sq. ft. or per-opening basis, even if you're just doing a vanilla, code-minimum job.

Also, make sure the walls are opened up before you go. You certainly don't want to bid blind, only to find a bunch of buried j-boxes once you get started. Another pitfall to watch out for: demoing existing outlets that serve as junctions for circuits that go elsewhere. The older the house, the more likely you are to run into that situation. If the walls aren't opened up first, it's hard to know if you're going to have to run additional new circuits to replace the demoed stuff.

If the HO refuses to open the walls before you bid, make sure your scope of work specifically excludes dealing with any existing wiring.

 

[allenwayne]

You said all drywall will be removed.So what is there doesn`t matter its all coming out right.Figure the time to strip the house out on an hourly rate you are comfortable with then IMO it just like new construction and I am a firm believer in new construction price by the opening at the prices you would charge for a new home.Factor in a new service and you should fare just fine.

 

[cdslotz]

"What's the best method: dollars per opening or by the sq foot"

I would do neither. I would do a complete takeoff and factor the labor accordingly. Then apply a safe mark-up.

 

[celtic]

"What's the best method: dollars per opening or by the sq foot"

I would do neither. I would do a complete takeoff and factor the labor accordingly. Then apply a safe mark-up.

Yup...and don't forget the demo costs.

 

[satcom]

What's the best method: dollars per opening or by the sq foot.

Neither of those work well, Do a takeoff and figure your labor units for each task, add your material with mark-up, and don't forget to put some profit on the job.

Hope you have your basic operating costs already figured, makes estmating a lot easier.

A good reason not to use sq Ft, is you don't buy cable by the sq ft, like roofing material, or sheathing, and you don't install the cable by the sq ft. either, once you get your estimated cost you can convert it to a sq ft, price.

A good reason not to use per opening is, each opening has different requirements, such as length of run, devices used, finishes encountered, and structural differences.