jimmyglen
Senior Member
- Location
- St. Louis, Missouri
great posts on this thread
Comparing Service rates, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC
- Thread starter Mule
- Start date
- Status
It REALLY amazes me, looking back at the beginning of this thread, re-reading the question, and the attempts to get the discussion back on track, and then looking at the direction that the discussion went. Simply amazing...then allowing myself to join in
Some of you, REALLY get hung up on the difference in rates, and I dont understand that at all. We even have a union shop in town that is well respected, its a large shop, that have full benifeits, vacation, the owner has a very nice home on a huge lake.....and they do it all on $65/hr. The public is happy, the union shop is happy, but some of you I dont think ever will be.
Maybe its our oxymorons riding plow horses not providing for their families. Yep that's it.
Neverless this thread has had some meaningfull comments, thank you...
Some of you, REALLY get hung up on the difference in rates, and I dont understand that at all. We even have a union shop in town that is well respected, its a large shop, that have full benifeits, vacation, the owner has a very nice home on a huge lake.....and they do it all on $65/hr. The public is happy, the union shop is happy, but some of you I dont think ever will be.
Maybe its our oxymorons riding plow horses not providing for their families. Yep that's it.
Neverless this thread has had some meaningfull comments, thank you...
jmsbrush
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Florida
Mule this is a forum!! It's not a communist forum where you have to do exactly what you think it should be , the way you think it should be ran. So what if it gets off topic a little. It always gets back on track. Allot of good information came out of it because of that. Chill out and STOP being so sensitive.
jmsbrush
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Florida
Oh I'm sorry I just went off topic because I shared my views. Where's the moderator at?
jmsbrush
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Florida
Mule thats the first time I have ever said it.Well I better get some work done. Have a good day guys
Do you plan on charging $75 with a $10 trip charge from now on or are you going to go back to $65?Mule said:
As long as electricians are happy with what they're charging the rates aren't going to go up. If electricians don't care that plumbers and hvac trades get more than it's not going to change.Mule said:
You've shown that electricians can charge more if they want to. It's a matter of them wanting to. In my opinion, with the exeption of you, a lot of electricians are afraid if they charge too much they'll get a reputation for being overpriced, word will get around and they won't get any future work. Someone always has to be the highest priced. I would much rather push the envelope of being the highest priced than push the envelope of being the lowest price.
I was working with a GC building some manufacturing machines for an industrial plant. The GC does a lot of residential work and told me that plumbers and hvac contractors always charged more than electricians. He asked me why and I didn't know what to tell him.
I really don't know why this is but if electricians don't care it won't change.
There's a saying out there that goes:
"If you always do what you've always done you'll always get what you've always got."
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Makes sense to me nice post.brantmacga said:
Mule, I'm not sure how long you've been in business, but it didn't take me long to figure out I'd rather be a good business man than a good electrician. Now don't take that as me saying you don't need to be a good electrician. Doing good work is a key to being successful as well, but not as important as knowing how keep the thing afloat.
Last friday, an electrician friend picked me up at the end of the day and asked me to ride around with him. He had to make a stop for a trouble call on a pool pump not working. On the way there, I asked what he was going to charge the customer. He said he didn't know. To keep it short; we got there and the problem was in the pump. Took about 5 minutes to come to this conclusion. I asked again what he was going to charge the customer. He said he wasn't sure because we were only there for a minute. I gave him a number to put on the invoice, my number in fact, and sent him in there with it. He came out with a big smile, but extremely confused that the customer actually paid that for us to be there for 5 minutes.
I'm in business to be in business, if that makes sense. I just happened to have some electrical skill so this is what I do. I really enjoy electrical work, but I wouldn't hesitate to put it down for something more lucrative. I may go further with this line of thought later, but I'm going to stop here and see where the discussion goes.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
ivsenroute said:
i've seen DIY plumbing books as well; which leads me to believe people aren't doing their own plumbing simply because they don't want to get poop on their hands.
DanZ
Senior Member
Well, here in Ohio, we have our own plumbing and HVAC codes.480sparky said:Well, it's updated at least every three years......
They're about 200-300 pages, the last time I saw a paper format one. Updated every two years. Most of the requirements have been removed from the old thick books, and replaced with "use manufacturers instructions" or something similar. Now, if only we could get electrician's to read instructions...:roll:That was a joke! I'd still be happy to find a GC that can read a set of plans, or call and ask about something before he changes it and makes it not meet code!
Oh, yeah, I don't do DIY plumbing beyond a fixture, I don't do DIY HVAC replacement (although I have done repair on furnaces and ducts), and I don't do DIY electrical, beyond replacing existing switches, fixtures and receptacles. I have even done some sanitary line repair work, but it's alright, I wore gloves!:roll:
It is true:Mule said:
Plumbing 1-2-3; 224 pages; $16.47 @ amazon
I'll be starting a new business as soon as I finish this book:
Building your own home for dummies; 384 pgs; $13.59 @ amazon
13.59
16.47
30.06 ~ woohoo, eligible for the "super saver" discount ~ free shipping!
One question though ... the "Building Your Own Homes for Dummies" book ~ Will the occupants be the "dummies"?
:grin:
DanZ
Senior Member
Yes. :grin: Someone really needs to explain how hard it is to do this properly. I've talked with several people who insist all you need to do is talk to a builder, since an Architect is only there to take money...:-?celtic said:
Have you thought about cold calling other ECs in your area to find out what they're charging?
If the customer is smiling when they hand you a check, you left money on the table. That can be a good thing! :wink:
If some unknown EC were to call you asking the same information, what would you reveal:DanZ said:
- A lower price...helping him to his demise
- A higher rate...helping him to his demise
- Your actual rate to confirm this is a capitalistic economy and you welcome the competition
- None of the above, ignore the request
Regardless of what your answer is, your answer only works for you.
If you were the one to be cold calling other ECs, what answer do you think they would give?
Again, it really doesn't matter.
EC "A" may be desperate for work or even clueless about pricing. You will soon join him working for EC "B"
EC "B" charges the most you have ever heard of! How can he do this and still stay in business? Good question, but is he being honest with you? Is it a highball number to satisfy some unknown schmuck? or does he actually know what his costs are? (Why don't you?)
You might as well as ask the bagger at A&P to set your rate.
Heck..even Big Blue knows this:
3 Common Money Problems & Solutions
(I don't necessarily agree with the use of the plumbing trade here ~ but any trade could used as an example.)
In the above article, Ellen Rohr is mentioned. I have a pdf by her entitled "How Much Should I charge?" - A good read for all.
DanZ
Senior Member
Well, I was going for a more covert call. Along the lines of "How much y'all chargin to replace a light switch?", or "How much y'all charge to trouble shoot". Something along those lines. Cause I'm just sneaky like that.celtic said:
:grin: I think the better way to go would be to sell yourself, your service and get people used to paying higher prices.
DanZ said:Well, I was going for a more covert call. Along the lines of "How much y'all chargin to replace a light switch?", or "How much y'all charge to trouble shoot". Something along those lines. Cause I'm just sneaky like that.
Remember a few years back, the Big Box stores were "selling" "...any 3 devices swapped out for $99" (or some number).
They still do that work?
DanZ
Senior Member
That sounds familiar. I don't think the price included materials. They would typically sign up the low ball unlicensed contractor.celtic said:
I don't believe they do. They lost too many good installers.
Actually, I think it was any three devices installed for $99. Removal (replacement) of the old ones, and all materials were extra.
You could call them and see if they need any installers!
:grin:
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
DanZ said:
I'm pretty sure they weren't using unlicensed contractors. They don't do that even now.
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