estimating help

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puckman

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ridgewood, n.j.
you properly have seen to question before. i've been an electrician for few years now but only have been contacting a couple of years. my question is how would you price a 2 family rewire by the device method and home runs ? the walls willbegutted. i'll be suppling all the material except the fixtures. there willbe 12 smokes, 2 central ac units, furnance, etc. someone else willbe removing all the old wiring. if anyone can show how they handle this type of job it would really be helpful. the service is already installed and the second floor has it's panel upstairs. i'm in new jersey, up north. thanks
 
estimating

estimating

no, i was given a room by room breakdown and told he 'll send a kitchen print. do i need prints or it a total count of the dvices ok ?
most of my work expirence is as a inside electrician . contracting is fairly new to me. and thanks for any info you have to offer.
 
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That one sounds like a tough one. Do you know how long it will take? If you have been a sparky then you can kinda tell how long. I would say figure your time in hours. Add a little more for non-productive hours such as supply house time, drive time, time to listen to their problems with their daughter, time to put the dog back in the yard, etc. Multiply that times an hourly rate you charge, any additional charges such as fuel surcharge. There is your labor. Now figure a rough estimate that is long on your materials, at least double the cost of the materials then give them a number for materials and labor, also tax if it applies.

Remember you can always negotiate down a little if they think it is too high. But it is hard to negotiate up if you are too low. Check with some other people also for estimating advice. One thing I would not do is sq ft this !!Good luck in your bid !!
 
puckman said:
no, i was given a room by room breakdown and told he 'll send a kitchen print. do i need prints or it a total count of the dvices ok ?
most of my work expirence is as a inside electrician . contracting is fairly new to me. and thanks for any info you have to offer.
Click to expand...
You will need a total count of all items for the permit (that's how they figure thier fee :) )

I would price it by device/fixture...and add some for the heqadache factor...and have it clearly understood that ALL changes, adds, moves, etc will be billed at T & M and paid for in FULL prior to calling for final electrical inspection.

What you charge per device/fixture will be up to you:
BX is more, Romex is less
Metal boxes are more, plasctic are less
Decora devices are more, Eagle is less
etc

To "streamline" your estimating, you might consider just how much an "assembly" costs, ie, 30' 14/2 RX, 5 staples, 1 Single gang box, 1 recept., 1 Single gang plate = $55. The cost includes the material, mark-up, moving/storage, installation, etc.

You can do the same for each item: smokes, switches, GFI's, etc.

Be exteremly careful of the fixture cost/count....who will be buying the fixtures AND who selects them? Is there a fixture allowance?

Here is a thread where we discussed an "entry level" estimating program ~ although I've been using mine for about 10 years now :)
http://www.mikeholt.com/code_forum/showthread.php?t=76574


Got more questions...ask.
 
Puckman I know how you feel. When I first got started I was in the same boat. I knew how to do the work but did not know how to price it. Most electricians who are at a $18 to $26 per hour scale think they can bid work at that same price and make it. No way can it be done, not for the long haul anyways.

Be sure to know your true costs, insurance, gas, phone bills, shop rent, truck repairs and taxes. All of this cost money, you have to recoup these costs somehow.

When you do bid something keep a database whether you are high or low bid. Maintain this base because it helps to estimate faster later on. Most of all DO GOOD WORK !!!, if you do then the work will flow in so much you will have to turn it down, if the work is shoddy you will have trouble finding work after a while. Good luck !!
 
dduffee260 said:
Most electricians who are at a $18 to $26 per hour scale think they can bid work at that same price and make it. No way can it be done, not for the long haul anyways.

Be sure to know your true costs, insurance, gas, phone bills, shop rent, truck repairs and taxes. All of this cost money, you have to recoup these costs somehow.
Click to expand...
Something like this should help:
[Business Owners' Cost Calculator]

Whne you get a feel for it, set-up your own spreadsheet in Excel or whatever you already have....no better time to start saving money than now :)
 
Keep it simple for your first.
Count up devices, plugs, switches, lights. Price it at $75 each, all materials included.
One, you'll make "some" money depending on how fast you are & what you pay your help.
Two you'll learn even more.
Bend em over Backwards on Extras.
 
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