troberts2007
Member
- Location
- Trussville AL
Im am in a delima, Just starting my new company and after a referal by friend, I have been ask to give a quote a a large low voltage job. its a large existing apartment complex 25 buildings,20 units per building and they want 4 coaxe and 4 cat5e per unit. so its appoximatly 4000 cables all togather. if it was new construction and we had plans and planned pathways then this would be a no brainer and easy to estimate.but the buildings are 15-20 years old, we dont have plans, they want boxes mounted on the outside of each building and a conduit running up the side about 40 ft then all the cables ran to each unit from the attic to all three floors below. I do not know if the units on each floor match the units below and they want the cost to patch and paint any sheetrock that has to be cut included and they want it all done in 90 days start to finish.
I have just went out on my own and right now I am a one man show but I have some folks I use from time to time when I need help but to do this job correctly In the time frame required I think it would take atleast a 6 man crew working in pairs.
I see this job with lots of potential profits but a lot of risk.
My first question would be provided that all the walls line up and we can use flex bits to create a path from attic to first floor.i am estimating it will take 2 men 4 hours to cut in low voltage rings,drill holes between attics and floors below and pull the 3 drops. if walls dont line up them I am adding and addition 2 hours per drop and Plus the paint and patch. Does this sound like i am on the right path.
I am going to propose we do 1 building at the price I come up with just as a test case then adjust based on how that building comes out.
next question : since I dont currently have the man power I need would I be better off to
a. use local temp office for labor
B. Call some other electrical contractors try to find one whois slow and will give me a few good guys at a decent hourly rate.
c. offer other electrical contractor a chance to partner up on project and share the Risk
d. find another contractors who would like the whole project and ask for a finders fee/commision if they get the job
e. my least favorite. tell the cutomer I'm not able to do the project and just walk away.
Any advice you can lend an OLD Electrician/NEW EC would be appreciated.
I have just went out on my own and right now I am a one man show but I have some folks I use from time to time when I need help but to do this job correctly In the time frame required I think it would take atleast a 6 man crew working in pairs.
I see this job with lots of potential profits but a lot of risk.
My first question would be provided that all the walls line up and we can use flex bits to create a path from attic to first floor.i am estimating it will take 2 men 4 hours to cut in low voltage rings,drill holes between attics and floors below and pull the 3 drops. if walls dont line up them I am adding and addition 2 hours per drop and Plus the paint and patch. Does this sound like i am on the right path.
I am going to propose we do 1 building at the price I come up with just as a test case then adjust based on how that building comes out.
next question : since I dont currently have the man power I need would I be better off to
a. use local temp office for labor
B. Call some other electrical contractors try to find one whois slow and will give me a few good guys at a decent hourly rate.
c. offer other electrical contractor a chance to partner up on project and share the Risk
d. find another contractors who would like the whole project and ask for a finders fee/commision if they get the job
e. my least favorite. tell the cutomer I'm not able to do the project and just walk away.
Any advice you can lend an OLD Electrician/NEW EC would be appreciated.