How to respond

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The customer is the customer. If the customer wants T&M and you don't want to do it, then the two of you cannot conduct business. Since the customer is spending the money, the customer should get what the customer wants, you don't have to be the one to provide it.
 
westelectric said:
Permits will be pulled. I dont think that is there thinking. I think they feel that T&M is a control factor on there part. They think that we as electrical contractors are all so over priced, that if they know what we are charging per hour, then we are not robbing them in the long run. Also, if they were to hear my T&M rate they will use this as a tool to get someone to under bid me alot easier then someone actually figuring the job as a whole.
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DO the permist in your area go with the contractor?
In my area they don't
Electrical permits are all-in-one
Unless the job is only electrical like service upgrade. Even a spa tub I usually will not provide permit as there is framing or concrete that is another trade. The GC or owner pul the permit.

That makes them able to pull your ticket to the show also...:confused:
 
Sierrasparky said:
Electrical permits are all-in-one
Unless the job is only electrical like service upgrade. Even a spa tub I usually will not provide permit as there is framing or concrete that is another trade. The GC or owner pull the permit.

That makes them able to pull your ticket to the show also...:confused:
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Not really, when a GC/homeowner pulls the permit that is a building permit. They still need a licensed electrician, plumber and HVAC contractor to sign in for the record. If you are the electrician of record and have to leave a job then you pull your license from the record for that job and they are forced to hire another licensed electrician. The next EC is going to try to stick it to them because that's just how it works. I'm never going to take over a job from someone else without top money ( and much of it up front) because I'm going to worry about what happened to the last guy.

Don't fool yourself you are the contractor with the permit even if the GC/HO pays for it. GC's know how this works and they are in no hurry to pull anyone's ticket to the show because it always cost them.
 
growler said:
Not really, when a GC/homeowner pulls the permit that is a building permit. They still need a licensed electrician, plumber and HVAC contractor to sign in for the record. If you are the electrician of record and have to leave a job then you pull your license from the record for that job and they are forced to hire another licensed electrician. The next EC is going to try to stick it to them because that's just how it works. I'm never going to take over a job from someone else without top money ( and much of it up front) because I'm going to worry about what happened to the last guy.

Don't fool yourself you are the contractor with the permit even if the GC/HO pays for it. GC's know how this works and they are in no hurry to pull anyone's ticket to the show because it always cost them.
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That is a great system in your area. We don't have it like that. If we are the EC of record that really is meaningless. Only provides a paper trail as to who might have don what.

I would really like that implemented in Calif. I could keep the GC's or owners from doing the "turn and Burn" that is so prevelant here.
 
Sierrasparky said:
That is a great system in your area. We don't have it like that. If we are the EC of record that really is meaningless. Only provides a paper trail as to who might have done what.

I would really like that implemented in Calif. I could keep the GC's or owners from doing the "turn and Burn" that is so prevelant here.
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I didn't know you were in California. I will admit that I really can't understand how the system works out there, it's too complicated.

I don't like the idea of that "turn and burn " thing at all. If it were like that here you would have to "beat" your money out of the GC and that would not be good but it would happen. We have to sign a release form before he can get another EC on the job and that means we need to be paid. They do this so the local goverment need not get involved with any financial disputes ( they have a letter stating that all parties are satisfied, it doesn't get any better than that).

I think every state should be required to furnish sub contractors with a viable legal option when it comes to bill collections.
 
growler said:
I didn't know you were in California. I will admit that I really can't understand how the system works out there, it's too complicated.

I don't like the idea of that "turn and burn " thing at all. If it were like that here you would have to "beat" your money out of the GC and that would not be good but it would happen. We have to sign a release form before he can get another EC on the job and that means we need to be paid. They do this so the local goverment need not get involved with any financial disputes ( they have a letter stating that all parties are satisfied, it doesn't get any better than that).

I think every state should be required to furnish sub contractors with a viable legal option when it comes to bill collections.
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That's awsome... Looks like a thing for my town council agenda..
Anyone else have a similar situation in their county or state?:smile:
 
weressl said:
Then your labor rate is too low. Material is usually a 10% markup and if you are smart, you have volume pricing with your supplier where at the end of the year, or quarterly you get a volume rebate from them.
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10% that can be too low also
 
hardworkingstiff said:
Since the customer is spending the money, the customer should get what the customer wants
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A throw back to my auto parts days, the customer wants the lifetime warranty at the 1 year price. It usually happens.

If you're hurting for work, try explaining that T&M can get costly quickly, and you won't let them get an inspection on work you didn't do under your license.

Try explaining that your materials are more expensive than Big Blue and Safety Orange, because they are higher quality, more reliable, and allow you to have a better warranty.

Good luck. If all else fails, I hear T. Runkslammer is hiring at $15 an hour, no benefits. ;) :grin: :roll:
 
DanZ said:
If you're hurting for work, try explaining that T&M can get costly quickly, and you won't let them get an inspection on work you didn't do under your license.
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I don't follow the logic. If you give a price up front then it would be cheaper? :confused: :confused:


Why would you get an inspection on work you didn't do? :confused: :confused:
 
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