itemized estimates/ unit pricing

[Riograndeelectric]

I was watching a DIY show and the general contractor was reviewing bids for the electrical with the homeowner. the contractor told the home owner that all electrical bids should the bid itemized with a unit price per point.

duplex receptacle =$$$$
single pole switch =$$$$
3 way switch = $$$$
how many of you provide unit prices and itemize your estimates.

so the customer wants to know up front how much extra it will cost them if they add any extra Electrical

 

[satcom]

I was watching a DIY show and the general contractor was reviewing bids for the electrical with the homeowner. the contractor told the home owner that all electrical bids should the bid itemized with a unit price per point.

duplex receptacle =$$$$
single pole switch =$$$$
3 way switch = $$$$
how many of you provide unit prices and itemize your estimates.

so the customer wants to know up front how much extra it will cost them if they add any extra Electrical

DYI show is a good place for him, some day he may have to enter the real world.

If the customer wanted to add something more would change then just a unit price, there are other costs to consider when making additions, and in my state the job would go from exempt tax to a taxable job as soon as we break down the pricing, he is looking for a piece worker, not an electrical contractor.

 

[sparky=t]

unit pricing

unit pricing

have seen commercial jobs, primarily government that requests unit pricing for change orders, however you are expected to quote job +- alternates, however you would be locked in on change orders + p&o

 

[cadpoint]

If the Owner said that to me then I'd ask if they had that accounting from the GC...

Or better yet is that same requirement the same for all the other possible services that might to be installed ?

 

[JFletcher]

There is no blanket way to price those. An added dedicated receptacle 5' from the panel at rough-in is a lot different than one on the third floor on the opposite end of the house when the walls are up and finished.

How can you add just one 3-way switch?

 

[jaylectricity]

I won't itemize, but I will group things together. Sometimes I'll break things down into rooms. For instance if I foresee some things that might be out of their budget like recessed lights, I'll provide a price for the wiring in the room with recessed lights, and a price without. Then I'll provide a price for *just* the recessed lights should they choose to have me come out again after a pay raise, return on their investment, or just having otherwise saved up the money.

It will be more expensive to do it that way, but for some people it's a cash flow issue. Not much different than buying something you can't yet afford on a credit card and paying the extra interest on an item that would be cheaper if you could afford to pay in cash.

 

[Riograndeelectric]

There is no blanket way to price those. An added dedicated receptacle 5' from the panel at rough-in is a lot different than one on the third floor on the opposite end of the house when the walls are up and finished.

How can you add just one 3-way switch?

this was just an example. I meant to say 3way switches.

 

[macmikeman]

I was watching a DIY show and the general contractor was reviewing bids for the electrical with the homeowner. the contractor told the home owner that all electrical bids should the bid itemized with a unit price per point.

duplex receptacle =$$$$
single pole switch =$$$$
3 way switch = $$$$
how many of you provide unit prices and itemize your estimates.

so the customer wants to know up front how much extra it will cost them if they add any extra Electrical

While I am always for upfront pricing, I am also for upfront scope of requested work. Reason is simple. A customer may want one or two added receptacle outlets or switches. Fine. Another customer wants to go hog wild and keeps asking for change this, change that, add this, add that.
The pricing for customer #1 is going to be lower per unit than what I will give customer #2 out of plenty of experience with both types. #1 I can make a profit off of. #2 causes me problems achieving that goal. Giving a blanket cost per item to #2 to use at will can degrade the overall profit return on a project drastically. I try to avoid that....

 

[Sparky555]

I was watching a DIY show and the general contractor was reviewing bids for the electrical with the homeowner. the contractor told the home owner that all electrical bids should the bid itemized with a unit price per point.

duplex receptacle =$$$$
single pole switch =$$$$
3 way switch = $$$$
how many of you provide unit prices and itemize your estimates.

so the customer wants to know up front how much extra it will cost them if they add any extra Electrical

Unit pricing may be a starting point but a correct quote involves many variables. To name a few...

Travel/Traffic
Weather
Distance between vehicle and project
Scheduling
Interference from other trades, owners, pets, children, etc.
Access
Ladders/scaffold
Wood/tile/brick/steel penetrations
Length of wire
Addition of a circuit, subpanel or replacement of a panel
Coordination with utility
Staging/restaging

 

[satcom]

Unit pricing may be a starting point but a correct quote involves many variables. To name a few...

Travel/Traffic
Weather
Distance between vehicle and project
Scheduling
Interference from other trades, owners, pets, children, etc.
Access
Ladders/scaffold
Wood/tile/brick/steel penetrations
Length of wire
Addition of a circuit, subpanel or replacement of a panel
Coordination with utility
Staging/restaging

I know a lot of contractors that just don't get it, just because someone says that is the way they do it, does not make it right, unit pricing is great for extras on a production item, a car is a good example, but even that can change once the car leaves the lot. the guy wanting unit pricing is the same guy using square foot for electrical, we better start educating the GC's or the problems will get worse.

 

[Allen Schafer]

you simply add (1) 3way to a 4 way or another 3 way