Need help with pricing

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mtnelectrical

Senior Member
Location
Essex, New Jersey
There are 3 offices to wire, same floor, every office has its own subpanel in place. All in metal studs, bx or mc cable, it will have drop ceiling, 10' high, it is a second floor of a 3 floor office building. They want 51 2x2 troffer lay in t bar flurescent lights, 42 receptacles, 21 switches, 10 telephone jacks and 3 computer lines. The offices are 30 by 40 or close. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
 
a good trick to pricing is to call the competition. tell them what you need and get an over the phone qoute if they will do that. also tell them you are trying to find the cheapest contractor. most will give you a rough estimate over the phone.
 
Hey mtn,
a few questions:
- Elevator access/loading dock
I'm sure there is an elevator, but will YOU be able to use it at will or do you have to schedule elevator time? How do you get to the elev., is there a loading dock/platform...or will you be lowering the fixrures from the truck bed (get the 2x4's delivered, less movement on your part)

- Parking and security.
Can you just drive up and park where ever you like or is the area "secure" and requires a stop at "the box" - this can slow you down come trips to the supply house, lunch, etc.
No parking...find your own spot on the street and walk...like Hoboken

- Hours available to work
7am - 5pm ok or can you not make noise during "business hours"
 
dingokangaroo said:
a good trick to pricing is to call the competition. tell them what you need and get an over the phone qoute if they will do that. also tell them you are trying to find the cheapest contractor. most will give you a rough estimate over the phone.
Click to expand...

You are kidding..........right
 
unfortunately, he is probably not kidding. How many phone quote requests do you receive? Think none of them are from other contractors who haven't got a clue how to price jobs?
 
If you are going to play the "call the competition" game...remember, their price is site unseen, they may not want the job, they might also be clueless about estimating, etc.

When I get a call for an estimate over the phone....
- my "estimate" will be low if I need the work; the price WILL be adjusted before I turn a single screw
- my "estimate" will be high if I have no interest in the job; the price WILL also be adjusted before I turn a single screw.

To summarize....the only thing getting screwed is the "competition game player".
 
celtic said:
If you are going to play the "call the competition" game...remember, their price is site unseen, they may not want the job, they might also be clueless about estimating, etc.

When I get a call for an estimate over the phone....
- my "estimate" will be low if I need the work; the price WILL be adjusted before I turn a single screw
- my "estimate" will be high if I have no interest in the job; the price WILL also be adjusted before I turn a single screw.

To summarize....the only thing getting screwed is the "competition game player".
Click to expand...
always allow for adjustments. and if you can get them to take a look and give quote then you beat it.
 
dingokangaroo said:
a good trick to pricing is to call the competition.
Click to expand...

Ask inspectors, they will tell you what other guys are charging.
Ask supply houses, they also know.
Permits have prices on them, and may be freedom of information.

Read different sites, some like to "brag", about how much they "take" people for.

For $59, you can pretty much set them up. Get 3 or 4 to come out with their books and tap thier heads. For under $250 bucks invested, you can get thier prices on various things. And listen to thier sales pitches.

Knowing your competitors prices, and techniques can be valuable, and the money invested can be made back on one job.
 
I agree with dingo & dinkle
Its a free call & may work, but for a commercial job like tyhe OP its can't be done over the phone.

But beware that some of your calls are the same competing EC's feeling you out. Trust your instincts if you think its another EC, ask them the address & when you can stop by to give them a free estimate.
 
mtnelectrical said:
Well Celtic when you got a chance throw me some numbers. Thanks
Click to expand...

I will mtn...just a bit busy to devote much time to number crunching...gimme another day or two, ok?
 
dingokangaroo said:
a good trick to pricing is to call the competition. tell them what you need and get an over the phone qoute if they will do that. also tell them you are trying to find the cheapest contractor. most will give you a rough estimate over the phone.
Click to expand...

Please tell me you were kidding. If not, you just made every estimator in the world S-list. People try this on me constantly. I WILL NEVER give an over the phone ballpark guesstimate, etc, whatever you want to call it. If I can't look at a set of drawings or do a site visit, forget it, you get the T&M treatment.

Now, as far as the OP goes, sounds like you have a pretty good idea what material is need. Assemble your material costs, plus labor costs, add a reasonable mark-up, permit fees, overhead, appropriate taxes, total it up and you will have your quote.
 
Doug, I don't copy,paste others statements from different people and different sites with intentions of humiliation.

What is said at other sites, stays there as far as I am concerned.

If you want the post/posts including the one of the ex-moderator, from one of your sites talking about "taking" the older lady for $1,000/HR and then "bragging" about it, let me know by email.

I would be more than happy to send you the link, off forum.

The guy down the street from me published his price on one site, for a 200a service.

He told me to sit down first.

Then hit me with the $4500.
Then he felt bad when he found out who I was. To bad, we don't compete, in the same market.

I could beat him all day for that price.
And I would advertise the notion I could beat him by 50%, and still make a decent buck.
 
Jljohnson said:
People try this on me constantly. I WILL NEVER give an over the phone ballpark guesstimate, etc, whatever you want to call it.
Click to expand...

Same here. I got a call last week from a guy, who owned an HVAC business. He wanted a price for a new service over to a new wharehouse he took over.

Says he got my name from the phone book.

I shot him a real low-baller price.

I knew he was jerking me, cause I ain't in any phone book anywhere.

My guess was he was in one of those networking groups with some EC, who wanted him to call me to see what I charge.

Guess he'll have to try something new, or maybe he believed me.

I don't care..
 
dingokangaroo said:
a good trick to pricing is to call the competition. tell them what you need and get an over the phone qoute if they will do that. also tell them you are trying to find the cheapest contractor. most will give you a rough estimate over the phone.
Click to expand...

This is the best pricing practice to go broke with. If I want to know what someone else is at I ask them. I wouldn't ask them to bid a job like this unless I really was having problems figuring it out and told them so. Do you like to be jerked around? I believe it would be a much better trick to pricing to actually find out how to price a small job like this.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top