Price for retro - gfi recepts

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-marty

Senior Member
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Alaska
I can normally find most labor rates, but this one I need a little help.

How much would you charge to replace a recept with a gfi, considering:

1. Old wiring methods
2. Metal box needs to be cut out and larger box (plastic) needs to be installed.
3. Wires are too short.
4. Unit is occupied.

My guess

gfi /cover - $15
box - $1
screws to hold box - wing nuts to extend conductors - $1
labor - $60
profit& OH& travel & stress - $15

$ 92 ????????

There could be as many as 50 I have to do for 10 plex, four plex, and single family dwelling. At least 15 kitchens, 15 baths, shop and garage.

Am I ballpark?

Thanks
 
I see no poblem with it. If it were me, with that many devices to install/swap, what about making it an even $90? The difference between the two is only $100 but that $100 could be the difference between getting the job or not. Just my opinion.
 
-marty said:
Am I ballpark?
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Major or minor league ? The price sounds good to me but that doesn't mean some other contractor will not come along and bid it at half that.
If you are happy with your price then stick with it.

If you are going to change your price then make it 92.95 ea. I don't like to use round numbers because people think your are just making them up as you go ( I am but I don't want them to know it ).
 
kkwong and growler,

Thanks for your advise. It's well taken.

This is one of eleven items I'm including in my cost.

Thanks again.
 
sounds like a fair price

sounds like a fair price

I would try to get an even 100 dont forget you are going to need a weatherproof in use cover on all wet locations and they are expensive you need to make money on this and if the owner wants you to do it they will usually give you the oportunity to match annother contractors lower price. Some of these will be easy and some will be hard you have a nice average price for old work it will be a nice job if you get it.
 
I price GFCI's replacements (where none existed before) at 125 a hole. Indoors, I use a Wiremold extension box is the existing box won't accommodate a GFCI. If that is objectionable to the customer, I add 50 bucks to change the box. Nothing worse than changing a box served by crispy, old braided romex or K&T. Add a bubble cover outdoors, 25 bucks more. For 11 items, such as the original post is about, there are economies of scale to be considered, and I would probably cut my normal prices in half for 11 items.
 
I agree about the economies of scale. You could give your customer a choice in materials though. There is a knockoff gfci that I find has a significant failure rate and you will get call backs. Dont be so quick to cut the costs. Call backs, twisted off screws that need to be retapped, boxes that are full of wires and not deep enough, banging your head against people's doors that are either not home or not available, I like the $125 number. If your customer wants someone else to do it, tell them you use higher quality materials, and personalized service.
 
Ok, lets look at the real world, we went in one unit and the place was clean, the existing box was too small and already packed, no room for GFCI, also down line was frig outlet, so we needed a larger box, wires were very short, the box had to be dropped a bit, and a patch was required, had to come back and finish patch, they wanted it perfect, so total real time on that one was 2 hours not counting set up and break down time, plus 2 flat tires for parking in a space that belonged to someone with parking rage. So that one unit cost us about $400 to do, and all the other units had their own unique set of problems, most needed to have the boxes lowered, and patched, with everyone wanting the perfect patch job, when all was said and done, we took a big loss on the overall job, and had callbacks for patching complaints, even though we had patching not included on the contract, the Management company refused to pay, until all the patching was done, and then we waited 6 montha for part of the payment, with a letter claiming that the balance would be used, to repair the defective patching, so that job was a total loss.

Property management companies usually run from one EC to another, If someone comes along with a cheaper price your gone, their famous words are your our electrician, yup, until you ask to be paid.

So take care, and look that job over real good, and see just what your up against before you give a price.
 
'""even though we had patching not included on the contract,"""



Then why did you let them bully you into accepting responsibility for the patch work?


PS. My theory is, if the job is 90 bucks, you might as well make it 100......then since it is 100, you might as well go to 119 or 129.


Also, you didn't mark up your materials.
 
john,

i agree wholeheartedly with that theory for service work...especially residential...what difference will an extra $10-$20 mean to most customers?
 
Without even getting into changing boxes and patching, we charge $125 JUST to swap the device and the $45 permit is NOT included.

Anything more than a swap out, T &M plus permit, of course ;)
 
emahler said:
i agree wholeheartedly with that theory for service work...especially residential...what difference will an extra $10-$20 mean to most customers?
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Oh, you'd be amazed. I had one customer chew me out for including the time to write out the bill on the clock. :rolleyes:
 
If I have to change out one or two devices, then 150 is about right. But many times I get the call to replace all devices in a house with new, usually decora white. I have found that I average about 5 an hour, if the way to them is cleared out well enough. I was doing this exact thing all day today as a matter of fact. House was all #12, light switches included, and that and the short wires slowed me to about 15 minutes each. All wrapped around the screws, no back stabbery. Wish those guys in the sixty's would have left some more wire in the boxes for crying out loud.
 
in my mind you really need to know just how many you are replacing

People will ask you to quote replacing maybe a hundred and then give you the job of one or two

or for a hundred - doing one at a time when a tenant moves out etc

Golden Rule #1 - Know what you are doing (bidding on)
give a firm price on a firm scope of work
 
macmikeman said:
Wish those guys in the sixty's would have left some more wire in the boxes for crying out loud.
Click to expand...

Now how do you expect them to get the wire length right, when they used a hatchet to cut the cables, and a dull razor knife to strip, back then a lot of the production guys doing rough in had 2 tools, a hatchet and razor knife, before they showed up Joe the gorilla driller, would have all the holes in, and sometimes in the right places. Only experience required, was show up, work long hours, and don't complain about getting paid, when the wind blows.
 
i would be higher.

150, for changing out the box, extending the wiring, and installing the gfi.

160, for installing wm box, extending wiring, and installing the gfi.

175, for changing out the outside box, extending the wiring, installing gfi, and installing an in use cover.

i dont even bother installing a non in use cover anymore, unless they wont fit to that location. people always use them incorectly anyways.

dont forget about the time it will take you to explain to each resident how to properly operate the gfi outlet, otherwise your going to get callbacks everytime they trip it.
 
hd sells a complete cfci kit

hd sells a complete cfci kit

With weatherproof in use cover T-11 box and spec grade gfci receptacle for 25 bucks. I just got a job to install 3 at 100 bucks apiece. I am sure it will not take me more than 3 hrs for the retrofit .
 
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