Price per space

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Doctor Electric

Doctor Electric

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What are some factors that I should consider when coming up with a price per space to quickly bid out a job? ; and secondly do I bid the service separately to break down cost assessment to show itemization or just keep it short and sweet what do you think any thoughts are appreciated thanks guys
 
Unsure by what you mean by space

Unsure by what you mean by space

Are you talking about electrical for a Mobile Home park, or did I misunderstand. You have an interesting post. I would like to reply to it when I understand "Space" Thank you HGC
 
If you itemize, you're just asking to be picked apart by the customer.

I do one price with inclusions and exclusions with notes, terms and conditions.
 
Doctor Electric said:
What are some factors that I should consider when coming up with a price per space to quickly bid out a job? ; and secondly do I bid the service separately to break down cost assessment to show itemization or just keep it short and sweet what do you think any thoughts are appreciated thanks guys
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I think your use of space means "device" like a receptacle, switch, or lighting box. That is certainly a good way to bid a job since the time and materials for doing a device are fairly fixed. Decora costs more than standard so you need to know that (both for switches and receps). The number of rooms (plus outside stuff) will help you determine how many circuits you have. The number of circuits helps you determine how many spaces in a loadcenter you need. You'll have to do a load calc to figure amperage needs.

Services are also fairly easy to bid once you have done a couple and see how fast you are. The materials costs are straight forward.

Always specify who is supplying fans, lights and other fancy materials. Specify if permit is included.

Bidding a whole house is basically adding the service bid and the branch circuit & device bid and giving one fixed price.

P.S. Doing new construction of a whole house is probably the lowest paying work you can get. Stick to remodels. They pay much better.

P.P.S. Doing new construction is the easiest work you can get so it's good if you think you need practice and want to time how fast you run circuits. Also really good for understanding how a house is constructed which is very useful when you are up in an attic trying to fish a wire down a wall for a new switch.
 
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Doctor Electric said:
What are some factors that I should consider.
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As far as your internal rates used for calculating price is concerned:
* labor cost including benefits and taxes
* overhead cost including all insurances, indirect labor (supervisor, estimating, bookkeeping, receptionist), legal, licences, 20 others. Even if the indirect labor is you, you have to charge for it or you are working for free.
* material costs with a healthy markup (at least 2 times the shelf price, some suggest up to 6 times on small items). The markup covers your cost of going to get it and carrying it around on the truck. (weight = gas and wear and tear)
* vehicle/travel costs (Not just gas and oil. Depreciation, insurance, maintenance and repairs, tires) IRS say average vehicle cost is 56 cents a mile. A service truck is probably $1.00 a mile.
* desired profit (Don't be stingy here. This is why you are running a business.)

Get every penny of your costs in there. Every penny you forget, comes right out of your profits.
 
Coppersmith said:
I think your use of space means "device" like a receptacle, switch, or lighting box. That is certainly a good way to bid a job since the time and materials for doing a device are fairly fixed. Decora costs more than standard so you need to know that (both for switches and receps). The number of rooms (plus outside stuff) will help you determine how many circuits you have. The number of circuits helps you determine how many spaces in a loadcenter you need. You'll have to do a load calc to figure amperage needs.

Services are also fairly easy to bid once you have done a couple and see how fast you are. The materials costs are straight forward.

Always specify who is supplying fans, lights and other fancy materials. Specify if permit is included.

Bidding a whole house is basically adding the service bid and the branch circuit & device bid and giving one fixed price.

P.S. Doing new construction of a whole house is probably the lowest paying work you can get. Stick to remodels. They pay much better.

P.P.S. Doing new construction is the easiest work you can get so it's good if you think you need practice and want to time how fast you run circuits. Also really good for understanding how a house is constructed which is very useful when you are up in an attic trying to fish a wire down a wall for a new switch.
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It is a remodel the company that bought the house I have just recently been doing small jobs for moving this adding that ect... Well they want an accurate bid on the house because it's knob and tube in they're company handbook they replace it hands down this is coming from the QC so I know I should make money on this but I don't want to come in too high and them consider another offer. The house is close to home 30 minutes your average commute I don't need practice doing the work I've turned out bigger buildings than this one but never bid one... I'm not greedy and I want to be fair but some things you don't know unless you ask thanks for the thoughts everyone
 
Doctor Electric said:
It is a remodel the company that bought the house I have just recently been doing small jobs for moving this adding that ect... Well they want an accurate bid on the house because it's knob and tube in they're company handbook they replace it hands down this is coming from the QC so I know I should make money on this but I don't want to come in too high and them consider another offer. The house is close to home 30 minutes your average commute I don't need practice doing the work I've turned out bigger buildings than this one but never bid one... I'm not greedy and I want to be fair but some things you don't know unless you ask thanks for the thoughts everyone
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Take your best guess and double it, it will be closer to your actual cost than you think.
 
I build a box with all components and add some wire cost.

Add a profit percentage and that is my per box price.

I try to not give a break out cost.

Just one price with an itemized list of included outlets.
 
ptonsparky said:
Who is responsible for removal of wall coverings? Plaster etc. You have at least lead paint to deal with and possibly asbestos.

No one likes the bid price of a rewire on old homes. The owner because it’s too high, the EC because he was too low.
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I think ptonsparky hit the big note here. What exactly is to be done by you? Will GC handle everything but the wiring?
I just cut some concrete to a kitchen island and the GC wanted me to hire termite treatment dude that the inspector required. It was a few hundred bucks. So, you never can tell what will be thrown at you if you leave yourself open. My concise verbiage in my quote protected me so once I reminded the GC he backed down without issue.

I no longer worry about others pricing. I will not enter a race to the bottom and suggest others do not either. You have history with contractor so use that other quality work to your advantage. :)
 
growler said:
I have actually run into people that think the rewire of an old home should be cheaper than wiring a new home.
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I rewired one a few years ago. Being remodeled. 1940's home. All plaster and lathe was removed. Open studs. Sounds easy right?

Studs were are hard as concrete. Took forever drill holes for running wire.
 
Coppersmith said:
I rewired one a few years ago. Being remodeled. 1940's home. All plaster and lathe was removed. Open studs. Sounds easy right?

Studs were are hard as concrete. Took forever drill holes for running wire.
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LOL, I see you are from Tampa. Yep, I have had the same experience with old wood in homes on my side of the bridge. Makes you nuts. As hard to drill as it is crooked and twisted.
 
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