Pricing question?

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ItsHot

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A little piece of heaven!
I have just completed to small jobs and I am interested to see what some of your pricing quotes would be? I know a lot of ec s do not do resedential but I am a small shop and it is a large part of my business. First job.. kitchen remodel. 12 rec. can fixtures ( able to use exsisting circuit/swithes, added one dimmer.) Hung 3 pendants over breakfast bar,added switch.Installed 3 new outlets(recpts.) Installed 5 under cabinet fixtures.(used exsisting switch) Second job.. was a garage addition,(20x30) which was built on to exsisting home.(possibly a future bonus/family room) Included 2 ceiling outlets, 4 outside lighting outlets, 5 receptacles(with gfci- protection) 3 two-gang switch boxes/circuits, and added 2 homerun circuits. Any comments are greatlly appreciated!!!
 
Without looking at the job I could not give a quote,that being said I would start at 1500.00 and adjust for real world conditions material and labor cost can add $$ real fast.
 
!st job = $2000 2nd job = $1200 But how would I really know without seeing the job & jobsite conditions, meeting with the HO/GC, dicussing trim options, knowing what type of wiring methods to be used and how much of the existing wiring I needed to mess with.
 
ItsHot said:
I am interested to see what some of your pricing quotes would be? I know a lot of ec's do not do residential but I am a small shop and it is a large part of my business. First job.. kitchen remodel. 12 rec. can fixtures ( able to use existing circuit/swithes, added one dimmer.) Hung 3 pendants over breakfast bar,added switch.Installed 3 new outlets(recpts.) Installed 5 under cabinet fixtures.(used exsisting switch)
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12 recessed cans: Furnished by whom, size, remodel or new construction type, baffle & trim, type of lamp requested. Plans, were there any or did you have to spend half a day with the homeowner to figure out location.

The dimmer is easy, it takes as long to install a cheap one as it does a good one, difference is material cost.

Three pendant lights: furnished by whom? Where there any plans or did you spend another couple of hours trying to get a decision out of the homeowner.

Added switch: was the area open are was it fished?

Installed three receptacles outlets: again, degree of difficulty, area open or fished.

Five under cabinet fixtures: Furnished by whom? Type of fixture? Any fishing involved?

What were the total number of trips to this home? What was the distance? Anthing special ordered, much time shopping?

Was the job permitted are under the radar? Permit fees and time need to obtain permit.

Off hand I would say that this job would run between 2 and 5 thousand with the option for additional charges.

Am I in the ball park?
 
more info

more info

growler said:
12 recessed cans: Furnished by whom, size, remodel or new construction type, baffle & trim, type of lamp requested. Plans, were there any or did you have to spend half a day with the homeowner to figure out location.

The dimmer is easy, it takes as long to install a cheap one as it does a good one, difference is material cost.

Three pendant lights: furnished by whom? Where there any plans or did you spend another couple of hours trying to get a decision out of the homeowner.

Added switch: was the area open are was it fished?

Installed three receptacles outlets: again, degree of difficulty, area open or fished.

Five under cabinet fixtures: Furnished by whom? Type of fixture? Any fishing involved?

What were the total number of trips to this home? What was the distance? Anthing special ordered, much time shopping?

Was the job permitted are under the radar? Permit fees and time need to obtain permit.

Off hand I would say that this job would run between 2 and 5 thousand with the option for additional charges.

Am I in the ball park?
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They were 2 seperate jobs. First job: kitchen remodel. Can fixtures provide( 8" old work clip in)12 installed, used exsisting circuit. Added dimmer in one box( 3-way)dimmer was provided. Plans were provided.
Pendants and switch were provided. (had to fish in switch). 3 recpts. were provided. Had to cut and fish there locations. Total of 3 trips to job. 90 miles total driving. Permitt was pulled($75) Second job(different costumer). Garage addition onto home.(20x30) Homeowner was gc!?? I did the design/layout. Permitt pulled($55) Owner provided fixtures and devices. I provided conductors.Used about 500' of 12-2 and 100' of 12-3. There was 11 foot ceilings. 2 inside lighting outlets, 5 outside lighting outlets.5 inside receptacles.4 trips to job.With total of about 60 miles of driving. Thanks!!
 
ItsHot said:
I have just completed to small jobs and I am interested to see what some of your pricing quotes would be? I know a lot of ec s do not do resedential but I am a small shop and it is a large part of my business.
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In most areas, a lot of EC's depend on service, and remod work, the problem is, not many customers want to pay the cost of the jobs, pricing a job can be difficult, different areas have different conditions, economy may be up in one and down in another.

When you hear a customer say I had a hard time finding someone to do a small job, what they really mean is they can't find someone to work for nothing, or below a living wage.
There are plenty of ligit EC's that can do the work, just not for nothing.
 
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ItsHot, I have one more question.


Was there a Mercedes or Chevrolet in the drive way?

I add 10% for a Porsche, a little more if it's top of the line.
They expect it. They can afford it. Everyone does it. :wink:

I'm not kidding. :D
 
growler said:
ItsHot, I have one more question.


Was there a Mercedes or Chevrolet in the drive way?

I add 10% for a Porsche, a little more if it's top of the line.
They expect it. They can afford it. Everyone does it. :wink:

I'm not kidding. :D
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Always remember the rule of thumb. The name of the game is to make some of their money, my money.
 
good point!

good point!

growler said:
ItsHot, I have one more question.


Was there a Mercedes or Chevrolet in the drive way?

I add 10% for a Porsche, a little more if it's top of the line.
They expect it. They can afford it. Everyone does it. :wink:

I'm not kidding. :D
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Hey Growler that is a good point and something to keep in mind! Satcom also made a good point. There is a lot of people that expect you to do work for nothing! As I said in another thread, "why will people pay a painter to repaint 2 small bedrooms $600 and complain about $150 to add an extra receptacle"???
 
ItsHot said:
As I said in another thread, "why will people pay a painter to repaint 2 small bedrooms $600 and complain about $150 to add an extra receptacle"???
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When they ask a painter how much to paint two small bedrooms he replies that it will be $600 , he doesn't crack a smile and he doesn't make excuses. No one paints because they like it they do it for money.

When they ask an electrician how much to install a receptacle he replies $150 but that he know the price is too high but he has overhead and expenses and he spent years training and his dog is sick.

Perception is everything. Hamburger and steak come from the same cow.
 
satcom said:
When you hear a customer say I had a hard time finding someone to do a small job, what they really mean is they can't find someone to work for nothing, or below a living wage.
There are plenty of ligit EC's that can do the work, just not for nothing.
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I couldn't agree more.
A guy called the other day about a little job he was wanting done. He was adding a 240v circuit for a compressor in his garage about ten feet from his panel.

He'd been calling all the contractors in the phone book. I told him I would have to look at the job to give him a firm price for the work and there would be a dispatch fee to come out and look at it. I'm sure some contractors probably quoted him a ballpark price over the phone but he wasn't happy with it. He acted as if a bunch of contractors should be willing to come out and give him free estimates on his little job. He wanted a firm price for doing the work. He was concerned he might hire someone to do the work only to find out later he could have gotten it done cheaper.

He got upset and told me everyone he calls wants a fee just to come out. It's just a little job and he would just go buy the stuff and do it himself but he just doesn't want to mess with it. He said none of you guys want to do such a little job so you charge too much so you won't have to do it.

I told him there are plenty of contractors willing to come out and do the job just not for the price you think it should cost.
 
Bigbucks?

Bigbucks?

aline said:
I couldn't agree more.
A guy called the other day about a little job he was wanting done. He was adding a 240v circuit for a compressor in his garage about ten feet from his panel.

He'd been calling all the contractors in the phone book. I told him I would have to look at the job to give him a firm price for the work and there would be a dispatch fee to come out and look at it. I'm sure some contractors probably quoted him a ballpark price over the phone but he wasn't happy with it. He acted as if a bunch of contractors should be willing to come out and give him free estimates on his little job. He wanted a firm price for doing the work. He was concerned he might hire someone to do the work only to find out later he could have gotten it done cheaper.

He got upset and told me everyone he calls wants a fee just to come out. It's just a little job and he would just go buy the stuff and do it himself but he just doesn't want to mess with it. He said none of you guys want to do such a little job so you charge too much so you won't have to do it.

I told him there are plenty of contractors willing to come out and do the job just not for the price you think it should cost.
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These are the same people that will gripe!,and at the same time pay $5 for a coffee at "bigbucks"!!
 
A little credit... Middle class customers who live in an average house will say "Make sure you charge me enough, I dont want you to work for free". Working class type, same ones who buy you lunch that day.
 
Oakey said:
A little credit... Middle class customers who live in an average house will say "Make sure you charge me enough, I dont want you to work for free". Working class type, same ones who buy you lunch that day.
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I agree with you with one exception - when that person has or has had any involvment with any aspect of the construction industry.
 
I think you have to be firm and confident without being condescending and uninterested . Now i finally know what it cost me per hour to do work after alot of reaserch on this site and others, and i am personally not very willing to budge anymore.
 
operating cost

operating cost

tonyou812 said:
I think you have to be firm and confident without being condescending and uninterested . Now i finally know what it cost me per hour to do work after alot of reaserch on this site and others, and i am personally not very willing to budge anymore.
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Hey Tony, when you start looking at your operating cost, the list really gets long! But I think a lot of customers realize what your cost is,especially the self-emloyed ones!
 
Here is a GC scam we ran into , they hire an EC to wire a house then bid out the next house two a new EC the first EC bids at the same rate as the first but looses the bid to the new EC,on the next house the first EC lowers his bid and gets the house,only thing is the second EC was actually the high bidder on the second house they take his bid to get the first contractor to lower his bid for the third house.
 
tonyou812 said:
Is it normal to get extremly iritated when they say they are looking at other bids.
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Why does it bother you that they are looking at other bids?

Rewire said:
Here is a GC scam we ran into , they hire an EC to wire a house then bid out the next house two a new EC the first EC bids at the same rate as the first but looses the bid to the new EC,on the next house the first EC lowers his bid and gets the house,only thing is the second EC was actually the high bidder on the second house they take his bid to get the first contractor to lower his bid for the third house.
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Rephrase that, and you have the same scam some employees will use to get more money.

Joe Sixpack is getting $20/hour at Rip-Off Electric. He applys at Fly-By-Night Electric, and is offered $22. So he goes back to his boss at ROE and says, "Pay me $24/hr. and I'll stay." So they up his pay. Then he call FBNE and says, "Well, I'm already getting 26, so if you pay me 28......"
 
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