Q for those that bid by opening,

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sw_ross

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If you charge “by the opening” I assume that means (includes) trim out?

Do you have a different price for light openings where the customer furnishes the fixture versus receptacle and switch openings?

What about switch openings that are dimmers Or fan speed controls?

Tell me if I’m wrong;
If I was to use this process,
- I would have 2 “per opening” prices, one for receptacles and switches, and another for lights that owner provides fixture.
- I would add X amount for dimmers and speed controls.
- I would add on for bath exhaust fans.
- I would have home-run prices, based on circuit size and type (AFCI, etc)
- All this would not include the service. That would be a separate deal based on size.

Im just trying to get a handle on how most people do this form of estimate.

Thanks
 
I use a spreadsheet I developed when I did more than 1 home a year. It worked for me when I did the homes personally. I don't do spec homes.

I lay out the electrical and count each receptacle, single pole, three way, and four way. I supply recessed cans, trim and bath vent/light/heat depending on what is in the rooms. Two gang and three gang boxes are counted. I count typical wall and ceiling fixture openings. Fixtures are not included but I will give an estimate if they want it included for bank purposes. Each major appliance has a base charge plus footage. CBs are accumulated as the openings and appliances are counted, as are GFCI devices. I know from previous record keeping how many feet of 12/2, 14/2 and 14/3 is needed. Staples, wire connectors etc are also accounted for along with the labor hours. The total costs, overhead and desired profit for these openings are added, then divided by the # of openings to arrive at that particular customers price per opening. Underground service is different than overhead but all of it is included in the Service entrance fee.

I do not care to, or depend on houses to make a living. I would rather dig ditch.

eta: Ceiling fans count as two openings. Dimmers, speed controls and similar are additional cost.
 
I would not charge less for lighting outlets; the increased labor covers the no-device saving. Switches and receptacles included, dimmers, etc., are extra, as with any light I supply, even bulbs. Major circuits are more, but few enough to count individually.
 
I have a 'per opening' price depending on what the opening is for. SP switch, 3way, 4way, ceiling light, fan, bath exhaust, smoke etc. A GFCI in the kitchen will be more than a simple duplex in the living room. Each one has a calculated price based on current commodity prices and labor units based on historical benchmarking,
 
Screenshot from take-off report on a recent job......

Couple of notes, first pic that shows fixtures is install cost only. Last pic shows fixture cost to customer.

USB recep is just a regular type A; fast charging type C are about $15 more.

“C4” switches shown are install cost only; Control4 components priced separately.

Also appliance distance from panel is measured and calculated in cost. So for a standard recep i just use 30’ of cable per device. On appliances it’s calculated with actually how much will be used.


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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for the responses!
definitely give me info to mull around in my mind as I steer towards this type of estimating.
 
Would you install all ceiling boxes as 'fan' boxes, just in case the owner would change out a lamp for a fan?

What are the weight limits for a non-fan box? There are some rather elaborate ceiling fixtures available! Better put the fan box in, instead of a call back for a dangling fixture box! :)
 
My original goal in this mental exercise was to be able to come up with an overall "average" price per opening, thinking that I could do a walk-thru of a project (in-person or on paper) and quickly come up with an estimate.

As I play around with the numbers I'm finding that there's too many variables to just come up with 1 number per opening. I find myself falling back to creating "assemblies" for given openings that vary quite a bit on material and labor costs.

I've had my business for about 3 years now. I find estimating to be the most challenging part of my business. I don't normally work on whole house new construction except for add-ons (which don't really count since the service is already in).

Besides service work and small to medium commercial projects I tend to get pulled into a fair number of reno's. I tend to not do bids on those because of too many unknowns.

I'll do bids on smaller tasks, like adding a baseboard heat circuit, where I feel like it's pretty straightforward with minimal unknowns.

I'm starting to think that bidding by opening is similar to bidding by sq. foot. because of variables.
I Imagine looking at a bid that is based on assemblies, and then calculating out the per opening price just to check yourself is probably useful, similar to checking your per sq ft price (if you do a lot of houses regularly).
 
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romex jockey said:
I suppose one could count up all the openings on past bids,and divide it by the total bid $....~RJ~
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Agreed!... My concern is that I (my business) don't do a lot of bidding of new home construction so I don't have much of a database. I have done a lot of new home construction while working for others before I went out on my own, so I'm comfortable with knowing, material-wise, what is needed.

Because of the type of work I find myself getting pulled into (remodels, makeovers, add-ons, upgrades, etc) I end up doing a lot of T&M, and estimating ($ amount based on not running into issues), not actual "hard" bids.
 
Most all of my estimating is done by "task" in some way - shape - or form.

Bidding by the opening usually means that someone assigns a flat number to each opening. 50 openings times $50 = $2500 - add for permit (etc etc)

Breaking it down by type of opening is surely recommended but if you can get away with less than more power to you.
 
sw_ross said:
Because of the type of work I find myself getting pulled into (remodels, makeovers, add-ons, upgrades, etc) I end up doing a lot of T&M, and estimating ($ amount based on not running into issues), not actual "hard" bids.
Click to expand...

I agree people w/out a plan, reno's that aren't complete gut jobs, or those helpy helperton jobs are easier to deal with that way Ross.

OTOH, the trades are lousy w/ software salesmen insisting their Flat Rate programs address every small electrical detail possibly imaginable.

(they take all my patience)

So we've FR, Bids, T&M ,and Estimates .

T&M is the no-brainer, aside from demographic rates ....Estimates follow T&M ,as in the last 1/2 dz hot tubs averaged out to $$$....Bids follow being labor based be it per sq ft, per opening, or per total weeks or months

JHMO

~RJ~
 
sw_ross said:
Because of the type of work I find myself getting pulled into (remodels, makeovers, add-ons, upgrades, etc) I end up doing a lot of T&M, and estimating ($ amount based on not running into issues), not actual "hard" bids.
Click to expand...


Remodel, up-grades, basement finish, can lights , ect. is almost all I ever do. I quote the number and type of fixtures and devices to be installed and a set price. I don't quote these as cheap as new construction because there is normally a smaller amount and more labor involved.

The best way I found to bid work is to look for anything that can slow the job down. People living in the home normally makes the work slower. A bunch of junk in the work area. Not being able to park close to work area.

If you can look at a job and come up with a "realistic" number of man hours to complete the job that's all that counts ( I completely base mine on experience ). . Anyone that knows what they are doing should be able to come up with a materials list and cost.
 
growler said:
Remodel, up-grades, basement finish, can lights , ect. is almost all I ever do. I quote the number and type of fixtures and devices to be installed and a set price. I don't quote these as cheap as new construction because there is normally a smaller amount and more labor involved.

The best way I found to bid work is to look for anything that can slow the job down. People living in the home normally makes the work slower. A bunch of junk in the work area. Not being able to park close to work area.
Click to expand...

Oh, absolutely!! One thing I cannot stand is a house full of clutter when I have electrical work to do. And I hear you on the parking issue, too. A couple of other things I would like to add that slow jobs down:

1) Having to trace through & remove previous homeowners' hack work before we can do our jobs. I'm facing that situation in the house I'm working on now (kitchen remodel in 1950's ranch house).

2) Winter season in general. Any winter-related issue -- freezing weather, snow, ice, reduced daylight hours -- can easily slow a job down. I don't even do service upgrades in the winter, because there is simply not enough daylight hours. To install a proper grounding system, new conduit riser mast, meter base, as well as change out the panel and label every circuit takes upwards of 8 hours to do. Also, issues with new construction: Besides a disdain for cold working conditions, the cold causes plastic boxes to become brittle -- so the built-in clamps often break off, rendering the box unusable. The reduced daylight hours limits the hours one can work on new construction, since there is no power for lighting yet.
 
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