We charge $150 for the certificaton, then include a "free" estimate with the certification.
Realtors "use" the EC as a bargaining tool only! They get theirs at closing based on selling price of house. They don't really care about us.
I once had arealtor try to tell me the home inspector was right and I was wrong about a 2p20Amp breaker feeding an A/C which had #14 wire!
The RE kept insisting it was srong because the HI said so. I finally said to the RE that if the HI was right ahve hime fix it. He can't because he's not an electrician. I'm a Master Electrician. What that equates to in your world is, I'm a broker, you're a salesman.
I put the panel cover back on and left. Good day!
We screen our realtor calls. You can pick out the fisher's, the ones fishing for the cheap price aka free.
Our first question is "Who is paying?" Then the conversation moves forward or ends.
I had a guy call Friday wanting me to troubleshoot his "wiring job" ove rthe phone for free. After I listened to him, I said, "I don't understand what you really have there, but I can send an electrician out Monday morning. How will you be paying for the service call? He said Thanks but no thanks.
I gave up working for free...
Here's a good one for you: Guy comes in with his estimate from another EC. His attorney sent him to get a second opinion! I asked how much he paid for the first estimate. He said it was a FREE estimate. I asked how much the attorney was charging. He said $225/hr. I said just by coincidence that's exactly what it will cost for me to give a second opinion. He refused.
Don't work for FREE. It costs too much in the short/long run!
