Residential Sq ft rate

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CurtLee

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Location
Dallas
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Electrician
What is the average cost to wire a new house in Texas by the square foot without losing profit? I know you have to cover trim out, panel/ meter base and all the AFCI breakers. Plus wire has gone up.
 
Would an easier answer be man hour per sqft for code minimum? Then material cost and labor rate can be individual for a contractor?
I would assume a NEMA manual would give detailed breakdown of labor time for individual components, then would total manhour and labor rate multiplier added in.

Cost average for any given area can vary a lot based on individual company overhead, materials volume pricing for a company, and area specific requirements. Like here with no licensing, big price competition comes from GC with unskilled labor.

One source that lists for their customers average price ranges for various tasks is Homeadvisor, their web site provides data for nationwide and can I believe breaks into regions also. This info is available to any prospective client and I've sometimes used this to justify to a customer my costs.
Another consideration is the community. Is work being performed in a more affluent area or a depressed area? It would impact willingness to pay a given rate.
 
CurtLee said:
What is the average cost to wire a new house in Texas by the square foot without losing profit? I know you have to cover trim out, panel/ meter base and all the AFCI breakers. Plus wire has gone up.
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Impossible to tell without more info. My guess is somewhere between $10- $12 a sq.ft. I have not had to bid a house during this increase so I am not sure.
 
I don't price by the foot, I count openings

I just yesterday bid a 2700 sf house at $18,000-ish which works out to almost $7.00 per foot.

Builder just about had a stroke.
Told me I was $3,800 higher than another price he got.

I asked him if other guys did a walkthrough with homeowner, and he said no. I had done that.

So basically those other guys threw a price of about $5.50 per square foot at him.

I told him to let me know when those poor souls show up to start, and I'll bring them something to eat so they don't starve to death

btw, I'm in Kansas City where everybody wants to slice each other's throats to get work that pays nothing
 
I don't bid houses by sq ft. I try not to bid any.
Nephews house of 2800 sq ft turned out to be about $7.40 per. Includes service lateral
Price per opening, my preferred method to loose money with, was about $64.

I had a competitor bid it as well. I was low. chit.
 
The job I just started involves everything being integrated with custom millwork and stone. Receptacles are 3 inches off the floor. No way this will be as quick to do vs standard walls and heights. Custom lighting fixtures take longer to install too. Square footage hasn't changed but price certainly will.

Do you need to consider parking, waiting for an elevator and remote delivery in your price?
 
CurtLee said:
What is the average cost to wire a new house in Texas by the square foot without losing profit? I know you have to cover trim out, panel/ meter base and all the AFCI breakers. Plus wire has gone up.
Click to expand...
Only did two new houses in my 50 years and a few rewired but read that then average cost to wire a home is 3 to 5% of total cost of house but that can vary a lot. The one big house with a 4.5 car garage made so many changes like placing a pull down steps after I had run at least 15 NMB cables there , moving doorways, changing mind and having all bathroom exhaust fans have 1500 watt heaters requiring sperate circuit etc. I only ever supplied quality Ligholier hi hats ( to not cut Hands in sharp edges from garbage made in china) and fluorescent luminaries. Made customer select & pay for remaining luminares. If owner or general contractor is in a rush have to charge more. Years ago I had a book on electrical estimating. Gave some great tips. All ceilings above 8' have to charge more, work in a bad neighborhood have to charge a lot more because you can not leave ladders, boxes, wire there overnight. We had a local electrical contractor who would hire two kids out of school work them hard then lay them off when they asked for a raise. Guy could outbid most others working like that. I would stay away from house flippers. They insist on cheapest job and seldom agree to paying for work changes. Make sure you put everything into proposal. Already installed all the devices in a flip then they said O no we want decora receptacles of course in several different colors installed. Told them it would cost them $450 or more. But all you have to do is replace the ones you put in that can be used some where else. Told them yes but my time is worth money. I gave prices to what they called them struggling artists but price was always too high and they asked for a struggling artist price. Told them as a struggling sparky quote is what it is.
 
CurtLee said:
What is the average cost to wire a new house in Texas by the square foot without losing profit? I know you have to cover trim out, panel/ meter base and all the AFCI breakers. Plus wire has gone up.
Click to expand...
What is your total cost. To profit your total amount must be above your costs. Not everyone's cost will be the same.
 
ptonsparky said:
I don't bid houses by sq ft. I try not to bid any.
Nephews house of 2800 sq ft turned out to be about $7.40 per. Includes service lateral
Price per opening, my preferred method to loose money with, was about $64.

I had a competitor bid it as well. I was low. chit.
Click to expand...
Does that include devices and fixtures?
 
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