Small Job Estimating....

Status
Not open for further replies.
Bob Kraemer said:
You guys charge 105.00 per hour?
Here in Cincinnati 50.00 per hour is about the max we can get for residential.
I thinks I may need to move. :D unless I can figure out a way to get all the residential electric contractors to raise there price.
Click to expand...

There was a time I charged $45/hr. I was busy as he11 and running out of money though. I am giving great consideration to a flat rate program for our residential service work. If someone would like to share their flat rate material please feel free. PM me, IM me, or call me in the middle of the night with the information that has really worked.
 
Bob Kraemer said:
You guys charge 105.00 per hour?
Here in Cincinnati 50.00 per hour is about the max we can get for residential.
Click to expand...


I think there is some confusion about rates here. I had a general contractor tell me that $50 an hr. is the going rate here. He's probably about right if you are talking about the rate billed for labor on a T&M residential construction job ( normally one electrician and 3 or 4 helpers with the electrician haveing less than 5 years experience ). But he is way off when thinking that he is going to get a service call for that rate.

I would see running power to a shed as a service call at flat rate price and not as a job to bid. The rate is going to be much higher than a job lasting for weeks or months. You can't afford to do small jobs for the same rate as those that will keep several men busy for extended periods.

This job is going to waste the better part of a day for one man ( when all time spent is included). What's that worth ?
 
bradleyelectric said:
2 hours fishing the feed,
3 hours for 3 rec.
1 hour switch
1 hour light
____
7 hrs.
Click to expand...
I see how you did it. Are you forgetting another switch? According to 225.31 and 225.32 you need to have a means of disconnect for the shed right? So that would be another switch would it not?
 
chevyx92 said:
I see how you did it. Are you forgetting another switch? According to 225.31 and 225.32 you need to have a means of disconnect for the shed right? So that would be another switch would it not?
Click to expand...

according to 225.32 exception1... well I might have a pretty hard time selling that 1 at a residental shed huh?
 
Ok, got a bid tomorrow.

Ok, got a bid tomorrow.

Got a call from my new craigslist ad.

Guy wants a dryer outlet where there is none.

He wants a bid first...

If he likes the bid, I get the job on the spot...

Do I charge this as a service call... I already add $30 for that...
My standard residential rate is $48 an hour. (Commercial is higher)

Should I raise??? Add on time??? Suggestions?

Thanks,
Greg
 
this is why flat rate for residential is perfect. when we were doing a lot of resi service work, our techs would walk in to this customers home, assess the situation and give him a written quote on the spot - not and estimate - a quote.

the customer would ok it, we would do the install.

we would base our quote on about $250/billable hour.
so, if you figured the job would take you 2 hrs, the price would be $500 +material.

we would get the ok probably 6 out of 10 times...fine by me.
 
Greg Swartz said:
and where are you located to charge $250hr.

Thanks,
Greg
Click to expand...


I'm in NJ, but that doesn't matter, we still have guys doing residential service work for $55/hr and 200A service upgrades for $1200

2nd - don't get confused, I said $250 per BILLABLE hour. We would typically get 4 billable hours in an 8 hr day doing service work. So, our billable hourly rate would equal approx $125/hr for every hour that we were paying the techs.

3rd - these guys look to be an ESI company. I'd bet their billable hourly rate is around $300.

I'd bet these guys are in that ballpark as well...they are a Nexstar company

We have a couple of Nexstar companies around here that are getting $4000+ for a 200A service every day, right next to the guys getting $1200.

Now, you can not offer the same product and level of service as the $1200, in most cases, and get $4000. You have to offer more.

But our industry is full of contractors who swear that low price is all people care about. In some cases, yes, we have trained people to only care about price. But some people care about and want more.

Good luck
 
emahler said:
Now, you can not offer the same product and level of service as the $1200, in most cases, and get $4000. You have to offer more.
Click to expand...
More being what, exactly?
 
LarryFine said:
More being what, exactly?
Click to expand...

faster service, neater, cleaner, clean techs (not dirty, smelly 4 day old clothes), the right tools to get the job done quicker, a person answering the phone not a machine, keeping the customer updated (better communication), using copper and PVC instead of AL SEU, Sq D QO instead of T&B, handling all the permits filing and paying, removing garbage instead of leaving for customer, not leaving oil stains in their driveway, etc....
 
LarryFine said:
More being what, exactly?
Click to expand...

The difference between a Mickey D's Happy meal and a $107 steak ....sure both are beef, but the steak costs more ...why?

The difference between a Yugo and a Corvette ...both are cars, but one costs more....is it any better?


....and so on.
 
I had a customer complain to me that I charged to much for a service call.
I came out on a Saturday afternoon and only charged $65. Sure the problem was fixed in a matter of seconds but still. I also had done some work for her just a couple of weeks ago.
 
A1cbr said:
I had a customer complain to me that I charged to much for a service call.
I came out on a Saturday afternoon and only charged $65. Sure the problem was fixed in a matter of seconds but still. I also had done some work for her just a couple of weeks ago.
Click to expand...
I charge the first half hour at our 1-hour rate, which is our absolute minimum. Your customer is short-sighted (pardon the pun).
 
emahler said:
faster service, neater, cleaner, clean techs (not dirty, smelly 4 day old clothes), the right tools to get the job done quicker, a person answering the phone not a machine, keeping the customer updated (better communication), using copper and PVC instead of AL SEU, Sq D QO instead of T&B, handling all the permits filing and paying, removing garbage instead of leaving for customer, not leaving oil stains in their driveway, etc....
Click to expand...

They may also have a min 6 or $800 liability policy while another one, or two man operation may be paying $2,500 to 5,000 for good coverage, and they may not be paying workers comp, these are items that benifit the customer should something go wrong.

In this area, back in 82 they were charging $50 today $60 to 70 will just about cover your overhead and operating before any labor burden or profit is added.

So from 1982 until today there have been no increase in wages, no increase in taxes, none of the services you buy have gone up, phone service must be going down since the 80's. and the insurance companies must be charging the same rates, office supplies never go up, and service trucks must be selling for $7,000, Is fuel still $.74 a gallon? I think I need to go back to school, and learn the new math.

How can anyone even debate this nonsense, the guys that are in business know the cost of doing business, anyone touting these tailgate prices, are working for wages, not operating a business for profit and growth, and there is nothing wrong with that, if they are happy with that way of operating with that level of income.
 
Last edited:
celtic said:
The difference between a Mickey D's Happy meal and a $107 steak ....sure both are beef, but the steak costs more ...why?

The difference between a Yugo and a Corvette ...both are cars, but one costs more....is it any better?


....and so on.
Click to expand...


or eating a steak here vs here

both serve steaks, both will fill you up...one is a dinner...one is an experience.
 
celtic said:
The difference between a Mickey D's Happy meal and a $107 steak ....sure both are beef, but the steak costs more ...why?

The difference between a Yugo and a Corvette ...both are cars, but one costs more....is it any better?


....and so on.
Click to expand...

you know what's great about that $107 steak article? it's the same feeling people get when charged T&M...
 
emahler said:
or eating a steak here vs here

both serve steaks, both will fill you up...one is a dinner...one is an experience.
Click to expand...

I guess asking the price for the "experience" would be considered vulgar.
 
satcom said:
How can anyone even debate this nonsense, the guys that are in business know the cost of doing business, anyone touting these tailgate prices, are working for wages, not operating a business for profit and growth, and there is nothing wrong with that, if they are happy with that way of operating with that level of income.
Click to expand...


I agree, however, I am still trying to learn how to get out of the working for wages thing and getting growth...


I just did a service call an hour ago... I charged $130 for about 1 1/2 hours worth of work and $2 in material. That's the biggest single 1 1/2 hours I've done. I like it, but a lot of people just are not biting at that... That's where I start to lose it.

Another job I bid at $12,000 I walked away with $7,000 profit. It was great, and the next lowest contractor was over $20,000. Had I have known, I would have charged $16,000...

I'm learning, but it just seems like everyone I find out "there" is looking to lowball.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top