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#10453 06/12/02 10:13 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 206
H
Member
Is there an industry standard as far as bidding residential jobs? How do most contractors put together bids for new construction? Square footage? Per Device? Some other way?

#10454 06/12/02 11:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 257
M
Member
arsegee, help him out...

#10455 06/12/02 11:20 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
I go on a per device basis with exceptions/ adjustments for long runs or small jobs. I couldn't see using a square foot price unless you knew every job was almost the same.

#10456 06/12/02 11:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 324
A
Member
Master66, you rang? Here is my shtick... Builders don't build by the sqft and I dont wire by the sqft. Charge for what you do and break it down into different levels. I charge for each drop (known as openings in other parts). switch= one drop. Ceiling fan with light kit= two drops. Ceiling fan w/light kit on 20ft ceiling...two drops plus $50 high ceiling fee. I have services broken down into 100A increments up to 400A 1P. This puts the price back on the builder/customer. Wire by the code it may cost $5K, let the customer have the 50 cans, downdraft cook top, chandelier lift, LAN cabling, and heated tile floor to keep their tootsies warm... that'll be about $12K. People ask how much does cost to wire a house, I say "don't know, never charged the same thing twice". There is a thread some where that has my price sheet on it but I couldn't find it.

#10457 06/13/02 12:05 AM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
Yep, per "stop" basis...

Worked great for my last bid (so far)...

Sq ft is useless, the requirements from the NEC aren't really scalable, small houses (1200 sq ft) will be more per sq ft than medium ones (2000 sq ft), and larger homes tend to raise the sq ft average with more elaborate devices and wiring.

Any past jobs will give insight to cost per stop if you break the T&M+ down into the bits too.

<disclaimer>
I'm not terribly experienced, but I'm learning alot, quickly, in an effort to keep my business alive. Folks here at ECN have levelled the learning curve for me dramatically... Results may vary...
</disclaimer>


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#10458 06/13/02 05:43 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
The problem is, people want quick ##'s without forwarding specific info.
Most are not concerned with the receptacle layout as they will usually accept a 'to code' install.

It's the lighting & amenities
( what arseegee said...)

#10459 06/13/02 07:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 206
H
Member
Well, we are a very young company (< 1 yr). My brother, me and another partner. We have one builder that the two of them have been wiring houses for for several years. They do a square foot price and then charge him for extras. For example, 1.50 per square foot of living space (to code), 60 bucks per can, 90 bucks per paddle fan, etc. Its only been a few months since we have been tracking material costs and expenses - its a long story, they never thought to do this stuff before because it was just a couple of guys making some extra money...

Anyway, so it sounds like the sq ft route isn't a fave by anyone...the problem is - these guys (builders) wanna fax you an 8.5 x 11 plan and tell you to give them a price...

By the way - thanks for all the input you guys! This board is amazing!

[This message has been edited by Happi_Man (edited 06-13-2002).]

#10460 06/14/02 06:56 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
Quote
these guys (builders) wanna fax you an 8.5 x 11 plan and tell you to give them a price...

i really hate that, so i've compiled a few 'pre-bid prompts...'
this may copy/paste badly...

SERVICE PANEL FURNACE KITCHEN
100amp # circuits # circulators counter length
150amp m.l.o. # zones penensula
200amp W/main # z-valves island
simple meter location # T-stats compactor
meter w/ main H2O main firematic dishwasher
location panel gfi em-sw. disposal w/ self-sw
temp service- location disposal- cntr. sw.
power co. hot H2O sink light
nearest pole# air con. overhead light
BATH#1 BATH#2 LIV.ROOM recessed light
fan w/ venting fan w/venting cieling fan under-cab. light
fan/light fan/light cieling fan/light in-cab.-light
fan/light/heat fan/light/heat swicthed rec. track light
vanity light vanity light phones 3-way's
sconsets sconsets cable microwave
shower light shower light computer other appliances
gfi's gfi's special lighting range
jacuzzi jacuzzi 3-way's range hood
venting venting phone
toe kicks
MASTER BED CLOSETS GARAGE DINING RM.
bed recept. walk-ins attached overhead
phone flour.light detached sconsets
cable recessed light lighting 3-way's
switched rec. auto-switched power cieling fan
overhead light special needs cieling fan/light
cieling fan smokes chandelier
cieling fan/light auto-door
closet light 3-way's
smokes

RECEPTACLES MUD ROOM BED#1 BED#2
iv-res. grade lighting phones ''
br.-res. grade rec. cable ''
white-res.grade 3-way's swiched rec. ''
plastic plates switched overhead ''
special plates bedside rec. ''
dimmers closet light ''
fan controls smokes
automation 3-ways


BASEMENT EXTERIOR LIGHTING SPECIAL NEEDS
full front door alternate power
partial rear door automation
crawl garage door isolated receptacles
smokes spots surge suppression
lighting floods chime kit
sewer pump timers low-v accent light
washer p-cells computer/fax - phone line
dryer&venting post lights burgler alarm
well pump motion dialer system
freezer w/p gfi's central vac.


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