Several of you have mentioned the "price per stop" way of bidding and estimating in residential construction.

What range of prices would be considered in the "window" of being resaonable?

$20 to $25?
$25 to $30?
$30 to $35?
Other?

Is each switch considered a stop, or just the 2 or 3 gang box housing the switches?

Fixtures excluded? Labor included?

Heeeelllppp!!

yes someone respond i need help with this 2 sparky 66.

hmmm,
well it's going to be subject to locale', but here is $35 + up per stop, which means every single gangable
( as in 3-gang = 3 stops..) That's all inclusive, rough, finish, hang lighting, activate.

Or you can go with $3 per square ft. for 'wiring to code', but i find this more generalized , and use it as a generic off the cuff answer for those who cannot decide on thier needs ( the 'just-wire-it crowd)

A catalog &/or links are forwarded for the cust to select thier own lighting.

The service is a separate issue. Materials cost X 2 ( and the obvious 1/2 down..)seems to cover labor, utlity interaction, permits, desecrated flower beds & fido's biscuits, etc....

Note this is my formula ( insert disclaimer if spilled on lap while in traffic here) and may/may not work for you.


[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 11-27-2001).]

Here in northwest Illinois, away from the big cities, I charge 24.50 per outlet (also called cut, or hole). This includes the devices but no light fixtures. This is for wood frame structures wired with NM-B. For services I charge roughly $10 per amp. Believe it or not this figure works from 100 to 2000 amps and is usually competitive for my area. Our POCO supplies and installs the residential services either OH or UG but we have to supply commercial service laterals for UG to the pole or transformer and supply the precast the transformer pad. I am very interested in how things are done in other areas.

Phila. area $25-30 per hole(device) & per homerun. Devices & breakers included. Fixtures excluded. $100+ for dryer & range outlets including breaker, device & cord.

In omaha area a common charge is $20-35/opening (outlet or switch) for any size 12 or 14 romex $75-90 for size 10 romex or larger per outlet. $1000.00 for the service. Poco supplies meter socket and service to the house Electrician installs the meter socket and supplies and installs the overhead mast but not underground service. Price includes material,labor,and permits.
Check your drawings for anything special, price does not include fixtures or special items.

I'm giving my GenCon (Heh-heh good nick, no?) a "Final Report" to help argue my need for more money by comparing used materials to estimated materials and bid price to amount of man/hours, to price per stop.

It's taken me almost 280 hours total on this job (holy slowpoke, batman!) but factor in the back injury...

I've used about $3600 in materials bought on his account, and he's paid me about $2200 so far...

If he buys it, he'll owe me another $1600...

If not, he'll owe me $250, and I'll be up the "crick"...

The GenCon has agreed that it took him longer than he thought (5 months!), with more complexity than we first realized as per the plans (which became "modified" later)...

He wants to keep me because the quality of my work speaks for itself, and didn't suffer in the light of the possibility of losing money. I guess honesty is the best policy... buts it's been a hard lesson.

$35 per stop plus $1K for the service! I like those numbers!

Redsy, Good point, not all outlets are created equal!

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 11-26-2001).]

This is fine for new construction, but what about old-work. For example a customer needs a Bathroom GFCI on the second floor, homerun to the panel in the basement. I always run into trouble with these because you never know what you will run into.
I cant see the 'stop-method' working here because it could take you 3 hours to fish the cable just from the basement to the attic or worse.
Any suggestions ?????????

I get $30 an opening (stop). Fixtures furnished by owner. Paddle fan installation costs more.

On a whole house re-wire, you have to double the cost per opening. this only applies to certain types of construction. Sometimes you need to go to 3X.

Partial rewires & small wiring jobs in old homes, you should try to go cost plus if at all possible, too easy to lose $$$ if you quote the work. At least on a whole house re-wire, some openings are easy & some are hard & they usually balance out.

Tom

i use a program based on labor units (labor cost per item installed) and material costs but then that doesn't always work. what i have found effective is to make sure i get at least $35/hour labor plus all the materials costs. this rate is equivelent to approx. $30 to $35 per drop (220v=2 drops) plus $350 for service or about $2/ sqft. it sounds as though most folks are close. you must be carefull on custom homes. i'm doing one now that requires 70 can lights (recessed)and a dozen of them are 20 feet off the ground.
good luck, ken m

ken,
it's extra to grow wings too

I have adopted a similar method for new construction.
SP or unswitched duplex $25
switched duplex $30
3-w $35
4-w $45
GFI $35
paddle fans $120 + fan
more for light kit
recessed 6", step baffle $100+
phone or catv $35

Old work is normally TM+. Some customers don't like not knowing what their bill will be, but I need to protect my family. If they want a fixed cost I will go high.