i am need to know how to tell if i an geting a good price on the electrial bid for my new home the co. i called said it would be $3.25 a square foot
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
If you got a price based on a per sq ft, and the co. you called didn't see the plans, then no, you are not getting a good price.
They probably get calls like that all the time and don't want to spend a lot of time working up a price for people just "fishing" and not serious about hiring them. So they give out a standard figure to cover themselves. It sounds high to me. I'd expect 75% of that. You'd get better estimates from the folks in Breaktime.
To get an accurate estimate, take the electrical plan and the electrical specifications for the house to a couple of good electrical contractors. If they know you are serious about building, and they have a fair shot at getting the job, they'll take the time to work up a more precise price.
Get recommendations and narrow the field down to about three quality contractors before making appointments to discuss plans and price with them.
This is normally something the general contractor should be doing, not you.
How can you possibly tell drinkwater if that price is high or low? He/she could live in rural Arkansas, or in San Francisco, which would obviously vary the price substantially. The house could also be a 1,000 SF cottage, or a 5,000 SF estate, which would indicate different levels of electrical work, don't you think?
Bob