Prices for things

[uksparks]

Hi,

Just a quick question, been to a house this morning which needs to have a fair bit done including rewiring both light circuits as has no CPC and wants a new consumer unit but wants to have his metal fittings everywhere, so he needs this sorting first.

Its a 4 bed house, and the loft is empty, but fully boarded and screwed down with interlocking boards.

1. How much would you say to charge to remove the board and replace? Thats kind of one job on its own, he wants a price so ill give him one, I was thinking, i know its easy ish to remove them, but its a pig getting them back down again in the right order etc... so was going to say something like £175 to remove and replace boards on top if he doesn't do it.

2. The light circuits, its all floorboards, so not chipboard, not really sure how much to tell him, i have never had to just replace a light circuit before so dont really know what would sound too much?

He needs both light circuits doing, so ignoring the removal of loft boards, would you say to £250 - £300 labour to rewire the light circuit or does that sound too much?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

whats IR between the live conductors like on them lighting circuits?...

If good then offer to pull in a seperate 4mm G/Y to serve all points for class 1s...

 

[Meggerman]

Is there conduits in place? What about rewiring the downstairs lights, you need upstairs floorboards up for that. Do you reckon you can rewire and 2nd fix all that for £300?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

what i`m saying is work out the cost of your materials....

and offer him an option...one that is financially advantageous to yourself on the quiet..

 

[Meggerman]

whats IR between the live conductors like on them lighting circuits?...

If good then offer to pull in a seperate 4mm G/Y to serve all points for class 1s...

Good idea this. If they have class 2 switches then you need only do the fittings aswell.

 

[uksparks]

i have not got as far as testing anything as he only moved in yesterday and the place is full of boxes, but as he wants brass fittings for switches and all shiny new metal fittings on every light, its going to need every point doing.

Currently its all metal fittings with no earth..

The house is approx. 1965 at a guess, ancient fuse box, there's loads of things he wants doing such as extra sockets everywhere, down lighters everywhere etc...

 

[MDJ]

Hi,

Just a quick question, been to a house this morning which needs to have a fair bit done including rewiring both light circuits as has no CPC and wants a new consumer unit but wants to have his metal fittings everywhere, so he needs this sorting first.

Its a 4 bed house, and the loft is empty, but fully boarded and screwed down with interlocking boards.

1. How much would you say to charge to remove the board and replace? Thats kind of one job on its own, he wants a price so ill give him one, I was thinking, i know its easy ish to remove them, but its a pig getting them back down again in the right order etc... so was going to say something like £175 to remove and replace boards on top if he doesn't do it.

2. The light circuits, its all floorboards, so not chipboard, not really sure how much to tell him, i have never had to just replace a light circuit before so dont really know what would sound too much?

He needs both light circuits doing, so ignoring the removal of loft boards, would you say to £250 - £300 labour to rewire the light circuit or does that sound too much?

what!!!! so a days wages then? what about materials and 2 days to rewire, then reconnect to all lights then testing lol, 800 is more like it

 

[uksparks]

Is there conduits in place? What about rewiring the downstairs lights, you need upstairs floorboards up for that. Do you reckon you can rewire and 2nd fix all that for £300?

I dont know, i think its going to take a day and a half to do it properly factoring in time wasted on things etc, what would you say?

 

[uksparks]

what!!!! so a days wages then? what about materials and 2 days to rewire, then reconnect to all lights then testing lol, 800 is more like it

This is why im asking your opinion, I dont normally just rewire light circuits... 800 sounds a lot, im only charging £350 for a board change inc board.

 

[uksparks]

what i`m saying is work out the cost of your materials....

and offer him an option...one that is financially advantageous to yourself on the quiet..

I know roughly what I need in materials, accurately enough to work it out.

- - - Updated - - -

Good idea this. If they have class 2 switches then you need only do the fittings aswell.

He would like class 1 everywhere...

 

[MDJ]

okay so lets say 2 days work, thats 400 plus vat, plus lets say 80 quids worth of cable, then misc another 50 ish, so if you don't have to rip up all the boards and put back then maybe 530 plus vat, that would be 600+, so okay 800 a bit OTT, but 250 is just a silly price.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Good idea this. If they have class 2 switches then you need only do the fittings aswell.

well...theres 2 things spring to mind here:

1) are the switch drops in a metal conduit?...if so then the containment can be utilised for R2...

2) before leaving switch outlets without a means of earthing i would be asking the person ordering the work what their future plans were regarding switches...

 

[uksparks]

what!!!! so a days wages then? what about materials and 2 days to rewire, then reconnect to all lights then testing lol, 800 is more like it

£800 per circuit???

 

[MDJ]

£800 per circuit???

see post 11, based on your idea of time to install.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

do you know what UKsparks:

get the lot meggered...

have a good look around (all finals)...

if its shaged then you may just offer to rewire it for him....lay it on with the advantages of him having it done now...before any decor goes up...

 

[uksparks]

well...theres 2 things spring to mind here:

1) are the switch drops in a metal conduit?...if so then the containment can be utilised for R2...

2) before leaving switch outlets without a means of earthing i would be asking the person ordering the work what their future plans were regarding switches...

he has made it very clear to me that he wants class 1 brass fittings everywhere and metal light fittings. I am not sure if its in metal conduit as didn't look that far, to do a proper job, its just as easy to chase the wall out and stick a new bit of cable in.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

whats the earthing arrangements?...and the Ze?

 

[uksparks]

okay so lets say 2 days work, thats 400 plus vat, plus lets say 80 quids worth of cable, then misc another 50 ish, so if you don't have to rip up all the boards and put back then maybe 530 plus vat, that would be 600+, so okay 800 a bit OTT, but 250 is just a silly price.

I guess you are right, I think i have nasty habit of doing things too cheap.

 

[MDJ]

Agree with Glenn, from what you have said UK it sounds almost a complete job now lol, 3k plus vat for a 4 bed, no fancy lights in that though.

 

[Andystraughan]

£800 for board change and rewire of lights seem fair? I'd charge more but that's my opinion

as for the boards in the loft tell them to get a joiner in. Would be cheaper and nothing can come back to you

 

[GLENNSPARK]

well look first to see if theres any conduit for them drops....

if there is...and you play your cards rite then you shouldn`t be needing to chase them drops...should you...

 

[uksparks]

whats the earthing arrangements?...and the Ze?

I dont know the Ze, its PME though, like i say, it was heaped up with boxes everywhere and all in front of the board so couldn't even get access, but im basing the no CPC on that having looked at a few ceiling roses up and down, there was no earth, plus the age of the wiring i did wonder that before i even looked.

 

[Andystraughan]

As the others say a rewire is ideal

 

[uksparks]

Agree with Glenn, from what you have said UK it sounds almost a complete job now lol, 3k plus vat for a 4 bed, no fancy lights in that though.

My bill so far including all the stuff he had mentioned is £3k ish, he wants loads of stuff doing, maybe a rewire would be a better idea, cost the same or there abouts.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for all your points by the way! Really appreciate it, i think i need to re think my prices!

 

[MDJ]

My bill so far including all the stuff he had mentioned is £3k ish, he wants loads of stuff doing, maybe a rewire would be a better idea, cost the same or there abouts.

Be careful though regarding cost of lights and quantities, the cost can quickly escalate and you may end up losing money if you do not agree what is going in at the begining, with led spots these days the costs can climb very quickly.

 

[uksparks]

I fit quite a lot of spots so am pretty good at pricing them.

Im going to eat dinner now, then will return!

Thanks!!

 

[MDJ]

I fit quite a lot of spots so am pretty good at pricing them.

Im going to eat dinner now, then will return!

Thanks!!

Saturday night= must be a curry and a beer :biggrin5:

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I fit quite a lot of spots so am pretty good at pricing them.

Im going to eat dinner now, then will return!

Thanks!!

get a third upfront

a third on end of first fix and the final settlement upon completion + note..

 

[uksparks]

Thanks for this, ill finish my estimate and then send it to him, I know he has a couple of other people quoting so will be interesting to hear what they say.

Enjoy your weekend all!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Thanks for this, ill finish my estimate and then send it to him, I know he has a couple of other people quoting so will be interesting to hear what they say.

Enjoy your weekend all!

never mind what they say....and when you`v worked out your price...then stick to it...

what he should be looking for is value for money....that dont mean the cheapest....does it


make it clear to him that value for money is a feature of your quote...

 

[Octopus]

I'd be making sure that your estimate clearly covers what you are doing, and what you won't be doing. Regarding the CU change make sure he understands Part P and the fact that you are registered etc. if he wants a cheap price then submit yours and walk away - any fool can be busy and poor.

 

[uksparks]

I like what your saying, I don't want to be seen as a rip of merchant but rather someone who charges a fair price and does the job properly. Last night, more fool me but a lady a few streets calls me to say she wanted a plug socket changing as the earth pin on the plug had snapped in it, it only took a few mins, swapped it, did a Zs, charged her a £10 and was in my way, I'll be honest I felt sorry for her single on her own on valentines day with a broken socket.

Sometimes I like to do things cheap like that as it literally took two mins, I know she will ring in the future or hopefully recommend me. I'd if felt guilty if I'd charged her £35 min fee for two mins work and just round the corner.

 

[trev]

I understand what you're saying UKsparks but you have to ask yourself would she have done that 2 minute job on the cheap for you if the position had been reversed?

An example, a lad I know runs a restaurant and a few days before christmas the extract fan in his kitchen stopped working, he came and picked me up and I got it working again within 5 minutes of opening my toolbox then he dropped me off again.

Every time I've had a meal in his restaurant he has charged full whack so he had to do the same.

Like is said above, anyone can be busy and skint.

 

[uksparks]

True, but sometimes if rather have money coming in that out price myself, it's a tough game but I have enough bits and bobs coming in and lined up. My mrs sometimes says don't undersell yourself, but I say I'd rather have £200 for the job and a days work than nothing. I think I might increase the estimate on this other job coming up.