Pricing for a job need help

[JLHELEC]

Been asked to price for a job, customer is having attic done out so needs a few new circuits up there. Some more context I'm based in South Wales and house is 1950s awkward little.run from the board to up but the new socket's will all be on studs so minimal chasing. I'm so bad at pricing work it literally puts me off taking jobs on. CU is full so I proposed having a new CU dedicated for the loft and going from there.

New CU
X4 socket's one being usb
X2 1 gang 2 way switches
X6 spotlights
X1 optical smoke alarm, to be interlinked with existing smokes, so I gotta dick around with them also.

I was gunna just price materials plus 2 days labour @ day rate but I always feel like iv shafted myself when doing work for day rate as the jobs usually turn out to be -------'s just wondering if any of you lot were in my neck of the woods and interested to see what you'd charge or anyone would charge for that in general

 

[buzzlightyear]

Tell us what you going to charge and we
Tell you if you are near the mark.

 

[Dustydazzler]

If you are not confident, then I always go 'hourly' on small jobs like this

2 days would be tight Imo , it doesn't allow fir any feck ups or delays where you need to return for a 3rd day

I find most customers these days are happy to go with me on an hourly rate

 

[JLHELEC]

I was thinking materials plus 2 days at £250 a day. I don't really know what sparks charge around by me guessing it'd be around 40ph ish, company I work for really really tight lipped on pricing so I'm like a mushroom when it comes to price

Tell us what you going to charge and we
Tell you if you are near the mark.

 

[JLHELEC]

If you are not confident, then I always go 'hourly' on small jobs like this

2 days would be tight Imo , it doesn't allow fir any feck ups or delays where you need to return for a 3rd day

I find most customers these days are happy to go with me on an hourly rate

You can I bet if I say 2 days it'll turn out to be 3 days . Thank you for the advice

 

[Dustydazzler]

You can I bet if I say 2 days it'll turn out to be 3 days . Thank you for the advice

99% of jobs that I have ever undertaken take longer in reality than they did in my head

 

[Dustydazzler]

I was thinking materials plus 2 days at £250 a day. I don't really know what sparks charge around by me guessing it'd be around 40ph ish, company I work for really really tight lipped on pricing so I'm like a mushroom when it comes to price

Way too cheap for a self employed sparks

I would price £50 per hour minimum even in the cheaper areas of the country , you are running a business not a charity

 

[timhoward]

I’d give customer choice of 3 days or hourly rate.
Feed to new board could eat up time if things don’t go well.
Then knowing my luck discovering the landing smoke alarm has a water tank over it so have to find and splice the 3 core.
2nd fixing always takes longer than you think because it feels simple.

Your hourly rate sounds a bit low to me. That’s my ‘working for builder’ rate, add at least a fiver per hour if you are working direct for customer.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I’d give customer choice of 3 days or hourly rate.
Feed to new board could eat up time if things don’t go well.
Then knowing my luck discovering the landing smoke alarm has a water tank over it so have to find and splice the 3 core.
2nd fixing always takes longer than you think because it feels simple.

Your hourly rate sounds a bit low to me. That’s my ‘working for builder’ rate, add at least a fiver per hour if you are working direct for customer.

There are handman people in my area who charge £40-45 per hour just to put up a curtain pole or fix up a bit of coving and they have no qualifications to do this

We have 3-5 years of training and quals to do our job so should charge more than the local DIY handyman Imo

 

[LukeD]

Price 3 day and MIn £300 a day even for Wales !

 

[JLHELEC]

Thank you for the wise words guys. Very much appreciated

 

[Dustydazzler]

Thank you for the wise words guys. Very much appreciated

When I went from employeed to self employed I found pricing properly the hardest thing to get right often pricing way too cheap for the first few years

I started to ask other local self employed trades what they were charging and I was way too cheap and way too busy so put my rates up straight away

 

[LukeD]

Rule one ... When a client thinks you are only there to earn a wage you are in trouble . The price covers , Wage, costs of tooling etc .legal costs . Van costs and pension /saving etc etc . In life the highest chargers tend to be the busiest !

 

[buzzlightyear]

I priced up a job recently to sort out
A job a builder has not finished off electrical work,
Sent a email regarding the work.
Came back to say waiting for another builder to come back to her, price up what needs doing.
Won't hear from them again.

 

[UNG]

Pricing a job when the job can have many variables is difficult.
Looking at the job and pricing it where everything goes to plan with no deviation is bordering on achieving the impossible which very very rarely happens
My old business partner always priced jobs and assessed what he called the buggeration factor or degree of difficulty which was based on things not going to plan or finding that things that were not obvious on a site visit
How many trades are going to be on site all wanting / fighting for the same bit of space at the same time
The smoke detector you mention could take an hour or two but could easily take most of a day if hard wiring by the time you lift a carpet and floorboard or two
The testing and certification is another area that is often overlooked but all adds to the overall time to complete the work
It is all to easy to list the components of the work but without knowing the site layout it is purely crystal ball guesses as to how much you should charge
So much time can be lost because you can't isolate something because someone needs power or you are waiting on the plasterer skiming the walls and ceiling, so 2 - 3 full days onsite then turns into a mix of full days and ½ days and you then need to find other work to fill the ½ days to make your daily rate

For every job that goes to plan with zero problems there will be many more that don't the ones that go to plan can and usually are good earners the ones that don't have to be priced such that if it goes drastically wrong you have at least kept the loss to a minimum

 

[buzzlightyear]

Ist you set the price not a customer
All jobs need to be estimated just in case a hic up. Or you are a blind man going in blind.

 

[WallaceP]

I would say 3 days maybe 4. You will need to allow time for chit chat, nipping out to van/merchants, testing, fuse fairy all these take longer than you think

When doing jobs, time yourself to get more confident in estimating.
if you are going to do that. Don’t just time the time it takes to connect a socket for example start the clock from saying im going to do that socket, so gathering tools, the socket and tidying up.

Another thing to think about is how old the exising fire alarms are and if you should just replace the lot of them at the same time.
Also consider a mains powered fire alarm with radio interlink.

 

[snowhead]

Is this customer someone random or a friend / neighbour / relative.?

If any of the last 3, it should make no difference to the price, mates rates are full rates.

Plus everything above said by others and not to forget that whatever you quote / charge, the customer may want to dispute it when it comes to paying, or even not want to pay at all.

 

[UNG]

I would say 3 days maybe 4. You will need to allow time for chit chat, nipping out to van/merchants, testing, fuse fairy all these take longer than you think

When doing jobs, time yourself to get more confident in estimating.
if you are going to do that. Don’t just time the time it takes to connect a socket for example start the clock from saying im going to do that socket, so gathering tools, the socket and tidying up.

TBH the best indicator I have found is to periodically do a job review every few months and compare the pricing to the actuals of a few jobs to verify that your pricing is in the right ball park, when you throw in travel time on a job it can certainly skew costs and it can mean you alter your working hours slightly, simple things like spending an extra hour onsite can mean you get more work done rather than waste an hour sat in all the rush hour congestion for a 15 - 20 min journey

Another thing to think about is how old the exising fire alarms are and if you should just replace the lot of them at the same time.
Also consider a mains powered fire alarm with radio interlink.

Done this plenty of times and in the last few years the technology has massively improved

 

[Dustydazzler]

Is this customer someone random or a friend / neighbour / relative.?

If any of the last 3, it should make no difference to the price, mates rates are full rates.

Plus everything above said by others and not to forget that whatever you quote / charge, the customer may want to dispute it when it comes to paying, or even not want to pay at all.

Rates are Rates

I used to dread pricing jobs for friends and family as the first thing they ask for is 'Mates rates'

 

[nicebutdim]

Rates are Rates

I used to dread pricing jobs for friends and family as the first thing they ask for is 'Mates rates'

'Mates' who ask for preferential treatment aren't mates - they're aquaintences and ask for special rates because they know they aren't on that list of people for whom you'll go the extra mile. Best to avoid working for them or, if unavoidable, give them a discount off an absolute worst case price.

 

[OnlQQker]

Use the old builders trick with pricing.

Look around, scratch your head and draw breath through your teeth causing instant alarm to the customer, whilst making out it is the worst job you have ever come across.

Then say it's going to be 3 grand but you'll do it half price for cash, making sure they give you 500 quid up front.

Then turn up to make a start and cause a mess, before clearing off and starting another job.

 

[bigspark17]

At the end of the day the customer wants 4 sockets and 6 sports and a smoke in the attic, its not a big job, and 3 days to complete? £750 labour and £400 material? Is it just me that finds this a bit of a p**s take?
Just needs a radial up there,,feed taken off upstairs lights and link up from smoke on landing. 1/2 days work for 2 guys!

 

[Diddy]

At the end of the day the customer wants 4 sockets and 6 sports and a smoke in the attic, its not a big job, and 3 days to complete? £750 labour and £400 material? Is it just me that finds this a bit of a p**s take?
Just needs a radial up there,,feed taken off upstairs lights and link up from smoke on landing. 1/2 days work for 2 guys!

New consumer unit ? testing ? are you saying 1 to 2 days for a pair or half a day for a pair ?

 

[Dustydazzler]

New consumer unit ? testing ? are you saying 1 to 2 days for a pair or half a day for a pair ?

Reading the post i reckon he means 1/2 day first fix and 1/2 day second fix for 2 decent experienced sparks

 

[Diddy]

Reading the post i reckon he means 1/2 day first fix and 1/2 day second fix for 2 decent experienced sparks

So 2 man days without the Consumer unit then. Hmm I would say 3 days myself. Man and anything above mid 2nd stage apprentice.

 

[Dustydazzler]

So 2 man days without the Consumer unit then. Hmm I would say 3 days myself. Man and anything above mid 2nd stage apprentice.

 

[Dustydazzler]

A consumer unit change I always allow 1 full day for no matter how few circuits there are on the old board.
If I am done by 1pm then happy days

 

[Brian Taylor]

Been asked to price for a job, customer is having attic done out so needs a few new circuits up there. Some more context I'm based in South Wales and house is 1950s awkward little.run from the board to up but the new socket's will all be on studs so minimal chasing. I'm so bad at pricing work it literally puts me off taking jobs on. CU is full so I proposed having a new CU dedicated for the loft and going from there.

New CU
X4 socket's one being usb
X2 1 gang 2 way switches
X6 spotlights
X1 optical smoke alarm, to be interlinked with existing smokes, so I gotta dick around with them also.

I was gunna just price materials plus 2 days labour @ day rate but I always feel like iv shafted myself when doing work for day rate as the jobs usually turn out to be -------'s just wondering if any of you lot were in my neck of the woods and interested to see what you'd charge or anyone would charge for that in general

Sounds like a £300 job to me

 

[Brian Taylor]

I was thinking materials plus 2 days at £250 a day. I don't really know what sparks charge around by me guessing it'd be around 40ph ish, company I work for really really tight lipped on pricing so I'm like a mushroom when it comes to price

 

[Brian Taylor]

250.00 a day is a bit on the high side...average hourly rate for self employed is about 15:00 per hour

 

[HappyHippyDad]

250.00 a day is a bit on the high side...average hourly rate for self employed is about 15:00 per hour

Crikey Brian.
That's more than just a little on the low side.
We had a poll last year on the average hourly rate we charge and it came out to £46 p/hour.

 

[Brian Taylor]

Crikey Brian.
That's more than just a little on the low side.
We had a poll last year on the average hourly rate we charge and it came out to £46 p/hour.

 

[Brian Taylor]

Well I have had this discussion many times with many electricians quoting hourly rates of 20...30 or even 40 pounds an hour....I once upped my rates to 25 on the advice of someone who claimed to be charging that amount. I lost so many customers that I had to bring my rates back Dow pretty qui ckly to pay the bills. I don't know of anyone in my area that would get away with a 20 per hour rate ....but good luck

 

[goasis]

250.00 a day is a bit on the high side...average hourly rate for self employed is about 15:00 per hour

Where are you Brian?
£15 per hour is crazy low money! Unskilled workers are getting that!!

 

[Brian Taylor]

Where are you Brian?
£15 per hour is crazy low money! Unskilled workers are getting that!!

Well sorry to say that's what we get in this neck of the woods....lots of self employed in this vicinity all chasing the work .

 

[LukeD]

Well sorry to say that's what we get in this neck of the woods....lots of self employed in this vicinity all chasing the work .

Domestic cleaners in nice parts of london earn more. let them race to the bottom. I pay a labourer £150 a day just to turn up with no tools etc .

 

[Brian Taylor]

Domestic cleaners in nice parts of london earn more. let them race to the bottom. I pay a labourer £150 a day just to turn up with no tools etc .

Well unfortunately I don't live in a very nice part of London....I operate in the poorer North Kent area where cleaners and Labourers are paid minimum wage..I'm glad don't live in London.i couldn't afford it .

 

[Dustydazzler]

I know firms near me offering £200 per day for sparky mates and they get no interest

 

[Brian Taylor]

I know firms near me offering £200 per day for sparky mates and they get no interest

Well again I guess it must be down to where you live....if you advertised in this area you'd have to fight them off.

 

[buzzlightyear]

average hourly rate for self employed is about 15p per hour

wow ,15p a hour must be Bangladesh prices asda .

 

[goasis]

Well again I guess it must be down to where you live....if you advertised in this area you'd have to fight them off.

How much can you earn on the cards with a firm there then? Can't be worth it!

 

[Brian Taylor]

How much can you earn on the cards with a firm there then? Can't be worth it!

Last I know about 15.00..dependant upon experiance

 

[goasis]

Last I know about 15.00..dependant upon experiance

So the same as being self employed.... when you've got your own van, expenses, holiday, sick pay, evenings..... somethings not quite adding up here....

 

[Brian Taylor]

So the same as being self employed.... when you've got your own van, expenses, holiday, sick pay, evenings..... somethings not quite adding up here....

Ah well I'm sure your next question is how much do I earn....I will save you the bother of typing....last year my take home pay was a little over £8000.00....now it makes sense?

 

[Dustydazzler]

Ah well I'm sure your next question is how much do I earn....I will save you the bother of typing....last year my take home pay was a little over £8000.00....now it makes sense?

As an electrician ?

 

[goasis]

Ah well I'm sure your next question is how much do I earn....I will save you the bother of typing....last year my take home pay was a little over £8000.00....now it makes sense?

No, im really confused but nevermind!

 

[LukeD]

Ah well I'm sure your next question is how much do I earn....I will save you the bother of typing....last year my take home pay was a little over £8000.00....now it makes sense?

Brian. Something is MORE than wrong .

Few questions !!

1. What sort or work do you do?
2. How many hours per week are you doing ?
3.Have you a expensive van lease etc etc ?
5. Are you travelling miles per day to get to jobs ?


others can throw in questions ! But again, something does not make sense . Biggest saving I made years ago was NOT having a van . Bloody waste of time these days for domestic jobs . Also the chances are they get broken into . And I never ever will lower the price of a quote . pricing cheap to win a job is a fools game .

 

[Electric Magic]

Ah well I'm sure your next question is how much do I earn....I will save you the bother of typing....last year my take home pay was a little over £8000.00....now it makes sense?

If it's really that bad (and a quick Google of electricians in Rainham suggests not, absolute cheapest I could find was £170 a day), why not advertise in London? I occasionally go to North London (from Greater Manchester) to do domestic rewires and make about £500/£600 a day even after taking account of travel time and accommodation.

 

[Brian Taylor]

As an electrician ?

Of course