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Curious what would be a good rate to charge?
This thread has 40 replies. Displaying posts 31 through 41.
Post 31 made on Thursday April 20, 2017 at 19:27
goldenzrule
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On April 20, 2017 at 08:31, Ranger Home said...
If funny, my house is tricked out with automation yet i have ZERO desire to automated my thermostat! NONE. No need. Its set on 72 degree 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Never a need to change it. We've never done it for customers either. Maybe its because all new house are spray foam? Just set it and forget it. No worries, no need.

Hell i often forget where my thermostats are even located lol.

We've had temp swings from the 70s one day into the 40s the next. It's 95 and humid here in August and 1 degree in February with a windchill of negative 20,000. Some areas outside of Texas, the thermostat has to occasionally be changed.
Post 32 made on Thursday April 20, 2017 at 19:36
Fins
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On April 20, 2017 at 19:27, goldenzrule said...
We've had temp swings from the 70s one day into the 40s the next. It's 95 and humid here in August and 1 degree in February with a windchill of negative 20,000. Some areas outside of Texas, the thermostat has to occasionally be changed.

Also, sometimes you are full of 90 proof and 72 is just way too warm in the house
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 33 made on Thursday April 20, 2017 at 22:08
brucewayne
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I think the debate about how much to charge depends on so many factors.
Location, product and business direction.

If your installing nest products I think a higher hourly rate is needed. Since nest doesn't have a great mark up.

Golden is right hvac needs to install the stats
brucewayne
Post 34 made on Friday April 21, 2017 at 12:39
Audiophiliac
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Are these already good clients of yours? If so, then T&M. If it is someone that called you up and is "shopping around", it is probably not worth the time or effort to try and "win" the job with a lower quote. I would probably have at least 6 hours at our normal hourly rate in an estimate (estimate being the key word) for that job. Maybe more if you are not familiar with the product or the configuration. Not to mention what if they have crappy wi-fi? What if one of the smokes is at the top of a 24' vaulted ceiling and you have to rent a giant ladder to get to it? Those are all things that you would already know if this is a client you have worked with before obviously. Which comes back to my original statement of billing for T&M. I do not think any of our "regulars" would argue with me on that. YMMV.
"When I eat, it is the food that is scared." - Ron Swanson
Post 35 made on Sunday April 23, 2017 at 03:43
Mario
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T&M.
Estimate 1-1.5 per device, plus programming, plus training.
Explain that it's a network device and additional time and/or equipment may be needed.
90 day workmanship warranty, excluding network failures. Explain that If it works when you leave, chances of it being your fault and/or responsibility is slim to nill.
Post 36 made on Sunday April 23, 2017 at 17:46
Mac Burks (39)
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On April 20, 2017 at 08:31, Ranger Home said...
If funny, my house is tricked out with automation yet i have ZERO desire to automated my thermostat! NONE. No need. Its set on 72 degree 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Never a need to change it. We've never done it for customers either. Maybe its because all new house are spray foam? Just set it and forget it. No worries, no need.

Hell i often forget where my thermostats are even located lol.

On April 20, 2017 at 19:27, goldenzrule said...
We've had temp swings from the 70s one day into the 40s the next. It's 95 and humid here in August and 1 degree in February with a windchill of negative 20,000. Some areas outside of Texas, the thermostat has to occasionally be changed.

If it were just me the thermostat would stay at 68 all year. Even in the winter i rarely wear an actual coat. I have a carhartt zipup hoodie that i wear with a pocket-T under. Thats all i need 99% of the time. Since it's not just me...and since my girlfriend wants the thermostat set to 75..it's nice to be able to easily adjust the temperature.

For most people HVAC automation probably isn't that important. Good thermostats can handle scheduling and are easy to access so its not like you cant change the temp yourself.

For some people it is important though. I have clients with multi-zoned homes that adjust the temp in every room they walk into during the day. And lets not forget why we automate & integrate. Your thermostat can sense room temperature. That information can be used by the automation controller to trigger other events.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 37 made on Sunday April 23, 2017 at 20:15
roddymcg
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On April 23, 2017 at 17:46, Mac Burks (39) said...
If it were just me the thermostat would stay at 68 all year. Even in the winter i rarely wear an actual coat. I have a carhartt zipup hoodie that i wear with a pocket-T under. Thats all i need 99% of the time. Since it's not just me...and since my girlfriend wants the thermostat set to 75..it's nice to be able to easily adjust the temperature.

For most people HVAC automation probably isn't that important. Good thermostats can handle scheduling and are easy to access so its not like you cant change the temp yourself.

For some people it is important though. I have clients with multi-zoned homes that adjust the temp in every room they walk into during the day. And lets not forget why we automate & integrate. Your thermostat can sense room temperature. That information can be used by the automation controller to trigger other events.

We automate HVAC in nearly every new construction install. Most retro work already has automated HVAC and this is part of our upgrade. We are in a resort location with primarily part time residents in an extreme weather location. Home and away settings are important as is remote access to bring up the temps a couple days before arrival.

The guys just added 16 Nests to a home a couple months ago, it is what an integrator is capable of doing these days. Or they can watch the competition walk away with new clientele.
When good enough is not good enough.
Post 38 made on Sunday April 23, 2017 at 20:29
Ranger Home
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On April 20, 2017 at 19:27, goldenzrule said...
We've had temp swings from the 70s one day into the 40s the next. It's 95 and humid here in August and 1 degree in February with a windchill of negative 20,000. Some areas outside of Texas, the thermostat has to occasionally be changed.

oh folks in texas fugg with their therms too. there can be 40 and 50 degrees swings. but for me, it 72 regardless.
Post 39 made on Sunday April 23, 2017 at 21:15
Fins
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On April 23, 2017 at 20:15, roddymcg said...
We automate HVAC in nearly every new construction install. Most retro work already has automated HVAC and this is part of our upgrade. We are in a resort location with primarily part time residents in an extreme weather location. Home and away settings are important as is remote access to bring up the temps a couple days before arrival.

Also, notifications to the client or property manager if the inside temperature drops too low
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 40 made on Monday April 24, 2017 at 08:08
roddymcg
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On April 23, 2017 at 21:15, Fins said...
Also, notifications to the client or property manager if the inside temperature drops too low

We do alarms as well, and there is at least one low temp sensor on each floor monitored by the alarm side of things. A frozen pipe can be a very bad thing.
When good enough is not good enough.
OP | Post 41 made on Tuesday April 25, 2017 at 08:44
gerard143
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Jobs done. Took about 5.5 hours that included a trip to go grab something I forgot and also being a nice guy and finding paint in the basement to touch up under where the old enormous thermostat was. Even with the backplates included with nest it still wasn't enough to cover the old areas that were painted a diff color. So painted, waited for it to dry, then finished the install. Still should have charged more though.
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