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TCA
We charge $65 per cable drop Ph/TV/Cat5e...
$110 per per speaker wiring to a vc location and add $65 for a keypad (cat-5e wire) and if using "new construction brackets" we double the cost on the brackets.
$450 for a 5.1 surround pre-wire + any brackets
And add $65 for a remote eye (cat5e) to the front of the room
Subs $75
Ceiling projectors $400 mini rgb 2 cat5 + a 1.5 inch Smurf (for the hell of it, and in case we blow it!)
Plasmas-the same

Our distributed audio / video runs are all based on averaged runs of 100 feet per run, so lets say the house is 4000 sq ft - some runs might actually only be 30 feet while some may be 150 feet. Averaging all runs out (for your estimate purposes) to 100 ft. is a fairly safe bet.

Change that of course for bigger homes... abouyt 20% per 1000 ft more - if that makes sense.

We charge seperatley for the trim-outs... and kind of hide that figure in the final installation pricing... We figure 1/2 hour labor per cable plus parts... so a CATV cable trim might run $35 labor and $20 for connectors and wall plate... If it is structured 2 coax 2 cat5e x 4.

To trim speakers that have mud rings in place with a vc = $110 pr. + vc.
To "cut in" speakers (provided you documented and know where the wiring is) = we double that... If we are toning out wiring some else did, its by the hour, and we have the cust sign a waiver that there might be need for dry wall patching and painting & the cust pays for that, and that we don't patch or paint.

If you need to look really competetive, knock 20% off the pre wire pricing - ONLY if you know you'll be finishing the job, then roll that 20% back in for "Installation & Testing Owner Training"... they never bitch...
Hope that doesn't all put you out of biz!!!
ALSO---NEVER DISCOUNT YOUR SPEAKERS... If they dont want to pay $600 pair, don't drop your margin and sell them for $450 -$500... Instead, just go down a model or two... Stand firm on your prices... Remember the grocery store and gas station guys, utility & cable companies, and your dentist- don't cut YOU discounts... the same should go for us!:)
(Now If I can only practice what I'm preaching to you...)

WOW! I guess I'm the crazy one! I charge per spool(500 ft - 2x2). Min 1 spool then in 1/4 incraments. That's not counting Plate, cover, Tecpanel, etc.

Huh???

JLI...
Trying to figure out your formula... can you be more specific??? I'm always looking for a better way!!!
Thanks

i charge for everything..nopt per drop.....no way am i getting into that cluster fu@#... wire plus labor plus parts

only way

ed

Sorry it does seem kinda vauge. But most of our work is new construction. And sense we generaly run 8+ drops of 2+2 cable and 2 drops of Cat 5ein the home.(we use USTec iLAN pannels and their basic is 8 Data, Sat/Cable, Internal/Antenna. and 10 Phone) We also pre-wire for SAT(weather they use it or not - the location is pre determined so it does not end up on the front of the house.) and we have been running 8 lengths of cable for that(10 if useing Sat internet). Soo.. the avg cable length is about 100 ft. Granted some are more and some are less. But we plan for 100 ft. per drop. So our spools of 2+2 come in 500 ft. legnths. (90 lb spools, that's why the UPS guy hates me). So if we figure 700 ft we charge for 1.5 spools. The 700 ft get's rounded up to 750.

As I said we are 90% new construction. So our bids are based on blueprints so it's hard to precisely judge where it's gonna run. Ceiling hights very and we hang all of our wire above the floor of the trusses where the electrician runs all of his electrical (Romex lines, 220v electric oven,drier liine all these things that create electronic interferance with Data lines and even affect Phone and CATV. In fact Cabling standards say that there should be at least 6in. between electrical lines and data, phone, cable lines). Even more so with 2 or more levels in a home. So we came up with this system. Actually we used to do this in industrial electrical and a lot of electrical companys do this.

As for the other phone lines from the INPO and the spare lines (usualy 1 in Maste Bed by the bed and one where ever it may be logical) to the distribution pannel, often it comes out to less than a full box.

So basicly this is our formula:
Whatever the the estamated number of feet needed rounded up to the nearest 1/4 amount, of a full spool, divided by the amount of a full spool(or box). Equals the amount charged.

i.e. - 1205 ft (rounded to 1250 ft) / 1000 ft. spool = 1.25 spools
i.e. - 690 ft (rounded to 750 ft) / 1000 ft. spool = .75 spool
i.e. -1368 ft. (rounded to 1375 ft.) / 500ft spool = 2.75 spools

This method works well for us because it accounts for truss hight, ceiling hight , slack needed for a run (you don't have to feel stingy with the wire by being afraid of going over your estamated amount) and it's easier to figure how much you will need to order for job.


(If there's any part you didn't get, I will be happy to further explain if anyone needs me too.)

ceied...
Where are your clients? Beverly Hills or the Hamptons?

chicago,aspen crested butte new buffalo miami dallas etc....... where ever my chicago clients have 2nd, 3rd and 4th homes

Same thing?

djnorm, you have mail

ceied,

I agree to charge what you can get...

if you are of the best at what you do, and make sure things are set up with the customer's best interest in mind, you can charge whatever you want. This puts you in a catagory most others can't compete in. You deserve a higher margin. You are no longer competing... you are setting the new standard.

Too many industries reduce margins to attempt to build sales volume. This never seems to result in long term positive results...

150 per hour per 2 man team...its 75 per man hour...not 150 per man hour... my bad

no our clients are hi end... they have many homes and just want it done correct...not always cheaper....

we work on their 1st, 2nd, 3rd and even 4th homes..... no matter where they are at......

i wont goto beverly hills cuz i'm not gonna step on ernies feet....