What I've just started using is an average footage plus time but I have a multilplier I use based on the square footage of the house. Do any of you increase the charge per drop based on the square footage. I'm just starting to use this - to me it only makes sense. But I am also looking for peoples opinions and if they are using this how has it been received.

Marc

Np one should answer this since it is in an OPEN forum....

Same as posting actual equipment costs, etc, etc, etc.

My take on this subject:

Since I design custom systems for each potential client, a set of scale drawings of the project are a must to calculate wiring. I don't actually measure every wire run bend by bend by bend, but I use a straight line measurement from point A to point B and plug that number in a spreadsheet that I've created over the last 10 years of doing this. The spreadsheet takes into account the type of run (speaker, equipment interconnect, etc.), the number of floors between points, the ceiling heights, and lets me print out a wire-pulling list with room names, points of origination and destination, and the number/type of wires in each pull.

On several different occasions, over a variety of different job types, I have compared the estimated wire lengths to the actual lengths pulled, and I've found my system to be accurate to within 5%.

I could never get comfortable with an average price per drop method, so I came up with this. I do know a lot of installers do use price/drop, and sometimes when I think about how much time it take to design these systems, it seems appealing. But I am charging the client for my design time, and they are generally happy with the details in the proposal.

If no numbers are used, is there really harm being done?

CJ

time and material...the only way it can be

ed

Ceied, I agree with you most of the time, but if you are doing track homes than there is no way you can do it T&M. In fact I don't know of a builder that would agree to T&M on any house. If you can design a system, you should be able to roughly guess how much time and material it will take to install it. I don't charge less for the 1500sf ranch than the 2500sf 2 story. I plan on the worst case scenario for all the houses and go with that. I find that it takes more time to do the ranch than the 2 story anyway.

If you are talking about 1500 sf vs 10000sf then put in a multiplier. If you are talking 2000sf vs 4000sf the multiplier is not going to make that big of a difference on the final price. Basically what I am saying is you can't charge twice as much, so just go with the estimate for the 4000 and use that as your standard price.

we dont work for builders...tried that a few times and got burned...they only want cheap...we dont do cheap...ever.

for a home owner i figure how much cable, part and labor needed and give them a quote for project...not for per drop

tschulte...sorry to hear you agree with me most of the time...... you should really consider the source when i speak or in this case type. i just wing it most of the time...it keeps my carma good.

ed

But you are not doing T&M, you are guessing how long it will take & how much material you will use. That is my point. The homeowner is going to hold your feet to the fire on a quote gone over more than a builder. At least a builder will understand you have to charge extra because the plumber melted your line while soldering. I find that usually homeowners don't.

I also understand you not wanting to work with builders. I lived in Chitown for 2 years and it is a whole different world than St. Lou. You have several national builders, we have 1. I pick and choose my builders, I find them they don't find me. But you can get just as burned by a homeowner as you can a builder.

it is t&m just giving a ballpark they only get charged actual time...if i need more time... the way my estimates are written says labor is only estimated may need additional time and material and that is an extra cost

measure the number of feet of wire. Times that X .006 Times your rate X $$$ then add the cable X $$ charged per foot for a total drop cost. Add box and plate as needed. If retro T&M only

Retro = t&m
New construction= per drop charge for network, phone, catv. structured wiring box, & modules for box are xtra. Plates, fittings, plugs are included.
whole house audio= per room charge wired only v\c & speakers additional
surround= per room charge wire, plate, posts included

We base our costs on the make, model and year of car they drive up in!!!
Plus if they are wearing Rolex "Presidential" watches we bump it up 20%...

I use formulas, I charge 1/4 to 1/3 of electrical bid for every type of technology on the low voltage part of the project, and I include the central vac in the 1/3 price and when it comes to the home theatre part of the bid I ask about the bid on the pool, and use that number as a way to budget for the home theatre, and I include all of the low voltage technology in plus the vac in that bid. it makes sense to my customers that my job is that part of the projects.

what are you smokin? english nexttime

And what does all of that mean? Are you an electrician? Maybe I am missing what you are saying.