Newbie pricing help please.

[Fitzy]

I've been asked to add a couple of new sockets to ring final and was unsure on how to price the job. Per hour plus materials or a set price based on the individual jobs. Per hour I thought about £25 plus materials or £40-£50 plus materials per individual job.

I'm not after what any of you guys charge as that's your private business, I just don't want to under price myself, but get a gauge of at least being in the ballpark. The last thing I want to do is to severely undercut other electricians in my area and cause problems, but at least being the same ballpark allows the customer to make the final decision.

I’m based in Redhill, Surrey, so I’ll be working mainly in Surrey & Sussex.

 

[Risteard]

If you price a job why the hell would you offer a discount for finishing early ?

 

[Fitzy]

Yep, do your best, get it right, test before and after.
Protect the carpet and all other things around from damage. If needed take a quick photo before and after which also helps if you need to move anything.
It’s a great feeling when you extend a ring across a room, take up carpet, underlay, boards, make holes, run cables, test and then put everything back and the customer says to you that it’s like you’ve never been in there!
You punch (pocket punch) the air and know word of mouth will come.
Enjoy experience, it does take time.

Luckily enough it’s a bare bedroom, the customer is remodelling as it’s the master bedroom, no carpets just bare boards, all walls to be re-skimmed and made good, then decorated, carpeted and new expensive light up dressing table being fitted. As I said he has a detailed drawing of each room in the house, showing where all the cables are run, rough location of every socket, switch etc, very nice detailed job done by previous sparky.

 

[Fitzy]

Yep, do your best, get it right, test before and after.
Protect the carpet and all other things around from damage. If needed take a quick photo before and after which also helps if you need to move anything.
It’s a great feeling when you extend a ring across a room, take up carpet, underlay, boards, make holes, run cables, test and then put everything back and the customer says to you that it’s like you’ve never been in there!
You punch (pocket punch) the air and know word of mouth will come.
Enjoy experience, it does take time.

Luckily enough it’s a bare bedroom, the customer is remodelling as it’s the master bedroom, no carpets just bare boards, all walls to be re-skimmed and made good, then decorated, carpeted and new expensive light up dressing table being fitted. As I said he has a detailed drawing of each room in the house, showing where all the cables are run, rough location of every socket, switch etc, very nice detailed job done by previous sparky.

 

[Octopus]

The clue was in his first post "Surrey"

Isn't Surrey where all the bankers..footballers and chief executives live...?

No.

But there are lots of people with short arms and deep pockets.....

 

[casperLennon]

Absolutely terrifying to think someone is doing electrical work in a house after 4 weeks. I have had an apprentice for one week and I would not be leaving him in another 3 weeks. Scary stuff that these courses are allowed to be run.

 

[AJshep]

I'm not too far from Surrey,
most people in my area charge £200-250 a day, or between £50-70 per socket.

If you work out what you want to charge per point, work out roughly how long the job will take (including materials) and reach a happy medium you should be ok.

I'm fortunate that where I live alot of folk will pay a bit more for someone they know and trust, you will always get those charging silly money, the generally mentality in my area, is get 3 quotes and pick the middle one.

 

[Fitzy]

Absolutely terrifying to think someone is doing electrical work in a house after 4 weeks. I have had an apprentice for one week and I would not be leaving him in another 3 weeks. Scary stuff that these courses are allowed to be run.

Casper, anyone can do electrical work WITHOUT actually doing any course what so ever.....You pass your driving test at 9am, then at 9.01am you’re legally allowed to drive on a motorway at 70+mph.....

 

[casperLennon]

Grow up fitzy. What a ridiculous thing to say. Yes you don’t have to do courses but you are going into peoples house and they are paying you. You said your doing it part time well that is silly in its self. How are you going to gain the experience you need doing it that way. Ultimately what happens when you get a fault or a problem. Personally I think you are delusional.

 

[Octopus]

Casper, anyone can do electrical work WITHOUT actually doing any course what so ever.....You pass your driving test at 9am, then at 9.01am you’re legally allowed to drive on a motorway at 70+mph.....

doesn't mean they are safe or competent...

 

[Octopus]

If you price a job why the hell would you offer a discount for finishing early ?

I've done that a few times ........ mostly when I'm doing a "long" list of jobs and I've given a very vague estimate of time. You can't charge for 3 days when you've only been onsite for 2!

 

[JAWS]

Casper, anyone can do electrical work WITHOUT actually doing any course what so ever.....You pass your driving test at 9am, then at 9.01am you’re legally allowed to drive on a motorway at 70+mph.....

Hi fitzy what qualifications did you gain from the course you went on mate?

 

[Fitzy]

Grow up fitzy. What a ridiculous thing to say. Yes you don’t have to do courses but you are going into peoples house and they are paying you. You said your doing it part time well that is silly in its self. How are you going to gain the experience you need doing it that way. Ultimately what happens when you get a fault or a problem. Personally I think you are delusional.

Ha, ha, you’re so funny Casper, I think you’re the delusional one mate.

As I said, I already have a full time job, hence doing it on the side to gain the experience, before deciding if I want to make full time career change, I know I have a long, long, long way to go to gain any sort of experience, but we all have to start somewhere.....If I get a fault or problem I will work to fix it (won’t be calling you though), do you know how to fix every fault/problem without asking for help? We all sometimes pay good money to strangers for everyday jobs to be done, because that person has said they can do it....You probably have more experience than I’ll ever learn,but that doesn’t mean I don’t have the right to try and gain some of that experience for myself.

 

[Tes369]

Casper, anyone can do electrical work WITHOUT actually doing any course what so ever.....You pass your driving test at 9am, then at 9.01am you’re legally allowed to drive on a motorway at 70+mph.....

Yes but just because you pass a Electrical course does not mean your an Electrician.

An for people to do a 4 week course do the part p and Regs then join a scheme and be allowed to work in people's homes should be made illegal.

Anybody doing private work in someones home should have so many years on the tools the appropriate electrical apprentiship or electrical tech certs, Am2 and nvq 3.

Or make it against the law to work In someone's home without insurance and a mandatory factor in getting that insurance should be the obove.

In my oppinion

 

[casperLennon]

NO you will not be ringing me. I have enough experience to sort all faults out otherwise I wouldn’t be working for myself. I mean about the part time electrician bit is you have to do it full time. I still read up and learn things in the evening to make myself even more knowledgable. But you are doing it part time to see if you like it. You sound like an 18 year old who’s playing at it. My problem initially was with the 4 week courses not you but then you come across as a spoilt little brat who thinks it’s fine to just go into peoples houses and charge money to fiddle about when you have no clue whatsoever as to what you are doing. Let’s just hope luck is on your side and nothing goes wrong and no one gets hurt.

 

[Fitzy]

As I said before Casper, you are funny.....

So you’re saying your the Big Headed “I know everything” bloke.....There’s always one.....Only reason I can’t go all out full time is because ima grown man with a mortgage and bills to pay, so need a steady wage coming in. I’m talking years and years down the line will I even consider a full career move. As for “spoilt brat”, a brat maybe (been called worse by kids), but definitely not spoilt, had to work very hard for everything. I’m meticulous and methodical in everything I do. I didn’t come on here to get in to arguments or slanging matches,just for help and guidance, which on the most part I’ve got, but you seem to have this chip on your shoulder and a holyer than thou attitude.

You have your opinion, I have mine and others have theirs, I’ve already agreed that I have a very long way to go to gain the experience that you and others have. I think we need to shake hands (virtually of course) and move on.

I wish you all the luck in the world my friend.