testing

[bolo]

i'm thinking of starting a testing company doing domestic periodics any advice out there??

 

[plugsandsparks]

Before spending any money on the business, i would research the demand and price points for this work to make sure i could make a living.
There is a lot of scope to improve domestic installations so hopefully your company could carry out the recommended upgrades / fixes.

 

[Guest55]

So i guess you've got alot of testing experience to set up a company specialising in it ?

 

[Octopus]

i'm thinking of starting a testing company doing domestic periodics any advice out there??

What experience do you have?
Are you registered with a scheme?
Where are you?
Are there many "competitors" locally to you?
Have you done a business plan/start up budget?

 

[trev]

I'd think very carefully if this is going to be the only service you're offering. Most builders will have their "go to" electrician who will get the vast majority of their work and most householders are in the "If it works it's ok" camp.
It might be worth getting in touch with letting agents in your area but relying on EICRs for your income only is not going to be a massive earner I reckon.
Best of luck with what you decide to go for though

 

[Engineer54]

So i guess you've got alot of testing experience to set up a company specialising in it ?

What experience do you have?
Are you registered with a scheme?
Where are you?
Are there many "competitors" locally to you?

The very questions i was going to ask the OP, along with what electrical testing qualifications do you hold!!

 

[mogga]

as your"starting a buisness" Id advise getting a big leggy blonde with big boobies sat at the desk in your marble lined office as she may be able tokeep you busier than doing domestic PIRs

seriously tho Check its viable are there firms around your are doing this already
know your pricing structure
know you can do it Do you have relevant experisnce or have you "done a course" If its the later then Personaly Id try n get work along side some one first
IF your competant and it is viable contact letting agents BUT bear in mind many will have their trusted , loyal electrician who does ALL of their electrics Or more than likley they have an allrounder who can change a socket n has done that 5 week course
whatever the outcome good luck

 

[MarkieSparkie]

I don't think it would be viable doing solely domestic EICRs, letting agents notoriously tend to drive the price down because of the competition, also they usually want the same company to do the remedial works. The only way I think it might work is if you were able to get a number of housing association (HA) contracts, but the profit margin is likely to be low as you will have to under-cut the HAs own emergency and cyclical repair teams, as well as compete with the likes of MITIE, SSE, Halsall, and Corillion etc, who are all able to do any remedial works.
Commercial and Industrial EICRs are where the serious money is, but this market is already dominated by number of big organisations which would difficult to compete against due to their company profile, nation-wide coverage, man-power and scale advantages.

 

[1shortcircuit]

Why would you like only to do Electrical Installation Condition Reports? Are you hoping to also pick up the rectification work if there is any?

It sounds like a good idea to me so long as you already have contacts to work with. One problem you will be faced with is that many people are only spending money on essentials so when it comes to this trade they are only wanting to call a spark in if something has stopped working. Those that a little more flush are going for thing like alterations or additions in the way of extensions or new kitchens etc

Accompany the above with the fact that sparks are BUYING leads from rated people for inspections for a budget of only a hundred pounds.

:thumbsup

 

[Guest55]

I'm available for hire to do drive-by pir's lol.
£50 a pop but you sign the certs lol.

 

[Guest55]

Joking aside , its completely pointless focusing on domestic inspections as its the only type of installation where testing isnt mandatory.
Whereas commercial / industrial premises are bound by various responsibilities / laws to have EICRs regulary , eg pubs , hotels , offices ect - a much more profitable and rewarding market to tap into.

 

[Octopus]

Maybe we should hold off any more comments until the OP updates the thread!

 

[Guest55]

Maybe we should hold off any more comments until the OP updates the thread!

Nah , we're doing fine without him lol.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep the guys are right plus I hate PAT testing but I had to take it on as I was losing business so in other words you cannot do testing without doing repairs

 

[PEG]

Some good feedback here....i believe the domestic test and inspection job to be only one of two ways,dependant on size of course,and that is either properly or profitably.You will struggle to outbid those in the so called "drive-by" job and if you do it correctly,as you really should,you will have to pick up the remedial to offset the lost time.Lots of jobs involve taking the rough with the smooth and sometimes it may be possible to cherry-pick one part of a job that ends up a bit hessian.....Little cynical maybe but i have friends who make a good living in the childcare business,but i would'nt set up tomorrow just specialising in the potty-training part,important as it is...That said,good luck in your enterprise and remember,this isn't Dragons Den :joker: