how to bid a job - Page 2 - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkirk

WHy in gods name would guys that acually have licenses and have real business want to help a cheat such as your self....?

how am i a cheat?

captkirk · 03-12-2010, 04:37 PM

It amazing that you dont get what you are asking guys that acually have to do it by the book......

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkirk

It amazing that you dont get what you are asking guys that acually have to do it by the book......

Are you talking about me not pulling a permit? cause i am. i am oblivious to why your so irrate to the fact im doing a damn side job man, im laid off and trying to find work whats your problem dude.

captkirk · 03-12-2010, 04:39 PM

DO you have a license...? are you planning on paying taxes..? what kind of workmans comp do you have....how much liability insurance do you have after the house burns down...?

captkirk · 03-12-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGC622

Are you talking about me not pulling a permit? cause i am. i am oblivious to why your so irrate to the fact im doing a damn side job man, im laid off and trying to find work whats your problem dude.

People like you drive down the going rate.. How is a "real" contractor in your area supposed to compete with your rock bottom pricing....? You are kind of like China......

captkirk · 03-12-2010, 04:43 PM

It amazes me that you dont get it. Its kind of like going into an accountants forum and asking "Gee fellas how can I cheat on my taxes...? "

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkirk

DO you have a license...? are you planning on paying taxes..? what kind of workmans comp do you have....how much liability insurance do you have after the house burns down...?

Um yes i do have my license, I dont do alot of side work so i may be mistaken but i believe i can skate if i do a couple jobs. I dont have workmans comp me and the buddy im working with are partnering up to do it. He has the liability insurance. i dont know his figures.

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkirk

People like you drive down the going rate.. How is a "real" contractor in your area supposed to compete with your rock bottom pricing....? You are kind of like China......

the guy wanted a deal he went to my uncle and he forward him to me, he wasnt going with a company from the start to him they were too expensive. im sure that goes up your ass sideways but hey its not my fault. so side work is wrong in your eyes? dude its a small addition. what your company will make on it is a joke. im sure bigger jobs are more your forte

**480sparky** · 03-12-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGC622

Um yes i do have my license, I dont do alot of side work so i may be mistaken but i believe i can skate if i do a couple jobs. I dont have workmans comp me and the buddy im working with are partnering up to do it. He has the liability insurance. i dont know his figures.

OK, let's flesh it out here.

Are you legally licensed, insured and bonded to do the job? Not just electrically, but legally.

In short, can you defend yourself in court?

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captkirk

It amazes me that you dont get it. Its kind of like going into an accountants forum and asking "Gee fellas how can I cheat on my taxes...? "

you read the title of the thread it didnt say "come all irrate electrical contractors that dont have work" im assuming you dont have work otherwise you wouldn't be here getting your frustration out on me. On another note im in the union i cant work for open shops or go job hunting for an electrical contractor so damn right i'm doing side work, alot of people do it, tell 80% of this forum they are Assholes.

ElectroMotive · 03-12-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGC622

Electro Motive
can you explain the labor units right off the bat i have no idea what to do with those numbers.

Labor units are the time it takes (in hours) to install something. If a receptacle is .25 that means that the combined rough and finish time allotted to a single receptacle is 15 minutes

To assemble and hang a ceiling fan on an existing box is 1 labor unit, or 1 hour. Labor units are time converted into decimal format to make figuring labor hours easier.

.10 labor unit is 6 minutes

.75 labor units is 45 minutes

As you do more work, keep close track of your real productivity and create your own in-house labor units. Labor units are how you guesstimate how many hours a job will take, then you multiply the total labor units by your hourly rate to get the labor cost.

Unless you start thinking in terms of labor units you will really never have a clue how to charge for labor and will always be shocked at how long a job can actually take.

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 480sparky

OK, let's flesh it out here.

Are you legally licensed, insured and bonded to do the job? Not just electrically, but legally.

In short, can you defend yourself in court?

I have a valid electrical license, my buddy has the insurance. i cant afford it at the moment so i partnered up with him to help me with it. so to answer your question yes i am licensed, no im not insured and bonded.

Dnkldorf · 03-12-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGC622

. On another note im in the union i cant work for open shops or go job hunting for an electrical contractor so damn right i'm doing side work, alot of people do it, tell 80% of this forum they are Assholes.

You're the asshole bud, not 80% of this forum.

user4818 · 03-12-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGC622

the guy wanted a deal he went to my uncle and he forward him to me, he wasnt going with a company from the start to him they were too expensive. im sure that goes up your ass sideways but hey its not my fault.

No, actually it doesn't. Those are the kinds of people most contractors avoid if at all possible. Usually, the cheap crowd goes for the craiglist and side jobbers anyway. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just prepare not to make any money on this, if you don't get stiffed.

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectroMotive

Labor units are the time it takes (in hours) to install something. If a receptacle is .25 that means that the combined rough and finish time allotted to a single receptacle is 15 minutes

To assemble and hang a ceiling fan on an existing box is 1 labor unit, or 1 hour. Labor units are time converted into decimal format to make figuring labor hours easier.

.10 labor unit is 6 minutes

.75 labor units is 45 minutes

As you do more work, keep close track of your real productivity and create your own in-house labor units. Labor units are how you guesstimate how many hours a job will take, then you multiply the total labor units by your hourly rate to get the labor cost.

Unless you start thinking in terms of labor units you will really never have a clue how to charge for labor and will always be shocked at how long a job can actually take.

thanks you

milehiwire · 03-12-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dnkldorf

You're the asshole bud, not 80% of this forum.

Do not be so sure there dink.

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 04:56 PM

can i get this straight, is most everyone telling me side work is wrong?

user4818 · 03-12-2010, 04:57 PM

FYI to the general public here - in MA you only need a journeyman's license to obtain permits. So "sidework" is technically legal. Insurance is still required or the homeowner must sign an insurance waiver. Seems like a bad idea to be doing electrical work without insurance or having having the homeowner waive it, but that's the law.

SGC622 · 03-12-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter D

No, actually it doesn't. Those are the kinds of people most contractors avoid if at all possible. Usually, the cheap crowd goes for the craiglist and side jobbers anyway. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Just prepare not to make any money on this, if you don't get stiffed.

i definitely hear what your saying, i knew a family friend that is an expert craigslist shopper. he found this guy that said he had his license, got him to come over to look at wiring his jacuzzi and i had came in after the fact and what the kid had done was put an electrical meter on the jacuzzi and tested it it said like 20 something amps and he put it on a 30 and it called for i think a 50 it turns out he had no license just did work with his supposed uncle that was licensed and knew enough to do it which was obviously not the case, so the family friend had to scramble to get it inspected by a licensed guy, i said no right off the bat, and it was a fiasco

ElectroMotive · 03-12-2010, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGC622

can i get this straight, is most everyone telling me side work is wrong?

Don't listen to these numbskulls. Every single electrical contractor started out doing side jobs. Nobody admits it but it's true. As long as you do excellent work and service the customer, you are doing the right thing.