electrician quote for new phone socket

Brighton_belle

We have been quoted £100 +VAT to 'completely replace a non working phone socket', by an electrician (in the South East).

This seems a little steep. Is it? We would be happy to pay this if we were told it's more complex than we think and is a fair price.

withabix

Do it yourself?

If you were an electrician, how much would you want to earn per year?

1) Divide that by 260 and again by 2, because getting the bits for your job, travelling and doing your job will be half of his day.

2) Take approx 1/3 off your electrician's £100 for materials and fuel for his van.


Are the two numbers similar?

Brighton_belle

Not possible I am afraid: wouldn't know where to start dealing with electrics.
I honestly have no problem with hard working tradesmen earning good money -this is just a genuine request to understand it isn't a 5 min job.

Brighton_belle

withabix wrote: »

Do it yourself?

If you were an electrician, how much would you want to earn per year?

1) Divide that by 260 and again by 2, because getting the bits for your job, travelling and doing your job will be half of his day.

2) Take approx 1/3 off your electrician's £100 for materials and fuel for his van.


Are the two numbers similar?

Thats quite helpful, thanks. What is the 260 figure? And no, the 2 numbers don't come out similar, so what does that signify?
EDIT: might have done your suggested calcs wrong. tried again and they come out nearer - so I can see the value in that, thanks very much.

withabix

260 is the number of working days (5 day weeks) in a year.

How much would you want to earn per year if you were an electrician?

Ruski

I'd say he doesn't want the job because it's so small - but if he gets it at that price he's quids in.
New master telephone socket is about a fiver - the rest is earnings/fuel/insurance/profit/vat/tools/clothing/membership/testing equiptement etc etc.

In my area this would be between 40 and 60 of your English squids - but then again I don't live in an expensive part of t'country ;-)

HTH

Russ

withabix

Most electricians will want £15-£20 per hour minimum, plus their costs. If he's not self-employed, there is the employers margin on top as well.

JIB standard rates will get you to these figures straight away. http://www.jib.org.uk/handbook.aspx?cid=13

£100 is a typical minimum job price. Anything less and it's not worth their while if they have work on.

Brighton_belle

withabix wrote: »

If you were an electrician, how much would you want to earn per year?

1) Divide that by 260 and again by 2, because getting the bits for your job, travelling and doing your job will be half of his day.

2) Take approx 1/3 off your electrician's £100 for materials and fuel for his van.


Are the two numbers similar?

withabix wrote: »

260 is the number of working days (5 day weeks) in a year.

Ah, of course.

Right, well I reckon I'd want to earn £40k divide by 260 and again by 2 = £76.92
knock a third off £100 = £66
so the two figures fairly close.

It's really helpful to be reminded of the bigger picture, so thanks to you both for your time.

baldelectrician

For what it's worth I charge £35 per hour (total for me AND apprentice), so I reckon £45 or less.

I love these small jobs as it gets you known to the client and leads to word of mouth

You can't please all the people all the time- in the past week I had a woman call the cost 'extortion' - after me doing the work and me telling her the price on the initial visit

The other 98% are happy with the price and use me and give my name out

keystone

Ruski wrote: »

New master telephone socket is about a fiver

If that is what is needed then only BT Openreach can do it and the cost will be higher.

Cheers

Brighton_belle

baldelectrician wrote: »

For what it's worth I charge £35 per hour (total for me AND apprentice), so I reckon £45 or less.

I love these small jobs as it gets you known to the client and leads to word of mouth

You can't please all the people all the time- in the past week I had a woman call the cost 'extortion' - after me doing the work and me telling her the price on the initial visit

The other 98% are happy with the price and use me and give my name out

Thanks for that. I suspect the per hour charge here on the south coast will inevitably be higher because it costs more to live here (e.g.small two bed terrace house = £250,000+).
Some clients take the biscuit don't they! YOu can't complain if you accept the price and give the go ahead!