Is there an Electrician in the house?

[mb11111]

Originally Posted by LIWannaBe

Thank you all for your advice and support. We plan on negotiating and are trying to gather information on reasonable charges to help and could still use input from an electrician.

We do have a GC, but he's rarely at the house. We've had to do the supervising and it's been more than a full time job that's required us to learn far more about building than we ever wanted. It is a totally new construction so access was easy.

We added some things during construction, such as radiant heat, an additional a/c and heating zone. Also the kitchen portion of the original proposal was short on standard items like a dishwasher, microwave and range hood! The electrician was remiss in never giving us change orders and we were negligent in not asking.

After reading your list i was thinking around $5-6k, but unfortunately that's how these guys get you. You are in a good negotiating position because he already did the work and can't undo it, so be firm. He should have told you before what it would cost. You're not the professional, he is. also, i assume you had an architect. he/she should get a scolding for not including electrical requirements for common items like a dw and range hood...

[OhBeeHave]

Originally Posted by mb11111

After reading your list i was thinking around $5-6k, but unfortunately that's how these guys get you. You are in a good negotiating position because he already did the work and can't undo it, so be firm. He should have told you before what it would cost. You're not the professional, he is. also, i assume you had an architect. he/she should get a scolding for not including electrical requirements for common items like a dw and range hood...

The GC may have dropped the ball -- he's getting paid to be overseeing the job, and according to the homeowner he's never around. When the electrical bid was done he should have reviewed it and picked up the missing dw and hood, assuming that they were in the plans. The GC appears to be remiss in not discussing kitchen layout and appliances with the homeowner (unless he had and the homeowner is not disclosing this) as the electrician would need to know placement of kitchen cabinets, counters, appliances, outlets, fixtures, etc. I get the feeling that something was changed midstream.

One question I have is what sort of plans did the electrician bid off of? I've seen homeowners try to get a price with preliminary plans which offer little, and others who have changed kitchen layouts after the electrical was bid.

It is also possible that the homeowner was given an allowance for X number of items and has exceeded the allowance with extras. (additional high hats, pendants, additional outlets, etc.)

I believe that there may be more to this story.

[Chrisk327]

I'm with OhhBeeHave on this one. it seems very confusing that some basic things aren't included.

I'm sure some people pay for a real architect who is paid to design every detail of the house.... however that is generally not common around here, architects are paid for a layout, exterior elevation, and to get plans approved. the GC deals with spec sheets and what goes into each bid.

sounds like a discussion to first have with the GC, and basically tell him some of these things are standard and you're not going to pay extra for, and deal with any changes to the plan that aren't and come to a conclusion on a reasonable cost. no one builds without a dishwasher or a vent hood

[Kc2112]

Contact Erick the master Electrician hes very good 347-512-4869
Email address [email]Ricinstallation@aol.com[/email]