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I guarantee he doesnt charge $200 an hour. No internet presence, no reviews. Im pretty sure hes a new construction electrician. My gripe is with myself being stupid. I make a lot fo good business decisons and apparently im too hard n myslef when I dont makea great one. That via my wife. Like anyone here, im tired and money watsed means mre hours or hours spent after the job. My time is worth a good bit.
No internet presence and a pick up is deffinately a major red flag when it comes to trades
3k including permits and you expect Merry Maids being thrown in? Have your family send one of their electricians next time.
Recently, I also hired an electrician to work, I had to write him a large check, but all the work was done perfectly.
Me too. Three large checks, because there was so much needing to be done it took three estimates and three visits. The house was "homemade" wired, a real fire trap, with a Federal box besides.
Not only did he have to find and undo all the illegal unsafe wiring (some of it they used lamp wire for crying out loud) he also had to find and undo the rigged wiring illegally and unsafely in the shed.
There was only one or two outlets per room, no overhead lights (except florescent in the kitchen).,no light switches, and I needed the dedicated 220 outlet for my electric stove (I had the gas disconnected), installing a baseboard heater in the bathroom....oh yes he got many thousands of my dollars, including the $35 permit, and I don't begrudge a penny of it because I am in a safely wired well lighted house now.
I provided the overhead light fixtures, but he went above and beyond, proving LED bulbs, adding an outlet in the basement, and replacing the outside security lights (wired with indoor wire) all above and beyond what was on the estimates.
Someday I'll call him back and have him wire the shed for power, legally and safely.
By the way, before I bought the house I did have a different electrician give me an estimate, that only included replacing the Federal box and disconnecting the shed. His estimate, just for those two things, was $1,400 higher than the guy who ultimately did the work.
It took weeks of phone calls and e mails before the first guy finally provided the estimate making me need to file an extension on my offer. The electrician who actually did the work for me responded to every phone call and every e mail in a timely manner. He was respectful and explained things, and ..well he did leave a bit of sawdust here and there but not too much mess, his assistant was pretty good with a whisk broom.
I'd say the OP got a pretty good deal, even for a year ago. Trying to break down such specialty work into dollars per hour, where your life actually depends on him doing his job right, seems an odd, begrudging even, way to look at things.
Last edited by catsmom21; 10-17-2020 at 06:23 PM..
No internet presence and a pick up is deffinately a major red flag when it comes to trades
3k including permits and you expect Merry Maids being thrown in? Have your family send one of their electricians next time.
Lots of well established contractors don't even mess with the internet at all they have repeat clients that they aren't concerned with being online. The shortage or tradesman has the ball in the contractors court lots of contractors booked out for many months or even a year and turning down work.
There are lots of websites online where you can put in your zip and get several estimates or bids for your job. There are also sites like Home Advisor that will give you a good idea of a fair price.
For lessor jobs, go through Craig's List, because most of those guys are good at responding back and will give estimates based on the pictures you send. The down side to this, is dealing with flakes. You do have to weed through and find decent ones. When they come over, meeting them in person should be the deciding factor, and don't hire someone with no credentials, at least not for electrical work.
I always take pictures of the project and text them over. Pin him down for an estimate and none of this 'I'm not sure'. This should save you from the guy doubling the price later. It's my idea when these guys come over, the price is often based on what kind of house you have, and someone in a modest house will get a lower estimate. Paying through the nose because some stranger deems you can afford it, is not something you should have to do.
My spouse is a senior Electrical engineer and has been installing new lights and similar tasks for his parents since high school, so he can do electrical in his sleep. He's saved a boatload of money, by the DIY method. If you can't, then get that estimate up front.
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