Electrical Cost Estimating

Building a new home is both exciting and potentially problematic. Many contractors get into a job without first perfecting their estimating procedures. This leads to a lot of issues that could be avoided by doing their homework first. If you don’t plan ahead, you may get in over your head and lose money. Why not start off the right way and save time and headaches?

When electrical contractors initially start a job, let’s say a new house, they start by figuring out exactly what the job will entail. The power needs of the house are important to figure out. Then, based on the size of the house, the electrician can estimate how much cable and the number of fixtures will be needed to cover the entire structure. This will give the contractor a good rule of thumb to follow before beginning construction.

A very easy way to simplify this process is to start with individual sections of the property. Starting with the bathroom, for example, gives the electrician the ability to take his or her time in the estimating and allows him or her to compartmentalize the inventory before going on to anything else. Going section by section is the fast way to double check every single item and to make sure nothing gets missed or to insure that nothing is duplicated along the way.

This way of estimating gives you freedom and flexibility. Dealing with sections is less chaotic then going over the whole building top to bottom. It also looks more professional and that means it is more likely the customers being served will not only use you again but recommend you to their friends and relatives when they need an estimate.

Consistency is key when building an electrical system from scratch. Going room to room allows the contractor to use the same procedure in every section of the house and this means a better likelihood each section is done the same way each time. Remember to measure twice and cut once. This is the builder’s credo.

From a financial standpoint, having strong estimating skills is very important. Keeping a good track of costs along the way enables you to make a good bid on what the total cost of the project will be. If you wait until the last minute, it may not be as accurate as it could be. In fact, it might not be accurate at all. Playing catch up is a bad idea. There are too many other things that might need attention and trying to figure out what costs what is too difficult to leave for the end.

Be consistent with your estimating procedures. Doing so will enable you to have a first time estimate of total cost that will be accurate. This will not only make the job easier for the contractor but the homeowner as well. It does not look professional when the contractor is constantly changing the amount of money needed to build something. Do it right the first time and save hassle later.