Price estimate fair for job I needed a quote on? (Installing a new subpanel)
#1
05-27-15, 07:05 PM
Price estimate fair for job I needed a quote on? (Installing a new subpanel)
I recently had an electrician come out and do some measuring for installing a 60 amp subpanel outside on the back of house. Our main panel is on the side of house in the garage.
They plan to install a 60 amp breaker in main, run 4 wires from panel and come out the back of the panel, through the wall and to the outside of house behind panel, then run along the side of house to the back of it and land into a 60 amp subpanel. They will install a GFCI outlet beside the panel until we get our deck installed. Total feet from panel to subpanel is approximately 25 feet.
I am supplying the subpanel which is simply a boxed subpanel with main breaker inside, everything else (conduit, wire, labor, receptacle, etc) they are supplying.
They quoted me $625.
Does this seem fair? Ive only had one electrician out here 5 years ago and that was to fish a romex (Already run 80% of the way) up a wall 5 foot and connect to a breaker... paid $180.
They plan to install a 60 amp breaker in main, run 4 wires from panel and come out the back of the panel, through the wall and to the outside of house behind panel, then run along the side of house to the back of it and land into a 60 amp subpanel. They will install a GFCI outlet beside the panel until we get our deck installed. Total feet from panel to subpanel is approximately 25 feet.
I am supplying the subpanel which is simply a boxed subpanel with main breaker inside, everything else (conduit, wire, labor, receptacle, etc) they are supplying.
They quoted me $625.
Does this seem fair? Ive only had one electrician out here 5 years ago and that was to fish a romex (Already run 80% of the way) up a wall 5 foot and connect to a breaker... paid $180.
#2
05-27-15, 08:00 PM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
Posts: 16,321
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It is utterly impossible to quote job prices over the Internet because labor rates as well as material costs vary widely across the country. Add in permit costs and EXACTLY what the job entails and you can see that with the limited information that you have supplied why we can't state up or down if you being given a high, medium or low price.
The best thing you can do is to get several estimates.
The best thing you can do is to get several estimates.
#3
05-29-15, 11:16 AM
Couple hours of work @ ~$100/hr, $150 in materials... sounds in the ballpark, though as Furd mentioned, there's no real way we can tell.
Are they pulling permits? Will it be inspected? This is probably the best way you can help ensure it's done well and to code. They shouldn't get their final payment until it passes inspection (though it may take a few days/weeks to schedule with the town). In some states, contractors MUST withhold some payment until the inspections are completed.
Be sure you have a written contract, with their license number on it. It's amazing how many people run into issues with just a handshake.
Are they pulling permits? Will it be inspected? This is probably the best way you can help ensure it's done well and to code. They shouldn't get their final payment until it passes inspection (though it may take a few days/weeks to schedule with the town). In some states, contractors MUST withhold some payment until the inspections are completed.
Be sure you have a written contract, with their license number on it. It's amazing how many people run into issues with just a handshake.
