Electrician quotes question, getting mixed info

So I noticed we have some knowledgable folks here on electrical contracting topics.

I've called a pair of locals and i've looked online about the service I want and there's a $3000 gap in what they're quoting me, and what I can find online...

Basically, i have an open-wall garage that I want to move and re-run some circuits (for new lights, better outlets & placement of them both.)

My current service panel, 200 amp, is a bit of a mess, so I figured it would be more affordable and useful to go with a sub-panel for the garage.

Things that match what I'm describing online say the high side I should be looking at is $1700, but thats definitely not what locals are telling me I should be ballparking.

so what gives? looks like I need to be educated some more as a consumer...

Guys three states away who have not seen your job are most likely not the best source of good info. Get three written quotes, insist on terms and scope of work being written down and choose the trade you are most comfortable with after checking his references.

Cheap electrical work is not a good idea.

i'm not trying to devalue the work of an electrician.

but a %300 disparity shows I'm missing something. And this isnt one or two casually cruised sites giving me this idea of pricing, i'm 5 pages deep in google searches of places with quotes.

You're in the south, so perhaps not, but could it be the quotes online are different because of union rules in your area? Plus, online may or may not know local building codes which could have an impact on what is allowed. There's a big difference in doing things "up to spec" vs. "my buddy can do it off hours for cash".

And, are your local quotes all over the phone or have they come out to quote it? If by phone, might be worth paying a service call fee to get a more accurate quote.

-Rob

Is the garage attached? Is a new service entrance required for more capacity? If seperate how far is the run from the service entrance to the panel? Or are you branching from the 200a panel? If branching from the panel how is that being done? New breakers? Does this require reworking house circuits to make space? Is drywall or sheathing repair required? Who is supplying the light fixtures? How are they splitting the service? How large a sub panel are you asking for? All questions that need answers before anyone knows of &1700 is accurate or a pipe dream.

Hire the guy online if he is cheaper ... I bet you cant and if so then thats meaningless.

As someone else above said, get three quotes and go from there.

In reply to rob_lewis:

I'm asking them for a fast and loose ballpark from the locals who are certified, just to get an idea. I understand they are not likely to try and make a super competitive offer blind, so I try to take the number they give me as just a marker.

In reply to itsarebuild:

attached garage. Sub panel branching from an existing panel. adjacent position to current panel in garage. 20 amp circuits about 4~6. open to the studs already, no finishing

(i did share these things with the locals i called, and my online searching is taking these things into account...)

I have spent 39 years estimating construction projects in 7 different states.

I also have access to most of the professional pricing resources on the subject.

I have never seen any online resource (especially free ones) that is even close to being accurate. Completely fabricated. Not even in the same Galaxy.

Get a couple bids, check a few references. Make a choice. Never trust Google.

If it's free and online, they are not in the business of selling electrical services and products. They are in the business of selling advertising, and YOU are the product.

Ask for their pricing break down. They had to make a break down to come up with a price (it's like showing your work in school). That should show you where all the money goes.

As someone who quotes things fairly regularly, if you want a fast, loose, ballpark quote, it's going to be high. Probably stupid high. They would much rather be able to come in under their ballpark than have to explain why the actual quote is so much higher.

If you call me for a phone quote for something I've never seen, I'm going to quote worst case scenario. It's going to be high.

Unfortunately being a 2nd/3rd shifter, its going to be a while before I can get a schedule to coincide with a local visit.

But if $5000 is normal for what I'm asking, i'll probably not be able to afford it for a few years. Which is the general idea of what I was trying to find out, if I just need to completely forget about this for a few years.

In reply to madmallard:

Yeah, that's tough. You might see if one of them would be willing to meet on a Saturday/Sunday. A lot of small contractors work 6 day weeks to keep food on the table. It doesn't hurt to ask. The smaller contractors are probably going to be cheaper as well.

A site unseen isn't worth much.

Any contractor will visit the site to give an accurate estimate.

If he won't come, cross him off.

And you may be able to do some of the work yourself to save money. I blind chimp can pull wires through holes in studs.

You are comparing the 2 most inaccurate forms of "price". Online, and sight unseen. Both are worthless.

Those are not real prices. They are referred to in the business as "WAG's" (Wild-Ass Guesses), and they are intentionally high. The logic is, if you are gonna make a guy guess what the job is sight unseen, he is gonna make sure he doesn't get caught.

You won't get real numbers until you give the ability to see the job.

Draw a small plan, and have a neighbor show the property. Buy a friend a case of beer if he'll meet a couple contractors for estimates.

Most contractors do all their bid work after hours, so evenings, weekends, or mornings should not be a problem.

RossD wrote: Ask for their pricing break down. They had to make a break down to come up with a price (it's like showing your work in school). That should show you where all the money goes.

Sorry but that is absolutely incorrect. Scope of work sure, but I will not ever tell a customer how I arrive at my numbers. Either you ask for the job to be done at cost plus, or you pick a quote. It's not the customers business how the quote is arrived at.

In reply to bearmtnmartin:

I agree.

If you ask for the breakdown, they will walk. They may not have one (if they work by the SF, for example), but either way, it's none of the customer's business.

i'm thinking rossD just meant a line-by-line item estimate...

In reply to madmallard:

What's the difference?

Is your garage in Buckhead?

"Buckhead" factor seems to equate to 3x the price for stuff like this.

In reply to SVreX:

I'm probably not expecting wholesale cost breakdown on an estimate. just a breakdown of expense types for what I'd be charged on the bottom line, like labor volume, material charges and quantities, permits, other fees...

In reply to OHSCrifle:

nah, i'm past the north arc

Go to home Depot with a material list and price it out .IBEW electrician or indy?

madmallard wrote: In reply to SVreX: I'm probably not expecting wholesale cost breakdown on an estimate. just a breakdown of expense types for what I'd be charged on the bottom line, like labor volume, material charges and quantities, permits, other fees... In reply to OHSCrifle: nah, i'm past the north arc

So as a consumer interested in saving money, what is your reaction when you see a portion of the breakdown earmarked for profit, or a large percentage markup on materials? Usually the reaction is not good. Consumers generally think that the bill should show hours worked, price per hour, and a bill for materials that can be compared to shelf prices at Home Depot. Unfortunately business does not work like that. We would go broke really quickly.

But what you're describing is more like a wholesale cost breakdown... Profit typically isn't written into a consumer estimate exclusively. Its usually inclusive to the other costs.