The electrician was already at our home doing other work, helping the contractor building our deck, so there shouldn't have been a service charge of any sort, just the material and labor. Based on all the work he did that day, I believe he spent approximately 1 hour on the installation.
2006-08-21 12:48:49 · 17 answers · asked by Rikki 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
garage receptacle if its a general purpose one , by code it will need be a GFCI. ALSO DID HE PULL A WORK PERMIT FOR THE JOB AND HAVE IT INSPECTED ? THEN $150.00 WOULD BE A NORMAL CHARGE.
2006-08-23 18:42:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you feel there shouldn't have been a service charge? Was he there to do electrical for the deck that day or just helping with other things? The garage is a separate job from the deck, Sorry, everytime I have someone come out, even my friend that remodeled my house, the first hour is always more and drive time charged outside the normal service area. Considering it's $90.00(usually) to come out to my place and then materials on top of it, I think you got a fair price considering the information provided so far.
You also have to consider the standard going rate in your area for the job he completed. Some jobs just have a typical rate and they charge it whether they spend 15 mintues or two hours completing the work.
2006-08-22 04:15:46 · answer #2 · answered by Carp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How much wire did he have to run? Was conduit involved? Was it a GFI receptacle? All these variables taken into consideration could explain the seemingly high cost. Did he have to run it all the way to the breaker box and add a new breaker? Most electricians I know are not cheap-some of them charge $80.00 an hour or more. And of course,some of them charge what they think they can get away with. Besides the steep price, were you happy with the work done? If you aren't,then yes he ripped ya!
2006-08-21 13:05:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It all depends.
Was there an existing power line in the garage that he tapped into? If yes, then you overpaid.
If he had to run any substantial length of new wire, and/or install an additional circuit breaker into your load panel, then I think you got a fair price.
You could ask him to provide an itemized list of materials and labor, but on the other hand, it's only $5 per year for a 30-year timeframe. What is the value and convenience worth to you?
My $0.02.
2006-08-21 13:03:54 · answer #4 · answered by Tom-SJ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the time spent, yes, I believe you may have been ripped off.
But how much did the electrician spend on material? That could be where the brunt of the charge came from.
2006-08-21 12:55:30 · answer #5 · answered by Oklahoman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If he spent an hour, $150 sounds a little steep. But then again, I wouldn't know. I install all my own outlets, up to code, conduit where needed, for free, so I never use an electrician.
2006-08-21 12:53:47 · answer #6 · answered by mikesglobal 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, that is cheap! Consider yourself as lucky.
Only a novice, handyman or retired electrician work that cheap. Most successful companies wouldn't even want a job that small unless you lived across the street.
Wait to you get a refrigerator repair, ROFLMAO
Only a novice, handyman or retired electrician work that cheap.
2006-08-21 12:55:40 · answer #7 · answered by ole_gimlet_eye 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My husband own an electrical company. A union electrician charges $80 or more an hour. A non-union about $40.00 or so.
I think you got ripped off!!
2006-08-21 12:56:13 · answer #8 · answered by Geri H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is there a panel in the garage?
did he have to install conduit and run wire?
if so, that's not unreasonable, and I suspect he took longer than one hour
. I hope you were not watching him the whole time.
2006-08-21 13:12:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Isn't it a little late to ask that question AFTER he's done the work? Didn't you ask him for an estimate BEFORE he started?
There's one born every minute...
2006-08-22 05:07:18 · answer #10 · answered by not_gullible 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋