How much for this electrical work is reasonable?

[Mikerightsecondtime]

To second fix(all wiring in place and hanging out of fixed in place back boxes), all in same room:
- 3 light switches
- 2 sockets
- 3 round flush ceiling led light fittings ( (wiring in place, holes cut)
- to remove from the fuse board 2 dead legs no longer required
- to refresh an existing strap for the old earth bonding onto the water main ie unscrew the old , refit new onto already cleaned up pipe).
- to connect a wire (in place) to a led strip light, wire and light all in place.
- test all of the above as usually required.

I ask because after 6 hours of hourly pay, our electrician didn’t complete the above and needs to come back for another 2 -3 hours.

I think I could at Ax ch a face plate in sun 5 mins, same for the lights, so maybe being generous 2-3 hours of work. Am I missing something?

 

[Wayners]

Maybe you should of asked for a fixed price or a estimate of time needed.
I've seen this sort of thing before where trades turn up and the clock starts ticking only for them to drive off to fetch parts they should be carrying on van.
I've also seen trades drag a job out a bit then get beaten by the clock and have to come back.
I'd ask why your paying by the hour when it's a days work?

 

[jj4091]

Perhaps you should have been a sparky

 

[robinbanks]

Not sure that any of that work is notifiable?
Why didn't you do more of it yourself? Is it part of a wider set of work(first fix)?
What hourly rate are you paying? What work has been done in the 6h so far? What cans of worms manifest?

 

[Murdochcat]

How much were you quoted for the work?

The time taken so far seems high given what you have written but as a spark i do know that most customers do underestimate how long things take

 

[Mikerightsecondtime]

He wanted hourly in case any unforeseen problems ran into (1960s wiring, but consumer unit replaced 10yrs ago so not too old). Here’s what I would estimate for time based on how long it would take me:
- attach 3 light switch face plates - 30 mins
- attach 2 socket face plates - 20 mins
- connect 3 down lights - 45 mins
- remove 2 dead legs from consumer unit - 20 mins
- refresh the earth bonding strap on water main main - 30 mins
- connect wire to in-place led batton through 2ft flexible trunking - 20 mins

Total: 165mins - let’s say add another 15 = 3hrs

The electrician will have taken 8 hours by the time the above is done (on an hourly rate). I asked him where the time had gone and he said he didn’t know, he had to get an isolator switch from the electrical wholesalers, and had to have lunch, plus ‘testing’. The testing is the unknown for me. I think it’s looking like £500 in total . I was thinking more like £300, the cost is the cost, I’m not losing slept over that, but I just want to learn from experts - why is my estimate of 3 hours so far from the reality of 8 hours. (What do you do in the other 5 hours?)

 

[pcaouolte]

Without seeing the job, just from your description, I would have estimated one full day. Its unlikely that the job could be completed in half a day to allow the other half of the day to be paid for by another job. Its certainly more than a "Pop in for an hour on the way past" job.
Edit to add: Your time estimates don't seem to include any testing?

 

[Murdochcat]

When ever I do these types of jobs I always give a reasonable estimate with a bit of spare time included. 19 times out of 20 the costs come in under my estimate.

I wouldn’t have charged time for getting a part I knew I needed

 

[pete01]

I would of put in a day even if it would take 5 to 6 hours...£250

 

[johnny2007]

A

I would of put in a day even if it would take 5 to 6 hours...£250

re you a qualified electrician?
If so, your rates are very cheap!

 

[pete01]

A

re you a qualified electrician?
If so, your rates are very cheap!

Thanks it keeps the work flowing

 

[pcaouolte]

he had to get an isolator switch from the electrical wholesalers

I wouldn’t have charged time for getting a part I knew I needed

Neither would I but there is no mention of fitting an isolator anywhere in the OP's list of jobs. It looks like this might be one of those jobs that keeps on growing.

 

[Mikerightsecondtime]

I think the truth of it is that trades - when working on an hourly rate - have at the back of their mind that the slower they go the more money they get. If they are thinking, “if this takes 4 hours I’ll get £200, but if it takes 6 hours I’ll get £300”, then guess what, it somehow seems to take the 6 hours. And there’s always some reason why it takes extra, usually tied up in some jargon they think you can’t challenge (like testing, items needed not on the van, paperwork, etc. I bet that when a tradesperson is working for a fixed price for a hob, they crack on and it’s done in half the time. I guess if I ever have someone on an hourly rate, I’ll just have to be on their shoulder the whole time making sure they aren’t slacking.

 

[johnny2007]

Never employ anyone on hourly rate, unless you're doing the job and they're there to help.

 

[jj4091]

I think the truth of it is that trades - when working on an hourly rate - have at the back of their mind that the slower they go the more money they get. If they are thinking, “if this takes 4 hours I’ll get £200, but if it takes 6 hours I’ll get £300”, then guess what, it somehow seems to take the 6 hours. And there’s always some reason why it takes extra, usually tied up in some jargon they think you can’t challenge (like testing, items needed not on the van, paperwork, etc. I bet that when a tradesperson is working for a fixed price for a hob, they crack on and it’s done in half the time. I guess if I ever have someone on an hourly rate, I’ll just have to be on their shoulder the whole time making sure they aren’t slacking.

You are quite wrong there to be generalising. Before I retired I mostly worked on an hourly rate and it used to work out cheaper than any estimate given before hand. I woud imagine that most, but certainly the majority believe in a fair days work for a fair days pay. You standing there watching and complaining every time I went out for a cigarette or going to the loo would have led to me collecting my tools and telling you to get someone else.