Quote for Electrician referred by Interior Designer - is the price inflated?!

[JustAChick]

I had a local interior designer out to get some advice on a few things and she had an electrician to come out and quote on the following:

2 new Hunter Pacific (?) remote-controlled fans with lights and dimmers
3 new run-of-the-mill fan + light (no remote) for the bedrooms
Trapeze lighting with 400va transformer, 8 heads with 50w lamps and cable
Microswitch in pantry

$3900 including products

This also included removing the 2 fans that are being replaced by the Hunter Pacific ones, and moving the cabling up higher on the cathedral ceiling. Also removing 3 lots of spotlights where the trapeze will go and lights in bedrooms that fan/light will replace.

This seems an incredibly expensive quote to me but perhaps I am out of touch. I was expecting $2000-$3000 (at the highest).

The invoice has been retyped by the designer and is not cost itemised so I don't know what the labour time or charge per hour is, nor do I know cost of items. Is it reasonable to ask for an itemised quote?

Thanks (:
P.S. I am in SE Melbourne

[bugsy]

I had a local interior designer out to get some advice on a few things and she had an electrician to come out and quote on the following:

2 new Hunter Pacific (?) remote-controlled fans with lights and dimmers
3 new run-of-the-mill fan + light (no remote) for the bedrooms
Trapeze lighting with 400va transformer, 8 heads with 50w lamps and cable
Microswitch in pantry

$3900 including products

This also included removing the 2 fans that are being replaced by the Hunter Pacific ones, and moving the cabling up higher on the cathedral ceiling. Also removing 3 lots of spotlights where the trapeze will go and lights in bedrooms that fan/light will replace.

This seems an incredibly expensive quote to me but perhaps I am out of touch. I was expecting $2000-$3000 (at the highest).

The invoice has been retyped by the designer and is not cost itemised so I don't know what the labour time or charge per hour is, nor do I know cost of items. Is it reasonable to ask for an itemised quote?

Thanks (:
P.S. I am in SE Melbourne

i would ring the sparky and say you lost the original quote, and can they send you another?

[DJ’s Timber]

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for an itemised quote, you're the one who is going to fork out the dollars and I would like to know what my dollars are going to pay for.

If she doesn't want to give you an itemised quote, I would be having second thoughts about using her.

[JustAChick]

Good idea, bugsy, but I don't have the Electrician's business name - he came out but I was only introducd to him by first name.

djstimber - I think you're right I just wanted to see if I was being a bit pushy. $4000 is a lot of money to fork out when you don't even know what the guy charges per hour or how many hours the job is going to take!

[DJ’s Timber]

Thinking on it, I reckon it sounds a bit high, 3 run of the mill fans with lights are only about are only about 100 bucks or so each, can't imagine the others being more then $250 ea, have know idea on the light.

Might pay for you to ring a couple of suppliers and get some prices on the fans and lights to give you some idea of pricing.

Rather then getting the interior designer to quote, get you own sparky in to quote the job, you can bet she has added on her own commission to the price

[bugsy]

Good idea, bugsy, but I don't have the Electrician's business name - he came out but I was only introducd to him by first name.

djstimber - I think you're right I just wanted to see if I was being a bit pushy. $4000 is a lot of money to fork out when you don't even know what the guy charges per hour or how many hours the job is going to take!

surely you can ask your designer of a list of businesses they will be using?
just dont let on that you are checking the quoted price.

Then ring the sparky and ask for the quote

[woodcutta]

Justachick

It should be an itemised quote - Ask for it.


The cynical part of me thinks if you were only introduced to him by first name maybe his name was Mr Interior-Designer.:D


woodcutta

[JustAChick]

He was wearing overalls so he didn't look too interior-designish! Waiting to hear back from the designer about an itemised quote and if she isn't co-operative I'll go somewhere else. Thanks guys.

[MrFixIt]

Hi

Definitely seems excessive to me.


I had a local interior designer out to get some advice on a few things and she had an electrician to come out and quote on the following:

I think THIS was your mistake.

Generally speaking, if you ask the electrician (if you were able to contact him), his price should either remain the same OR he would refer you to the ID. The reason being that *IF* he undercuts the price and effectively cuts out the ID, then the ID will NEVER use him OR refer work to him again.

If I were you I would get AT LEAST THREE quotes from the local sparky's. Tell them that you are getting other quotes.

If you think that being a female (going by your user name) will affect the quote, tell the sparky's that you will be referring the quotes to ...insert your preferred male figure here eg father, brother etc, or even this forum :D

[JustAChick]

Thanks Peter. That's good advice!

Here I was thinking an Interior Designer just came out and gave me "ideas" about what to do with each room and all of a sudden I'm in a pickle with inflated quotes and worrying about whose toes I'm stepping on!

Will call some others and get an idea of price.

Thanks,
JustAChick

[bugsy]

worrying about whose toes I'm stepping on!


Thanks,
JustAChick

embrace and enjoy stepping on toes.
Its all part of the fun.:2tsup:

[nev25]

Good idea, bugsy, but I don't have the Electrician's business name - he came out but I was only introducd to him by first name.


You must be issued with a certificate of electrical safety
His name and number is on that

If you didn't get one contact the Interior Designer and ask for his number and ask for one
and then query the invoice

[elkangorito]

You must be issued with a certificate of electrical safety
His name and number is on that

If you didn't get one contact the Interior Designer and ask for his number and ask for one
and then query the invoice

Does that apply for quotations as well as actual work done?

[JustAChick]

Thanks nev25 but this is just at quote stage - the quote did show that the price included the electrical certificate. I don't think they are dodgy electricians, I am just suspicious that the Interior Designer has added her own little commission to the price which is not on. :no:

In my mind, the quote should have come directly to me, not via her. If she refers work to him then I can see she should get a cut of whatever it is but I don't think she should then add on a little earner for me to pay. If he hadn't got the referral in the first place, he wouldn't have the work so the two of them should sort out a deal, not inflate the price for me to pay.

I have spoken to her and she is going to get me an itemised quote. That's at least a start and I'll be able to see if their hourly rate is reasonable and if they were in fact able to get all the products cheaper than I could buy retail.

So, what is the going hourly rate for a good electrician in Vic?

Thanks for still replying to this thread! Your answers have been very helpful.:U

[nev25]

Thanks nev25 but this is just at quote stage -
Sorry I thought you had already had the job done


So, what is the going hourly rate for a good electrician in Vic?
Well neca (National Electrical and Communications Authority) Suggest Electricians should be charging a minimum of $80 plus GST an hour
I'm about 2 hrs east of Melbourne and around here the going rate is $60/h Plus GST.
(we are a bit slow in the country:D)

I have read on here that some Electricians in Melb are charging between $100 to $150/h which I find hard to believe.

Bear in mind that when we quote we always add extra for the what ifs
In some cases I give a ball park figue not a quote

I think a lot of your costs are in the fact you have a Cathedral ceiling which I assume has exposed beams and extra care would have to be taken to make sure cabling was not an Eyesore.

[Burnsy]

You can garantee that any quote provided by and designer be it interior or anything else will be inflated. It covers the project management time. If she gives you an itemised quote it will still be inflated. You can't expect people to ring around, get quotes and source materials for nothing. Yes they say no worries I will do it for you, but ask yourself why? Is it because they think you are a fantastic person and really just want to help out :no:or is it a means of them making some extra money:)?


I agree with Mr Fix It, you can not expect the electrician to deal with you if they have an ongoing relationship with the ID. Get other quotes as suggested. If money is not an issue and you want someone else to deal with any headaches, go with the ID.

[Tabby]

JustAChick, first lesson, always get more than one quote that details all work and ask to see their registration number. I've just had a lot of electrical work done and the rate was $60 per hour. A couple of years agao I was charged $150 per fan to install excluding the cost of the fan. That was fair enough because they are time consuming (about 2 hrs each) and fiddly.

[Honorary Bloke]

I had a local interior designer out to get some advice on a few things and she had an electrician to come out and quote on the following:

...snip...

The invoice has been retyped by the designer and is not cost itemised so I don't know what the labour time or charge per hour is, nor do I know cost of items. Is it reasonable to ask for an itemised quote?

The designer has, quite naturally, marked the quote up to cover service costs. Sorry, but you are asking to have it both ways. You are happy to have the designer get the quotes, select the products, etc. but evidently do not want to pay for his/her time to perform that service. It is certainly ok to ask for an itemised quote from the designer, of course, but not from the sparky directly, as the designer has now become your agent.

You are perfectly entitled to call another sparky on your own and get your own quotes.:)

[dan76]

sounds like a fairly big job, labour would be the large cost if they have to redo cables in cathedral ceilings.
but always get more than 1 quote

[nev25]

JustAChick, first lesson, always get more than one quote that details all work and ask to see their registration number. I've just had a lot of electrical work done and the rate was $60 per hour. A couple of years agao I was charged $150 per fan to install excluding the cost of the fan. That was fair enough because they are time consuming (about 2 hrs each) and fiddly.

Tabby you got a hell of a bargain there
The Sparkie wouldn't have made much money at all.
I'm wondering if he was registered and did you get a Certificate of electrical safety

[Gaza]

you pay the designer to do design work, select finshes and fixtures. If you manage the contarctors ie open up, clean up and make them a coffee. then why should the designer make money from the transaction.

I think you would find that all building work over $1000.00 the princple contactor needs to be licensed builder and the plumber, gas fitter, elc etc has to have there own speciality lic.

Chances are this designer does not have a builders lic, more the more reason not to employee trades from her.

If she gives you a specification who can then have two or threee compaines price the work inclduing the supply of fittings if required or you can supply them and they would install them.

Now if you are not a nice person you can get the designer to do the electrical work plus what ever else needs doing then not pay her, when she aks for the money ask for her builders lic. She has no recourse using the court system to reclaim the money and infact she could be fined for doing un-lic building work.

[patty]

Tabby you got a hell of a bargain there
The Sparkie wouldn't have made much money at all.
I'm wondering if he was registered and did you get a Certificate of electrical safety<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
__________________
That is all I charge for a ceiling fan pending on location and ceiling access!
Why would you get a certificate of electrical safety for?
All I do is fill out their Warranty Certificate and all is good!

[patty]

I have no doubt in my mind you are being had here by the interior designer I worked out a rough quote in my melon sight un seen did the electrician actually come and see the job? And it came between $2,500- and $2,800 get 3 quotes simple as that or if you can afford someone to tell you what colour to paint the internals of your house you should be able to afford the price quoted!

[nev25]

<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
That is all I charge for a ceiling fan pending on location and ceiling access!
Why would you get a certificate of electrical safety for?
All I do is fill out their Warranty Certificate and all is good!

In Vic (I quote off the Chief Electrical Inspector website)
"Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a certificate of electrical safety."

Patty you are either not in Vic or Not licensed

[Waldo]

Yep she's putting her bit on the quote. I don't know a thing on the stuff you're getting fitted, but common practice is to put on 10% to 30% of the price quoted by a subbie in my industry - I doubt it'd be different in hers either.

Tell her you'll accept her quote minus the sparky.

[patty]

By means of a certificate are you referring to a NOWE a Notification of Electrical Wiring? No Im not licensed I have only been doing it and runnning my own business for the last 25 years

[Honorary Bloke]

Ladies and gentlemen:

Let us not turn a perfectly good bun fight over whether or not interior decorators deserve to get paid for their work (:D) into yet another stoush over licensed sparkies. (:rolleyes:)

If you want to fight about licensed sparkies vs any other, start your own thread. You will have no lack of responses. :wink:

[This gentle reminder brought to you as a courtesy whilst Neil finds a replacement for Groggy. :; :p ]

[Waldo]

Ladies and gentlemen:

Let us not turn a perfectly good bun fight over whether or not interior decorators deserve to get paid for their work (:D)

Honoraary Bloke is right. Not to be hypocritical to what I wrote, but. If you want to bring someone to do al the running around and bring it al together, then it can save you some of the agro and it'll come at a cost. But if not, then negotiate what you want in her quote or not. My clients do it from time to time and they're quite allowed to, just means a little less for me if they do.

[nev25]

By means of a certificate are you referring to a NOWE a Notification of Electrical Wiring? No Im not licensed I have only been doing it and runnning my own business for the last 25 years

No sorry in Vic we have a Certificate of Electrical Safety
http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/ForConsumers/Choosingandusingatradesperson/Electricitytradesperson/tabid/333/Default.aspx

[DJ’s Timber]

Guys, JuatAChick has probably had the job done a longtime gone now. This thread was started last year in Sept/Oct

[Honorary Bloke]

Guys, JuatAChick has probably had the job done a longtime gone now. This thread was started last year in Sept/Oct

Well, bless me and so it was! Very likely all resolved, although if getting a sparky in is as difficult there as it is here, she MAY still be waiting! :D:p

[bingoshelley]

my god girl you need to grow some balls when dealing with tradies or they will see you a mile away even if you dont know what your talking about make sure they know your husband will be dealing with the final quote.get your yellow pages out and look under electricians and get them to come out you may have to ring 10 and probably 2-3 will actually turn up but it will be worth it in the end i just had 2 ceiling fans which i purchased from bunnings for 39.95 and an outdoor light supplied by the electrician and he charged me 152.00 for the lot.save money and buy the parts yourself then you only pay for installation.its very easy to get ripped off by tradies when your female they get $$ in their eyes lol.by the way i live in the bush and we get ripped off by all tradies up here but im going to go and give my sparky a big kiss seeing what melb sparkys are charging.:U

[nev25]

i purchased from bunnings for 39.95 and an outdoor light supplied by the electrician and he charged me 152.00 for the lot.



Yeah right
You wish

[JustAChick]

The designer has, quite naturally, marked the quote up to cover service costs. Sorry, but you are asking to have it both ways. You are happy to have the designer get the quotes, select the products, etc. but evidently do not want to pay for his/her time to perform that service. It is certainly ok to ask for an itemised quote from the designer, of course, but not from the sparky directly, as the designer has now become your agent.

You are perfectly entitled to call another sparky on your own and get your own quotes.:)

Wow, I didn't realise this thread was still active. Firstly, in my defense Bob, I had never had an interior designer out and thought they would come and give ideas about well, interior design. I didn't know they then "refer" and "recommend" tradespeople and then add a nice little bonus on the side. I am perfectly capable of ringing 3 electricians and getting quotes but seeing as this forum is so full of friendly (?!) knowledgeable people, I thought I would throw it out there for discussion.

I did tell the interior designer that I knew an electrician and was happy for him to come and quote but she insisted on bringing out her guy and I told her I was happy to explain what I wanted on my own but she came with him and then charged me again for her time. SHE can't have it both ways - either I pay for her time and get honest advice including her organising quotes by tradies OR I don't pay for her time to do this and she adds a margin to the electrician's quote. I don't expect any advice or time for free, I just don't want to be double charged on the sly.

As it turns out, I called the electrician directly, got his number from the ID, asked what his hourly rate was - he told me $95!! I then called the electrician I know and he told me $65 and quoted me less time to do it. They are now done for about half the price of the original quote. My guess is, he didn't really want the work in the first place.

And to the poster who said I need to get some balls - if you met me in real life you may change your mind coz I aint no wallflower! I was actually just trying to be respectful of everyone's role in this whole thing as I was new to the ID thing. Don't think I'll bother with IDs again and just do all my own research!

Appreciate your posts.:U

[Honorary Bloke]

Wow, I didn't realise this thread was still active. Firstly, in my defense Bob, I had never had an interior designer out and thought they would come and give ideas about well, interior design. I didn't know they then "refer" and "recommend" tradespeople and then add a nice little bonus on the side. I am perfectly capable of ringing 3 electricians and getting quotes but seeing as this forum is so full of friendly (?!) knowledgeable people, I thought I would throw it out there for discussion.

Good onya and full marks as a quick study. :2tsup: I have learned the hard way over the years that if there is any way for people to skin you they will try it. Interior Designers are among the worst (any I-D members of this esteemed forum excepted, of course. :) ). But for some people, it is attractive to eliminate the hassles of getting their own quotes, etc. and they then pay for the privilege. As your designer "resisted" your efforts to use your own sparky, etc., I would say you got one of the "bad" ones. :(

Very happy it turned out well. :)