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September 25, 2007
light fixtures
A contractor is quoting me $100 per fixture to install them. Is that pretty much the going rate? We've got 20 that need to be installed. Has anyone had experience with electricians offering discounts for a job of this size? Any advice would be great. Thanks a lot.
Comments
That's a ripoff. If you are going to get someone over to install just one fixture, sure, $100 may be their minimum charge.
If you have 20 you should be able to get someone that you can pay by the day - it should take less than a day.
Find a local handyman to do it, pay someone $200 for the day's work and you'll be fine.
Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 3:33 PM
I've always thought of this as a simple DIY job. Granted, hanging TWENTY fixtures would be a PITA, but still....
Posted by: Bob Marvin at September 25, 2007 3:56 PM
I agree, $200 for travel time, set- and clean-up seems reanonable (high, but reasonable), but for 20 you should get a great discount or hourly rate.
Assuming that they are new properly wired fixtures and proper electical boxes, a person should be able to do 2-3 an hour (at least). (Unless you are installing really heavy and/or delicate fixtues.) 20 should be done in less than a day. So I think around $200 for a day's handyman work should be good.
Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 4:00 PM
You could easily learn how to install them yourself. Then if something breaks, you will know how to fix it too.
Remember to turn off the electical circiut fromthe fuse/breaker box, and do it with a good flashlight or, better yet, during daylight hours.
Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 4:02 PM
"Then if something breaks, you will know how to fix it too."
That's exactly why any homeownere should do simple jobs like thison their own. "When it breaks" is likely to be on a day or time when you can't get anyone to do it for you. Even if you have enough $$ so that spending thousands to hang light fixtures is of little consequence, it's not all that great to be so dependant on others for stuff you can do yourself. YRMV.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at September 25, 2007 5:00 PM
I agree with the other posters about getting cheaper rates for volume. I am also assuming that these are relatively simple installations. I had some chandeliers put up and no way would I attempt that. Actually, learning how to install light fixtures is on my long list of things to learn how to do, but I don't know if I'll get to it in this lifetime.
Posted by: donatella at September 25, 2007 7:22 PM
electricians quote jobs on either a per point basis or on a time and materials (complete job) basis. The OP doesn't say if there is a lot of cable to snake or the distance of pull necessary to get back to the panel but if the quantity of either is large, then $100/point is very reasonable. If it is installing fixtures on existing backboxes that are cabled back to the panel, then finding a handyman or learning seems like the cheaper option.
Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 9:54 PM
It also depends if the fixtures are already assembled also. You can spend a good hour each just putting some together if they have many components. Get 3 quotes on anything of that expense.
Posted by: guest at September 25, 2007 10:16 PM
As one poster stated, $100 per point is very reasonable. You gotta luv someone who lives in an apartment/house that either approaches $1m or exceeds it, not understanding that others need to make a living as well.
Posted by: guest at September 26, 2007 10:39 AM
917 338 7003
licensed electrical contractor % 100 waranty
i can do this job 1000 dollars
if you want cheapper you gotta have risk no insurange risk
my mechanic can do this job without insurange $500
Posted by: guest at September 27, 2007 10:57 PM
Just replace the light covers for a quick and inexpensive upgrade you can do yourself. Mill Creek Lighting Supply. Email: request@mclightingsupply.com
Posted by: guest at October 1, 2007 3:37 PM
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