Dear Forum,
We are currently building a house through a construction company. The building specifications state there will be 4 sockets per room. Since this is not sufficient for us, we have chosen to add extra sockets in some places. Price according to the electrician: 90€ for a single socket, 120€ for a double socket.
I would like to explain our issue using the following example:
For one room, we selected
- 1x single socket
- 3x double sockets
According to our understanding, we should pay the extra cost compared to the building specification as follows:
3x surcharge from single to double socket = 3x(120€ - 90€) = 90€.
However, the electrician calculates the cost as follows:
- 2x double sockets cover the 4 sockets per room specified in the building description
- in addition, extra costs apply for 1x double socket + 1x single socket = 120€ + 90€ = 210€.
=> The electrician is charging more than twice what we expected—solely due to a different calculation method.
My question to the forum is:
Is the electrician using a common calculation method, or is this a case of overcharging?
We are currently building a house through a construction company. The building specifications state there will be 4 sockets per room. Since this is not sufficient for us, we have chosen to add extra sockets in some places. Price according to the electrician: 90€ for a single socket, 120€ for a double socket.
I would like to explain our issue using the following example:
For one room, we selected
- 1x single socket
- 3x double sockets
According to our understanding, we should pay the extra cost compared to the building specification as follows:
3x surcharge from single to double socket = 3x(120€ - 90€) = 90€.
However, the electrician calculates the cost as follows:
- 2x double sockets cover the 4 sockets per room specified in the building description
- in addition, extra costs apply for 1x double socket + 1x single socket = 120€ + 90€ = 210€.
=> The electrician is charging more than twice what we expected—solely due to a different calculation method.
My question to the forum is:
Is the electrician using a common calculation method, or is this a case of overcharging?
From my point of view, the main issue here is the vague scope of work description. If it simply states 4 units per room, an electrician can opt for the most cost-effective version. In many scopes of work, for example, the kitchen is specified as 2 single sockets, 1 double, and 1 triple. Then it is clearly defined what is included.
H
HilfeHilfe18 Sep 2019 05:41Dr Hix schrieb:
Now let’s consider together who this question was probably addressed to:
a) Electricians who regularly share their cost estimates openly in this forum
b) Homeowners who have dealt with one or more electricians at least once in their lives and can review their past invoices or quotes
This has nothing to do with assumptions,
but rather with transparency and business conduct.
It may be that, in this case, the craftsman is really struggling and is being exploited by his general contractor (GC). But is that the original poster’s (OP’s) problem? Does the electrician even need to act this way in the current market environment? Especially since the solution to this dilemma is so obvious that you already presented it to the OP 20 minutes after their initial post.
Anyone who, as a "contractor," calculates in a way that forces uninformed laypersons into a corner (having signed a GC contract) to squeeze disproportionately high fees for additional work is, in my opinion, not only acting quite unethically but also risks being ruined very quickly as soon as 2 or 3 homeowners in a row start questioning and responding to this pricing approach. Is it now the electrician’s problem that the OP complains? He cannot be forced into paying for cheap additional work. You should always recognize who holds the upper hand. Clearly, it is not the OP. He can neither get another electrician for a few extra sockets on site, nor can he force the current one.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
Is it the electrician’s problem that now the original poster is complaining? He cannot be forced to provide cheap additional work; you should always recognize who holds the upper hand. Definitely not the original poster. He won’t get a different electrician for a few extra outlets on site, nor can he force the current one. It’s a matter of perspective. Those who don’t just build their house blindly but take some time to engage with the trades won’t lose any money here.
In that case, the move just won’t happen immediately after handover, but another electrician will be hired to run a few cables over three days. Painting work is usually handled 95% by the homeowner anyway. They will take care of the finishing touches.
H
HilfeHilfe18 Sep 2019 08:24danixf schrieb:
It’s a matter of perspective. If you don’t just build your little house blindly but instead get involved with the trades a bit, you won’t spend a penny unnecessarily here.
Then the move just won’t happen immediately after handover, but you’ll hire an electrician who spends about three days running some cables. Painting work is usually 95% handled by the homeowner anyway. They’ll take care of that and make it look great.The new Elli is focused on that. It won’t be cheap either.HilfeHilfe schrieb:
New Elli is installing it there. I can say with quite some certainty that he will not. Unless suddenly KNX or other rather uncommon systems are to be implemented there.
It’s not about going cheap, but about these prices being outrageous. 30-40€ (about 35-45 USD) is already “expensive,” but manageable. Here, 300-400% above the usual market price is being charged.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
New Elli is focusing on that. It won’t be cheap either.The Dunning-Kruger effect—that’s all I can think of. As far as I know, you recently boasted about a follow-up financing... where do you get your expertise to make such claims? In fact, there are some craftsmen who are not fully booked.