When deciding on electrical contractors to perform work in your home, many factors need to be taken into consideration. First being the size and scope of a particular job, and second, the types of bids you should entertain. As money is being put down, trust is even more crucial when picking a contractor. Many homeowners rely on word of mouth and hire someone recommended by friends or relatives. If this is not an option, you'd better shop around. Bids Bringing in a few different electrical contractors to offer estimates can give you a ballpark figure of what a certain job should cost. Types of bids fall into two different categories. The Lump Sum bid essentially sets a fixed price for the work to be done, leaving any unforeseen obstacles and costs on the contractor. Such a bid can favor the owner if problems arise, though will be initially more expensive. A Cost Plus Contract is designed around itemized parts and labor, which could be cheaper if things run smoothly, or potentially burn a hole in your pocket if something goes awry. New Construction or Gutted House The nature of work to be done can dictate what kind of bid is favorable. For new construction or a gutted house, a Cost Plus Contract may be the way to go. Wiring on this level for an electrician is an open book, commonly referred to as "roughing in." Following a blueprint, they drill holes through open studs, or use existing holes in order to run wires for outlets, lights, and appliances to the circuit breaker box. Once the interior is done, they come back and install the outlets, fixtures, and cover plates. This type of job can be a quick turnover for a contractor with a reasonable price tag for the owner. Rewiring an Old House If you are instead rewiring an old house, a lump sum bid may be your best option. Having to work around existing walls can be potentially troublesome and vexing for an electrician. With insulation, debris, or sometimes even errant horizontal beams behind them, running and pulling wires can prove difficult. On top of that, much of the work can entail crawling through cramped attic spaces or underneath a house. In both cases, all sorts of surprises and obstacles may present themselves. Even though the asking price for a set contract to rewire a home may seem high, it may prove the better road to take when you don't know how many bumps are in it. Electrical contractors may tell you as much when proposing a price, but as with anything, the more you know, the better. With all things being equal, whether you're a contractor or a homeowner, both sides may agree that it is money that matters. When considering electrical contractors, York, PA residents visit Leer Electric. Learn more about them at http://www.leerelectric.com/about-us/.
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