Cheap EICR prices

[dsnd_medic]

Hi
I wanted some feedback from you guys and some advice and opinions. I am starting to get a lot of domestic EICR requests but when I send a quote I never hear back from them. I am quoting around £350 for a 3-4 bedroom house. Most don't have not had prior PIRs so I recommend a 50 - 100% on inspection and 30 - 50% on testing depending on the inspection results. This takes me around a day to finish plus an hour or two for finishing the report. I use Certifi on my iPad so that speeds things up a little. My local NICEIC rep said that some sparkies are charging around £125 for an EICR!!! How could they possible do it for that price and make a profit.......or am I being a little gullible and missing something here. To do it for that price, they must be missing a lot out but my question is what are they missing out and if so are they missing it out legally.....I'm guessing they must be working in a grey area so I would appreciate if someone could enlighten me ?

Thanks in advance.

Andy

 

[uksparks]

IMO £350 is £175 too expensive

 

[Lewis85]

Hey I've started doing some lately and I charge for a 3 bed around £140-£160.. People are doing it a lot less one lady asked me to price so I did £120 as its a small place her reply was I've seen online people do it for £70! Get on with it then was my reply. £350 is a little steep

 

[Andy78]

Yeah £350 is way out. How long are you taking to carry out the inspection and test on site ?

EDIT: Just seen that's for a day plus writing up. Is that your normal day rate ?

 

[Lewis85]

Also it's not about missing things out or cutting corners its a job in where you'll never make a killing with testing domestic properties it's just an easy day and ok money. You'll be better off to try get two done in a day but go in at a rate of 140 each then it's ok. I know a lad who works for phs doing condition reports in schools and hospitals he say he makes a killing as so many circuits and they charge per circuit where I just do a day rate or slightly under

 

[rich.250]

Agree with the posts above,
I just do hourly rate, normally refuse to price as its a unknown amount of time to do it properly.
You will find that they are doing hardly anything - I.e using the extent box to test one circuit.
Or doing visual only.
Cowboys is my opinion!
Then again how will the customer know any different???

 

[joehat]

£120/150
Some flats/houses only have socket/light/cooker circuits so don't take that long compared to a property with 10 circuits. I don't tend to go quote as the time it takes to quote that even an extra hour that I under charged Ect Anyways pays for that non quoting time

 

[Octopus]

To do a 3-4 bed house properly with 10+ circuits is around 1 full day........ Unless you are cutting corners.

so I charge my day rate

 

[joehat]

To do a 3-4 bed house properly with 10+ circuits is around 1 full day........ Unless you are cutting corners.

so I charge my day rate

That would take be about 6 hours or so and this is 50% of opening up sockets/switches Ect and if theirs a lot loose I will open up them all, I think the minimum is 25%.


Do you go and quote for the EICR?

 

[Octopus]

That would take be about 6 hours or so and this is 50% of opening up sockets/switches Ect and if theirs a lot loose I will open up them all, I think the minimum is 25%.


Do you go and quote for the EICR?

Yes, that said I don't do that many as I find them very boring and lots of people just want a piece of paper for the cheapest price possible and as I do not drop my prices.......

 

[dsnd_medic]

To do a 3-4 bed house properly with 10+ circuits is around 1 full day........ Unless you are cutting corners.

so I charge my day rate

Dare I ask what your normal day rate is ?

 

[Octopus]

Dare I ask what your normal day rate is ?

I won't post it on the forum but its on a PM to you

 

[joehat]

Yes, that said I don't do that many as I find them very boring and lots of people just want a piece of paper for the cheapest price possible and as I do not drop my prices.......

So I save what over an hour by having sort of set prices. So I essentially am covering an hourlong labour saving their. It's not like anyone charges to quote anymore Anyways

 

[Leesparkykent]

There are people out there doing commercial EICR's for £5-£7 a circuit....Its the new PAT testing game :hanged:

 

[joehat]

Dare I ask what your normal day rate is ?

Taking a guess £300 (not that I'll ever know lol)

 

[HandySparks]

So I save what over an hour by having sort of set prices. So I essentially am covering an hourlong labour saving their. It's not like anyone charges to quote anymore Anyways

Been caught out a couple of times not having a proper look first.

One '4 bed' house had an extension with additional board plus a substantial garden office with shower room and its own gas heating system. The owner was OK with the EICR taking 1½ days and was charged accordingly.

The other '4 bed' house had three reception rooms with multiple wall lights for the art collection, a flat for the gardener, a generator, and supplies to the garage/workshop, greenhouse and the electric gates about 200m away. The owner was not happy to pay for more than a day, so the report detail was limited to the main house only, despite me pointing out the appalling condition of the garage electrics. Wouldn't surprise me if any one of his pictures was worth more than a year's wages.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I usually charge per cct, with a slightly higher price for the first cct. I have a minimum charge of £120.00 which covers up to five ccts. Domestic only. Would not do commercial EICRs as do not yet feel competent to do so. I charge £40 for first cct and £22 for every other cct. I have charged an orrible specimen of a landlord an extra £22 for a doorbell cct with the tranny next to the CU!

It is much better if the property has more than five ccts as the necessary paperwork makes the £120.00 charge a poor earner. Although saying that, a small flat with three ccts becomes a quite good earner.

£350.00 is expensive for domestic.

 

[joehat]

So £238 for 10 circuits, day rate then!!

 

[joehat]

Been caught out a couple of times not having a proper look first.

One '4 bed' house had an extension with additional board plus a substantial garden office with shower room and its own gas heating system. The owner was OK with the EICR taking 1½ days and was charged accordingly.

The other '4 bed' house had three reception rooms with multiple wall lights for the art collection, a flat for the gardener, a generator, and supplies to the garage/workshop, greenhouse and the electric gates about 200m away. The owner was not happy to pay for more than a day, so the report detail was limited to the main house only, despite me pointing out the appalling condition of the garage electrics. Wouldn't surprise me if any one of his pictures was worth more than a year's wages.

Haven't come across that yet, but I guess as with problems, I was decide with client and either charge more or put what I have agreed to test and inspect on the limits and then they can decide.

 

[NDG Elecs]

So £238 for 10 circuits, day rate then!!

Good maths there mate! Might take a day, might take longer. Don't know til it's done. Paperwork could take 2+ hrs to type up. Depending on the issues found I often include a explanatory cover letter in more layman's terms. All takes time...

 

[davesparks]

Like Murdoch I find carrying out an eicr to be tedious and avoid doing them wherever possible. So I only really do them for friends and regular customers. I quote each one on a job by job basis as they are all very different properties

 

[NDG Elecs]

I used to enjoy them but do find the paperwork a pita now. The way I look at them now is it is better than spending a day chasing out with a lung full of dust. Pays the bills.

 

[vxwestie]

im afraid its about doing a decent enough EICR for the money people will pay, not being paid enough for a proper EICR.
Im charging on average £170-£200 down here in Cornwall and try to fit in 'another' job in to make up the day. If your taking 2hours to type it up when using an Ipad, something is wrong. Fill out the Ipad as you go along and have a standard covering letter.

 

[NDG Elecs]

im afraid its about doing a decent enough EICR for the money people will pay, not being paid enough for a proper EICR.
Im charging on average £170-£200 down here in Cornwall and try to fit in 'another' job in to make up the day. If your taking 2hours to type it up when using an Ipad, something is wrong. Fill out the Ipad as you go along and have a standard covering letter.

Yep, been meaning to get a tablet sorted to do just that vx. At the minute I hand write it then type up at home. Laborious I know! A standard cover letter is a good idea, but I often try to explain things like 'no end to end continuity on CPC of RFC' in easier to comprehend terms for the client. Each cover letter is tailored to the individual report. Far end of a fart is a term that could describe it possibly!

 

[Octopus]

im afraid its about doing a decent enough EICR for the money people will pay, not being paid enough for a proper EICR.
Im charging on average £170-£200 down here in Cornwall and try to fit in 'another' job in to make up the day. If your taking 2hours to type it up when using an Ipad, something is wrong. Fill out the Ipad as you go along and have a standard covering letter.

Out of interest, what does your standard covering letter say?

 

[vxwestie]

Not a lot to be honest. All most people are interested in is the 'satisfactory' 'unsatisfactory' bit lol.
Basically I just outline what's been done, I use the letter to notify of any code ones and post out the coding procedure and that uncoded items are just observations and deviations but may not indicate the safety of the installation (about like the old code 4)
i don't use the reports to gain work (I've too much as it is ) but the cover letter just applies a bit of common sense and indicates it's my opinions and recommendations

 

[Octopus]

Not a lot to be honest. All most people are interested in is the 'satisfactory' 'unsatisfactory' bit lol.
Basically I just outline what's been done, I use the letter to notify of any code ones and post out the coding procedure and that uncoded items are just observations and deviations but may not indicate the safety of the installation (about like the old code 4)
i don't use the reports to gain work (I've too much as it is ) but the cover letter just applies a bit of common sense and indicates it's my opinions and recommendations

I do something very similar but its on the email with the invoice and cert attached....

 

[Paul.M]

I'm doing a small take away EICR job to satisfy the local council, 12 ways = £300. Any small defects will be taken care of there and then within the price. Anything beyond it will be "I'll fix it at £xx amount". Beyond that will be a code and a quote with no cert.

Your running a business at the end of the day. Stick to the Regs, your education, the scams and deal with the customers on an individual basis. EICR's are a minefield. Yep we all have done the "ball park figure" over the phone but once we get there!!!! The game changes.


Circuit and hourly rates can sometimes not apply. Go and have a look at it if your spider senses are tingling.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I do something very similar but its on the email with the invoice and cert attached....

I do exactly the same Murdoch if any issues are simple ish..

 

[NDG Elecs]

I'm doing a small take away EICR job to satisfy the local council, 12 ways = £300. Any small defects will be taken care of there and then within the price. Anything beyond it will be "I'll fix it at £xx amount". Beyond that will be a code and a quote with no cert.

Your running a business at the end of the day. Stick to the Regs, your education, the scams and deal with the customers on an individual basis. EICR's are a minefield. Yep we all have done the "ball park figure" over the phone but once we get there!!!! The game changes.


Circuit and hourly rates can sometimes not apply. Go and have a look at it if your spider senses are tingling.

I hate ballpark figures most of the time.... "Hi Mr X, yes it could be around £100 to £500 to sort it all" dependant on how much the previous owner Mr DIY went berserk with flex and JBs to supply his new kitchen...!

 

[shanky887614]

£150 sounds more like it for an average sized house eicr.

pricing by the circuit is the best way, an eicr is just that.

if its just loose connections etc ill tighten as i go but anything more is noted with X amount to fix, preliminary cert issued or not completed fully depending on client.

why write it twice if they want you to fix it

 

[Brightspark2]

What do you mean you recommend 50-100% on inspection and 30-50% on testing?

I think the average price round north west England is about £150-£250. You are probably a little high.

 

[Dcf]

£350 is steep even for Aberdeen.half a shift for a flat and a full shift for a house is probably more like it.
the problem with eicr's is that you don't know what's involved until you get there.
it could be sound without a grommet out of place .....you're in and out quickly.
at the other end of the spectrum diy donnies school of wiring.... Not so quick.
my rule of thumb is the more I find the longer it takes , the more I charge.

 

[shanky887614]

£350 is steep even for Aberdeen.half a shift for a flat and a full shift for a house is probably more like it.
the problem with eicr's is that you don't know what's involved until you get there.
it could be sound without a grommet out of place .....you're in and out quickly.
at the other end of the spectrum diy donnies school of wiring.... Not so quick.
my rule of thumb is the more I find the longer it takes , the more I charge.

book a day, if it is going to take longer you tell them and let them how much etc.

your testing not fault finding so should do standard tests then code and if you are charging day rate only after rest is complete start to fix problems.


your bassically doing an mot on the house.

how many centers fix problems as they find them and pass it?

 

[7029 dave]

£70 a time or less, we all know they are armchair EICR don't we.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I got an email ages ago from one of the drive by testing companies saying they could do EICRs on my behalf and I could charge the client X amount and that they would only charge me, say, £80.00. I emailed them asking how many lims were put on these cheap reports, and why would I want such shoddy work to be presented under my business name. Got a reply quick sharp, must have really riled the bloke! Will try n find it, but it was ages ago and not 100% which email account I would have used.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Found the email I sent.

I sent this:

And received back this:

Hi Neil

Thank you for your email can I clear something up first the email says FROM £5.00 a circuits and also it says FROM 25 to 50.

This is depending on site and limitations applied by customers.

We work with many FM and Local Councils and £5 - £7 is the going rate across the UK most housing contract (edited company names) expect 3-5 house a day at £35 a house so our prices are not really that cheap and are aimed so companies like you can add there bit on top and still be competitive.

We make nearly 6M in profits and growing so our pricing structure is working just fine.

I also think that if you contact all big electrical testing companies and ask them what they can test in a day they will all be around 25-50 a day.

Of course we only test what is safely possible to do so in a day and don’t compromie standards.

I am very sorry that you feel like this but the industry is the way it is however if you have issues with us I welcome you to come and watch one of our testers on site.

By the way we are passed each year by NICEIC, NAPIT and the ECA as it clear DO know better than them.

Kind Regard






£35.00 per house!! And six million in profits means sweet FA, plenty of loaded cowboys out there!

 

[uksparks]

EXAMPLE

Lets just take a 3 bed semi for example, old wylex 3036 box retrofitted with MCB's, only 6 circuits.

Sockets Up
Sockets Down
Lights Up
Lights Down
Water Heater
Cooker

1. First of all I walk around the house in every room with the customer and look for any obvious problems.
2. Agree anything that you are not going to test or take apart with the customer such as light switches embedded in the walls with plaster and light fittings that are likely to fall apart or awkward to remove.
3. Unplug everything and switch all SFCU and 20A Switches off and remove lamps, then switch on all lights
4. Check bonding to water, gas and oil etc
5. Go to board, do a Ze
6. IR each circuit in turn at 250vDC to check to see if anything connected still, then 500vDC
7. Do end to end on rings
8. Cross connect rings to do R1+R2, go round all sockets to take readings
9. Jump L - E for each radial and do R1+R2 for them.
10. Put it back together, switch on
11. Do Zs on sockets, and calculate Zs on radials where no socket available or easy to do.
12. Do a functional test of switches etc
13. Check metering equipment and tails etc

That's about it... I think?

When doing an EICR, Ill remove a few faceplates on sockets and see what its like, if its ok, ill leave the rest, if not, ill continue, either way, I make a note of the ones I have looked at.

The light switches, again, if they are embedded in the wall or is going to damage decoration, then I don't look at them and they get noted down. Light fittings that are going to be majorly problematic to remove etc I don't, this is more for 12v or double insulated etc where you cannot get an earth reading.

The loft space, again, ill say whats in the loft, if they say no power or light I ignore it, if they say a light etc, ill include it, but if its inaccessible due to rubbish in the way, it gets noted down.

Typically it takes me about 3 hours or so to do a 3 bed semi properly, I would say thats about right.

I don't think im doing anything wrong with how I do it, obviously I write everything down, all readings and figures etc etc and then type it all up nicely along with any findings.

For this I would charge £125 - £150

 

[uksparks]

Would you believe it, I have just had an email drop in my inbox.... see below

************* is a specialist Anonymous subcontractor for testing and inspection. We can help you by providing a quality inspection service to your clients either at those times when your staff are busy on other projects, or as an addition to your current provision.

The inspection work is carried out under your brand, you can use Inspexx for ongoing projects or just for occasional assignments.

Features of our service include:

• Experienced and Qualified Technicians – all staff are C&G qualified and CRB checked.
• ECA registered member.
• NICEIC registered member.
• BSi 9001 Quality Assured.
• Branded reporting – the inspections are carried out under your name.
• Confidential – we do not contact your customers or share client information.
  
  Our services include EICR, PAT and Emergency Lighting testing.
• EICR: £5.00 per circuit (minimum charge per site £150.00 up to 30 circuits)
• PAT: £0.55 per test (minimum charge per site £75.00 up to 100 tests)
  
  The reports are sent directly to you. You can pick up any remedial requirements

Kind Regards
********

 

[Octopus]

********** is a specialist Anonymous subcontractor for testing and inspection. We can help you by providing a quality inspection service to your clients either at those times when your staff are busy on other projects, or as an addition to your current provision.

The inspection work is carried out under your brand, you can use Inspexx for ongoing projects or just for occasional assignments.

Features of our service include:

• Experienced and Qualified Technicians – all staff are C&G qualified and CRB checked.
• ECA registered member.
• NICEIC registered member.
• BSi 9001 Quality Assured.
• Branded reporting – the inspections are carried out under your name.
• Confidential – we do not contact your customers or share client information.
  
  Our services include EICR, PAT and Emergency Lighting testing.
• EICR: £5.00 per circuit (minimum charge per site £150.00 up to 30 circuits)
• PAT: £0.55 per test (minimum charge per site £75.00 up to 100 tests)
  
  The reports are sent directly to you. You can pick up any remedial requirements

Kind Regards
Kevin McCallum
********

Badly presented website and 1000+ circuits for £5.50 each (presumably plus VAT so about £6.10 - I really pity the poor mugs doing this work!

And PAT testing for 100 items £75.00 - well at those prices they can keep it! My minimum is now £60.00 for 24 items and its difficult to make any money at that rate (£2.50 per item)!

 

[not clever]

Domestic EICR £190 & like Murdoch when pushed into it PAT'ing is £2.00 - £2.50 per item

 

[NDG Elecs]

Would you believe it, I have just had an email drop in my inbox.... see below

******** is a specialist Anonymous subcontractor for testing and inspection. We can help you by providing a quality inspection service to your clients either at those times when your staff are busy on other projects, or as an addition to your current provision.

The inspection work is carried out under your brand, you can use Inspexx for ongoing projects or just for occasional assignments.

Features of our service include:

• Experienced and Qualified Technicians – all staff are C&G qualified and CRB checked.
• ECA registered member.
• NICEIC registered member.
• BSi 9001 Quality Assured.
• Branded reporting – the inspections are carried out under your name.
• Confidential – we do not contact your customers or share client information.
  
  Our services include EICR, PAT and Emergency Lighting testing.
• EICR: £5.00 per circuit (minimum charge per site £150.00 up to 30 circuits)
• PAT: £0.55 per test (minimum charge per site £75.00 up to 100 tests)
  
  The reports are sent directly to you. You can pick up any remedial requirements

Kind Regards
**********

That's the one I emailed ages ago. Different fella, and can't recall the minimum £150.00 for, ahem, cough cough, 30 ccts!

 

[uksparks]

It's very very tempting to employ one of these to test your own house to see what sort of monkey turns up!

 

[NDG Elecs]

EXAMPLE

Lets just take a 3 bed semi for example, old wylex 3036 box retrofitted with MCB's, only 6 circuits.

Sockets Up
Sockets Down
Lights Up
Lights Down
Water Heater
Cooker

1. First of all I walk around the house in every room with the customer and look for any obvious problems.
2. Agree anything that you are not going to test or take apart with the customer such as light switches embedded in the walls with plaster and light fittings that are likely to fall apart or awkward to remove.
3. Unplug everything and switch all SFCU and 20A Switches off and remove lamps, then switch on all lights
4. Check bonding to water, gas and oil etc
5. Go to board, do a Ze
6. IR each circuit in turn at 250vDC to check to see if anything connected still, then 500vDC
7. Do end to end on rings
8. Cross connect rings to do R1+R2, go round all sockets to take readings
9. Jump L - E for each radial and do R1+R2 for them.
10. Put it back together, switch on
11. Do Zs on sockets, and calculate Zs on radials where no socket available or easy to do.
12. Do a functional test of switches etc
13. Check metering equipment and tails etc

That's about it... I think?

When doing an EICR, Ill remove a few faceplates on sockets and see what its like, if its ok, ill leave the rest, if not, ill continue, either way, I make a note of the ones I have looked at.

The light switches, again, if they are embedded in the wall or is going to damage decoration, then I don't look at them and they get noted down. Light fittings that are going to be majorly problematic to remove etc I don't, this is more for 12v or double insulated etc where you cannot get an earth reading.

The loft space, again, ill say whats in the loft, if they say no power or light I ignore it, if they say a light etc, ill include it, but if its inaccessible due to rubbish in the way, it gets noted down.

Typically it takes me about 3 hours or so to do a 3 bed semi properly, I would say thats about right.

I don't think im doing anything wrong with how I do it, obviously I write everything down, all readings and figures etc etc and then type it all up nicely along with any findings.

For this I would charge £125 - £150

Yeah sounds fair enough, but some houses are so cluttered with sheet you can hardly move. And then there's the pet dog trying to chew through your wander lead! Bad/dodgy wiring can slow me down as my head tries to comprehend how it has actually been wired up. Always a FI for something like that.

 

[NDG Elecs]

It's very very tempting to employ one of these to test your own house to see what sort of monkey turns up!

Yep, I've been tempted myself mate. Or I might try them out on another property and doubled check a couple of the results myself to see if they tally up.

If they charge 150 for up to 30 ccts then surely they can do 6 ccts properly. Could knack the shuttering on a couple of sockets to see if they pick up on it!

 

[davesparks]

I'd ask them to see a sample report

 

[rich.250]

EXAMPLE

Lets just take a 3 bed semi for example, old wylex 3036 box retrofitted with MCB's, only 6 circuits.

Sockets Up
Sockets Down
Lights Up
Lights Down
Water Heater
Cooker

1. First of all I walk around the house in every room with the customer and look for any obvious problems.
2. Agree anything that you are not going to test or take apart with the customer such as light switches embedded in the walls with plaster and light fittings that are likely to fall apart or awkward to remove.
3. Unplug everything and switch all SFCU and 20A Switches off and remove lamps, then switch on all lights
4. Check bonding to water, gas and oil etc
5. Go to board, do a Ze
6. IR each circuit in turn at 250vDC to check to see if anything connected still, then 500vDC
7. Do end to end on rings
8. Cross connect rings to do R1+R2, go round all sockets to take readings
9. Jump L - E for each radial and do R1+R2 for them.
10. Put it back together, switch on
11. Do Zs on sockets, and calculate Zs on radials where no socket available or easy to do.
12. Do a functional test of switches etc
13. Check metering equipment and tails etc

That's about it... I think?

When doing an EICR, Ill remove a few faceplates on sockets and see what its like, if its ok, ill leave the rest, if not, ill continue, either way, I make a note of the ones I have looked at.

The light switches, again, if they are embedded in the wall or is going to damage decoration, then I don't look at them and they get noted down. Light fittings that are going to be majorly problematic to remove etc I don't, this is more for 12v or double insulated etc where you cannot get an earth reading.

The loft space, again, ill say whats in the loft, if they say no power or light I ignore it, if they say a light etc, ill include it, but if its inaccessible due to rubbish in the way, it gets noted down.

Typically it takes me about 3 hours or so to do a 3 bed semi properly, I would say thats about right.

I don't think im doing anything wrong with how I do it, obviously I write everything down, all readings and figures etc etc and then type it all up nicely along with any findings.

For this I would charge £125 - £150

Sounds ok, apart from continuity should be done before insulation resistance.

 

[davesparks]

Sounds ok, apart from continuity should be done before insulation resistance.

Why? Its not necessary for an eicr

 

[rich.250]

It's necessary in a RFC.
I know R1+R2's are not required. Although I always do them.
There's no point doing insulation if the circuit has no cpc for example. It's going to need repairing then re testing.

 

[davesparks]

It's necessary in a RFC.
I know R1+R2's are not required. Although I always do them.
There's no point doing insulation if the circuit has no cpc for example. It's going to need repairing then re testing.

Its not a case of any tests not being required, its that for an eicr the order of testing doesn't need to be adhered to the same way it does for initial verification