Why so big a difference in price?

[The Ghost]

One thing considering the fact you said 6 downlights, I like to use something like JCC which are £20-£25.00 per fitting, that would be £120. But you can get them far cheaper. Also it is a lot to do with perception of the job and estimating labour. I usually put in 20% more labour as experience tells me things never go smoothly. Like, I find out you have insulation in the void above the kitchen which is going to be slightly more work and so on. At £35 p.h. (I charge) thats £350 with my 20% its £420 so thats £540 easily. If I was VAT registered then VAT on top. Then there are the other materials like under cupboard lighting, cooker upgrade mats. and so on Maybe £100?
You say it is a good job, how do you know it is? Not being challenging just curious.

 

[Risteard]

Went with the £460

Without trying to establish why it was less than half of the price of the other quotes? That is completely the wrong way to deal with quotes.

 

[Risteard]

People might put a higher price in if they think someone is likely to be a pain in the backside.

Or a gap in the rectum cavity.

 

[MJPD29]

Sounds to me like either you have found a decent guy who undervalues his work, or you have found an unqualified handy man who has a good image and looks with his van etc but has made an absolute mess in areas that you can't see. Most probably and hopefully the first though!

 

[Risteard]

Most probably ... the first though!

I doubt that.

 

[davesparks]

I paid the bloke cash, he runs his own business just himself, had a smart van with professional artwork on the side and fully registered.

The kitchen fitter recommend him and said he has worked on many building sites with him. I should think £460 for 10 hours work is a decent rate, minus the cabling and downlights he's easy made at least £350. £35 an hour seems reasonable for an electrician, or is £70 or £110 a more reasonable rate like the other chancers?

He hasn’t easily made £350 because his overheads, tax and national insurance will need to be taken out of that figure.

 

[Anthony S]

As long as your happy with the cost and work and the electrician is happy then it does not matter what others think so a pointless thread really.

 

[Wilko]

Take your car to be fixed, compare the wages of the mechanic to the hourly rate you are charged. I'm off to buy a garage

 

[MJPD29]

I doubt that.

I was trying to be positive for the OP lol

 

[steve_jones]

Sounds to me like either you have found a decent guy who undervalues his work, or you have found an unqualified handy man who has a good image and looks with his van etc but has made an absolute mess in areas that you can't see. Most probably and hopefully the first though!

So an electrician recommended by the fitter who has worked on many building sites and has the following is unqualified?

EAL DOMESTIC INSTALLERS CERTIFICATE
CITY AND GUILDS
PART P