Just realized I was overpaying for electrical work for years

I used to just call the first number I found on a Google search for any electrical job around the house. Last summer I needed a new panel install and got a quote for $3200 from one guy. My neighbor suggested I get three quotes and the final one was only $1800 from a smaller outfit on the south side. Same work, same materials, just a difference in overhead I guess. Now I always ask around on this forum first before booking anyone. Has anyone else noticed big price gaps between the big name companies and the solo guys?

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patricia_singh813mo ago

Yeah but see you're comparing apples to oranges here. That $3200 quote probably included permits and proper insurance and bonding. The cheap solo guy might be doing work without pulling permits which is a big no no if your house burns down or you try to sell it later. I got burned literally on a roof job once going with the low bidder and it cost me way more in the long run. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for especially with electrical where mistakes can kill you.

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grayperez3mo ago

You're totally right on that @patricia_singh81, permits and insurance are the difference between a deal and a nightmare waiting to happen. I learned that the hard way with a plumber who skipped permits, and when I sold the house later, the buyer's inspection flagged everything and I had to rip out and redo the whole job at my own expense. That cheap quote ended up costing me double what the original higher bid would have been. People don't think about the legal side until they're stuck with a mess that can't be ignored. It's not just about the work itself, it's about covering your own ass when things go sideways.

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