In today’s competitive environment, it is too easy to get lured into a buying decision with an offer of lowest price. This often results in a “buyer beware situation” where you ask yourself; am I really going to get what they are selling me for that low price? More often than not when something sounds too good to be true, that is usually the case. There is a reason that sound advice is to complete your diligence on the company, check references and find out if the vendor truly delivers on what they promise.

It’s easy to promise, close deals and then not deliver what was promised. Companies that consistently deliver what they promise do so because they have established a sound business model that includes delivering what they promised. This occurs because they operate with profit and customer service in mind. Without the ability to earn a fair profit, they can’t consistently deliver what they promised. Companies who take care of their customers after the sale get repeat business and referrals. That is the company you want to buy from.

Don’t be lured by the offer of lowest price. Piece of mind in getting what you were expecting always wins in the end.

– Anonymous

Here at Harmon Electric in the Estimating department we get to see a lot of different projects that are out for bid, from typical T.I. remodels in strip malls to Medical/Dental facilities with Exam rooms & Patient care areas to Linear Accelerators & CT Scan machines. With this wide array of facilities I have noticed that the specs are calling out for more stringent requirements, from 3/4 “ minimum sized conduit specified, to dedicated neutrals required for all circuits. These requirements can add quite a bit of cost to an otherwise standard project.

When the economy is down like it is now, there is more and more competition for the same projects than ever before. The margins for being the competitive bidder are smaller than ever too. So how do we compete in such a market? To start with we need to be aware of all of those “Spec Requirements” that can really bring the cost of a job up. For example, when the specs state that “current carrying conductors cannot share a neutral with any other current carrying conductor” the implication is that instead of being able to share a neutral for three different phased current carrying conductors, which requires 5 wires in the conduit for 3 circuits, now you have to provide 7 wires, for the same circuits, not only is there more wire to be included in the bid, but the labor to install that wire as well. This adds up quickly. When ¾” minimum size conduit is required, that brings the cost up even more.

So how can we minimize the impact that that has on the cost of our bid? One, if we call the engineer, and ask, sometimes we find out that it is OK to run ½” conduit. Sometimes it’s not OK, in this case it’s a good idea to let the general contractor know that you are bidding it this way. It might seem silly to tell them that you are bidding it the way that the spec call out for, but it may make them aware that if our bid is higher, it may be because someone did not cover the spec, and bid it with ½” conduit instead of ¾” as specified. With the economy the way that it is a lot of contractor will cut corners “just to get the job”. When they do get the job, it can really be a mess for the general contractor.

If we do our job right we can make sure that everyone is on the same page, comparing apples to apples. This will help to ensure that the customers get what they are paying for, and the job is getting done properly. This in turn will be seen as a contractor that cares about the integrity of their work, and therefore is a contractor that can be relied upon; as we say here at Harmon Electric… “Uncompromising Quality and Integrity since 1975”!

Jason
Estimator

According to the nightly news, the recession seems to have taken a break for the summer.  Not completely surprising, Arizona is one of the states hit hardest by the recent trends in our economy.  You may think that this is a time where you should be cautious with your money and let the markets calm down.  Let me suggest an alternative.  In this economy, the buyer is in a better position than in many years past.  Any investment dollar you might spend can go much farther than only two years ago. 

Industries are hungry for your business and you will find many more bargains that are available to you.  You do need to remember that even though the industries want your business, you need to take care of your investment.  By investigating companies that offer you special pricing, you may be sure you are getting the best value for your dollar. 

At Harmon Electric, we have provided quality service to individuals and businesses for over 30 years.  We are willing to work with you to get the best for your investment and the quality that you deserve.  We enjoy taking that extra time to be sure not only is our relationship positive, but that the highest standards can be met. 

Remember, your investment is your dream of the future.  Be sure you are completely secure with a company that wants your dollars will make your investment that much more sound and something you can rely on for years to come.

Joe
Vice President of Construction