Pre-wiring cost

[redaudi78]

Hello all,

I'm in the process of building my home. The builder will not allow anyone to go into the house to run any pre-wiring. The builder will charge me $1000 to pre-wired one of the room in my house for surround sound. This sound kind of high. Should I do it? Or is it cheaper to have installer do it later when I buy my surround system?

thx all

 

[sholling]

Find a new builder?

 

[redaudi78]

If only life is that easy. Can't find a new builder. I'm locked in.

 

[sholling]

Have your shyster explain it to him. In my non-shyster opinion if it's not in the contract then he only has a leg to stand on if it's in the contract he is the only one that can handle change orders. He will pee his panties if confronted by a good shyster.In my humble non shysyer opinion his only leg to stand on is if he can document that you are holding him up. Contractors love change orders - AKA rape legal rape.

 

[Bryce_H]

When we had our house built we have the living room wired for surround ($500) and frankly I was very disappointed. I complained, but of course it did no good. They did a crappy job running the wire, used cheap 4 strand for the rear surrounds (so you needed to pull 2 wires half way along the wire for the left surrounds and use the remianing 2 for the right surrounds). It's not that big a deal since it is the system in the living room (I built a dedicated HT in the basement).

Have him break down the cost of the pre-wire so you can get a better idea of what you are getting.

But I agree, find another way to get it done if you can.

 

[majorloser]

Builder/Developers are CROOKS

Is this your property and they are your contractor? Or are they builder/developer and you have a preconstruction signed contract for a house in their developement?

In my case the builder required me to obtain a "construction to permanent" loan thereby selling me the property up front and they became my contractor. Since they did that (a mistake I made them pay for dearly) I was able to control the job site and the construction loan draws (purse strings). You take away the right for the contractor to take their draws without your approval and watch how fast they answer your phone calls.

I went in after the stud walls were erected and after the electricians roped the house to install my stuff. As long as what you do meets the code and you arrange to have your work done prior to electrical inspection, you should be all right.

If it's not the case, try to be there when the electrical contractor is roping the house and slip him a few bills. You'll be amazed how cheap you can get work done that way

I would stop by once in a while when the different subcontractors were on-site, inspect there work, give them "something cold to drink", slip them a few bills and get anything extra done I wanted. The builder was none the wiser and they ended up paying for it.

Once drywall goes up it's too late. It will cost 4 to 5 times as much to do the work. Not to mention the thrill of climbing in the attic

 

[gmichael]

I just had a house built. My builder let me supply all the hardware & cables, and he pre-wired the living room, bedroom and both bathrooms for $165.00. I felt this was high as it only took him 2 hours.

Not sure why you wouldn't be able to bring in anyone you want to pre-wire your home. You own it right? You pay the construction insurance right? Just make sure that you use double insulated wires. You wouldn't want the building inspector to give you a hard time.

 

[jcsprankle]

When I built my house, my builder wouldn't let me do it either. But, I went to the construction manager instead. He said I could do it as long as I didn't interfere with the work and he didn't see me. I showed up on a Sunday and ran all the wire for both surround sound and network. I added my own boxes and the drywallers just cut around them like any other box.

The builder will always say no because of liability reasons...Try the construction manager. Plus, it never hurts to give him a case of beer or something for his trouble.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Not to mention the thrill of climbing in the attic

On a sunny day, no less

 

[redaudi78]

Thank you for all your advises. I guess I better head down and get a couple of cases of beer