I am need of a professional electrician to finish my basement. I plan to pull permits, and it will be 1700 sq feet, and will be a game room, kitchen, full bath, office/ live in suite, laundry, and storage. The space is all framed out, and I have had three guys come in for estimates. Only two decided to provide a quote (third seemed uninterested). They vary widely, as in one is 40% more than the other. I was expecting somewhere in the $3,500-$4,000 range, but have so far been quoted $5,500 and $8,000.

A lot of variables come into play. With the kitchen and laundry. Don't know where you live but in Colorado I think I'd be at every bit of $8000 for that. 2017 codes.

Not sure what you are 1200 yards out from, but if it's a city or major metropolitan area than 5.5-8k seems very reasonable. Haven't quoted wiring a basement in a very long time since I don't do that type of work any longer.

1700 sq ft can be made up many ways to affect the cost.

A theatre room for instance may have 8-12 sconces, walkway lighting, movie poster lighting, circuitry for beverage coolers or popcorn machines. Dedicated circuits for projector and stero equip. Expensive dimmers and lighting controls. Higher end tiny recess lights.

A wet bar in the basement could add 3-4 circuits plus the use of GFI protection.

The amounts and types of lighting can greatly affect costs.

A giant room of 1,700 sq ft will have less outlets than it being cut up into bedrooms, crafting rooms, hobby rooms, theatre, play room, etc.

No way to really give you a ball park without going over your plans.

Are they quoting off a set of electrical drawings or are they coming up with a lighting plan on their own. Something as simple as one electrician liking more lights and dimmers vs someone who is going to put a single light in the center of each room with no dimmers. Pretty much - Are you sure you are getting apples for apples quotes?

Im not surprised at the quotes, $8k seems a little high unless you also need a new panel. You are probably thinking of it as a basement remodel, but another way to look at it is as a new 1700 sf house.

8K to run wires in a basement with no walls up yet?

That seems high to me. Hell if that's the going rate i guess I need to dust off my fish tapes and wire strippers. For $8k you should be getting a new panel too.

Well, that was the high bid and we haven't seen them so have no idea what was included beyond simply "running wires" and does he need a bigger panel?

Really, without seeing a bid it is all pure speculation on our part anyway.

If you want an estimate you need to create an electrical plan with spec's to get bids on the same thing from each bidder.
Simply saying that you want to "wire" x number of square feet won't get you what you want.
Kind of like asking how much does a car cost?

40% higher does not seem that wild of a difference (the cheap guy is underbidding by 30%).

Even if you reduce it to the simplest analogy, delivered ice, say, the quality and dependability of the delivery service, packaging, extras, and especially the quality of the water, all add to the cost between services.

I'm now carrying $1m liability on my truck whereas most licensed guys, even much bigger guys, carry the minimum $300k. A friend runs two beat-up vans with $30k liability. As soon as I hear the words, "cheaper quicker way to do it", I go on "ignore".

The right way usually takes the longest but if there is an issue down the road, it is easy and predictable to figure out.

To answer a few questions
I am in the greater Charlotte Area

Yes the walls are us, the electrical model (where switches are, where boxes are, and where lighting is is all done.

Yes, there will be a new box, and yes it it set off the original box in the garage.

There is no AC or heating that is being run.

There are two GFI's (kitchen and bath).

Even with the additional information there is really no way to set a price for something with as many variables as your project. Heck your basement is larger than my entire house.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
Not sure what you are 1200 yards out from ...

Target shooting.

I can easily see $8,000 in work there. Without seeing it, there is no way for anyone to quote it. Just the location of the breaker box, could add a lot to the price. But 1700 sq feet is a large space. Then you've got a laundry and kitchen both requiring 220 to be run, gfci's for both kitchen and bathroom, many fixtures and outlets for all of that. Quality breakers fixtures, and outlets and so forth all add up.