Re: Sq. Ft. labor pricing?
Bet him a steak & lobster dinner in Main that if he supplies the material and you are labor only the project will in fact cost more than a lump sum bid!
There is no safe square footage price. One could come up with an average outlet and controls price though. If you have a 2000 sq' with 120 outlets & controls it will not be the same value as a 2000 sq' with 200 outlets & controls, yet both scenarios are likely. Either way if you have a Contractor asking for labor only you should not work for them.
If you must have the Contractor sign your subcontract agreement which should specify your hourly per man rate, Contractors signature of ALL daily field reports (this will absolve any future discrepancies of hours), terms of pay should be no more than bi-weekly, clarification of material supplied by others needs to include ALL material (tape, wire-nuts, 6-32's, ALL, labor only means just that you show up with your tools only). You will need to clarify who is: ordering, delivering, picking up, returning, who is responsible for extra material.
Keep in mind if you are ordering it is your design and you should be paid for ALL labor spent on this Contractors project. You will need to clarify that ALL product warrantee & guarantee is by the party furnishing, therefore all follow up work is chargeable labor. If your project goes into dispute you need to ask yourself: what will insure my pay?
It is my experience a request like this reveals the Contractor is not qualified to do the work. It is also my experience these end messy, whether with acquaintances, friends or family. As you can see there is no simple way to supply this Contractors request, unless you go to work for the Contractor on their payroll.
Give the Contractor a lump sum bid sealed and managed by a neutral party, then give the Contractor a subcontract agreement with a line item, which states ?in the event the Contractors budget overruns the submitted sealed bid, the Contractor will furnish and supply a steak & lobster dinner in Main.?
Just don?t do it!