So, as you might know, the first thing that I want to do in my new house is to get the electricity turned on. This is going to mean a fairly extensive amount of work, and so I've just had my first experience with soliciting bids from contractors. Up till now, I've always been on the other side in these negotiations.
Today, I had the second of two electricians look at Phase I of the electrical work to be done. The first guy, Dave, had given me a bid right on the spot when I walked him through the place on Monday. Steep, but not out of the realm of reality.
Today's candidate, Les, said he wanted to think about his bid and would call in the evening.
Les called a short while ago, and gave a bid that was considerably lower than Dave's. After talking to him, I decided to call Dave, to see if he wanted to refigure his bid.
He did, after a small amount of hemming and hawing, and essentially matched Les's bid.
And now, to the quandary. I liked both of them, a lot, on first impression.
They are night and day as far as personalities go, or more precisely, are taciturn and loquacious to respective extremes. They both assure me that they'll be able to get to work as soon as the bureaucratic details with RG E (the local utility) are worked out. They were both recommended by the same source.
Dave gets a point by being the first to come look at the job. Les gets a point by giving the better number first. Still pretty much a tie.
The card-carrying ditherer, which is too often me, might think to postpone resolve this dilemma by getting a third estimate. Maybe. But I want me some E-lectrici-T!
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