01.15.2008 — Do you ever wonder how all those bad installs you see exemplified got be that bad?

I can tell you that they all have one thing in common -- the pre-wire was just as disorganized as the job ended up.

The solution to bad pre-wiring is very simple and any installers looking to make more money should follow this very simple rule: Treat each phase of a project (pre-wire, trim, install and programming) as four individual jobs.

Each one should be prepared for, executed and cleaned up after.

So why is it so important to have a neat project when you are finished? You want to make the client happy, for one thing.

Clients who are showing their new home off to family and friends should be proud of every room. In addition, you also want to be able to make service calls as short as possible and make it easy to sell and install upgrades.

Because it is not always possible for the installing technician to make subsequent service calls, a consistent method of designing systems will allow for a more effective service department.

Any employee should be able to walk into any job and not have to spend a lot of time trying to find specific wires or connections.

The goal of an installer should be to leave the job with a sense of pride, not a sense of dread, anxious about the possibility of a return clean-up visit.

If you follow the steps below on a pre-wire, and take this philosophy to the trim out, install and programming phases, you will become more profitable in all aspects of your installing business.

Planning

Lay out the entire job. Make sure you have the wire you need in the correct colors, all the preconstruction brackets you need and the proper tools for the job.

How many men do you need to get the job done most efficiently? Too many men are a waste of money and too few slow the project down for the other trades.

Make sure you have someone on the site who is in control and responsible for getting things done. Make sure they understand the entire project and what is expected from them so they can make decisions on the site.

Make sure they have a system to document what they have done after they leave -- this will be invaluable later.

Execution

Now it is time to do everything. Make sure you leave enough wire at each location so that you don't put too much stress on the connections -- but don't waste wire.

Be sure to locate devices in the correct location and avoid being too close to windows, door jams, light fixtures and future art and furniture.

Make sure that the head end is organized and easy to navigate -- you should be able to find any specific wire within 15 seconds.

Being able to find any given wire without searching around will greatly reduce the time you spend on the job site. It also makes it easy to trouble shoot.