Nicos Panteli of Lifestyle Technologies in Nicosia, Cyprus, is looking for some input on the best way to quote for design, installation, programming, etc.

“Should you charge based on the estimated time, the actual or something in between? If it’s on the actual, when do you start charging if you go over that allotted time/amount?”

Do you stipulate specific reasons that will allow you to charge the client an additional amount, such as unexpected problems caused by others, etc.

The answer is: it depends.

For new construction, we quote a fixed price based on our estimate as to how long it will take.  With experience, our estimates are pretty accurate. If the customer requests changes after the contract is signed, those changes are priced separately.  The key here is being very specific in what you’re delivering so there are no questions later.

Installations in existing buildings are straight time and material.  That’s because you never know what snags you’ll run into and it’s impossible to get an accurate estimate.

There are two ways of constructing software designs:
1.  1 To make it simple (no deficiencies)
2.  2 Other way to make it so complicated (no obvious deficiencies)

Haman03, software for home automation is not nearly the same as what you’re thinking.  Most routines are very short (a few lines) and respond to a single event.  They are made so you don’t need a CS degree to program them.  For instance, most are menu driven - select an event, determine additional conditions (if necessary), and perform one or more actions.  There is no coding in the classical sense.

There are a few manufacturers who have a more complicated programming language, which takes more time.  But even then, their programming doesn’t come close to even the simplest computer languages.