Pricing tips

[jozeffo]

No, I fix the price or I price excluding colours.

[54aardvark]

Of course the client chooses the colour scheme and the wallpaper but I am very firm about getting the paint, a number of times in the past I've specified a Trade paint and they turn up with a B&Q cheapo (feeling very chuffed because they have just saved a fiver on a £800 job) which I know is going to take an extra 2 coats to get the coverage and consequently another couple of days - Bang goes the profit!

On a couple of occasions I have substituted a Trade paint for the clients - OK it comes out of my profit but at least I know my work schedule is not going to be disrupted.

[splashofcolours]

54aardvark
I know the feeling , told one guy to buy johnstones maggy and he bought BQ basics maggy. I refused to put it on as it was going on the ceiling and was as runny as P~ss.
I had some proper stuff in the van so used that and billed him for it.

Weeble.

[Puma]

I put an estimate only in for the materials, and say receipts will be shown at the end of the job. I like to keep everything super honest - though I often get darth vader asking me to go over to the dark side.

I agree that a really nice looking quote, with plenty of detail, will often win a job.

As I have the keys to someones property and access to all the goods therein I don't bother asking for a deposit, though I'll get bitten one day by this policy I suppose. Commercial, estate agents etc - completely different.

[royaloakcarpentry]

54aardvark
I know the feeling , told one guy to buy johnstones maggy and he bought BQ basics maggy. I refused to put it on as it was going on the ceiling and was as runny as P~ss.
I had some proper stuff in the van so used that and billed him for it.

Weeble.

I had a bedroom to put skirting in. The client had already bought the skirting from B&Q. So i told them straight that it was crap, the lengths were not long enough for two of the walls as the DIY rubbish is only 2M long (or is it 2.4M) and as it was my name on the work they would have to take them back for a refund and I would get proper skirting from my timber yard. Lengths long enough to do a wall in one hit, thus doing away with joins on skirting which was being stained. As it turned out the skirting from the yard was cheaper than the old toot that B&Q are flogging.

Recently did a Howdens kitchen because I refused to do the job if the client went with the Ikea kitchen she wanted.

Sometimes you have to do these things. You also have to charge the extra when the client gets inferior products which incur more labour.

[jozeffo]

ROC, do Ikea still do kitchens with no room at the back of the cupboards for services?

I went to price one last week and had to advise them that flat pack was for cheaper kitchens for landlords and that Howdens would be more suitable and much better quality.

[transitboy]

yer if they can get there plan and estimate right

[fordy]

If you allow your customers to buy your materials then more fool you.

In essence your asking someone with little to zero diy knowledge to get correct materials for their project, most of their now acquired knowledge will be from some spotty oiik at homebase.

Would you know what computer programmes and preferred systems a website designer would need?

The more variables you can take out of the equation the easier your life will be!!

[fordy]

A plumber I know actually charges for estimating, if he gets the job he takes it off the estimate.

I at times hate pricing up, half of you is wondering is this gonna be a complete waste of time and energy.

I wonder how much time we all waste per year pricing jobs we never get?

[transitboy]

puma i admire you honesty mate about showing your estimates,so are you saying you don't put any extra on for your time and diesel?

fordy i would say if we are honest it would be around fifty percent. thole saying that this year as been a good one for myself book to end of July

[fordy]

Including diesel petrol, time taken pricing , compiling estimate, phone calls etc how long would you say an estimate takes you ( a mean average, obvioulsy not every job is the same).

[splashofcolours]

2 hrs I reckon,
If i add up time , as above even though I have a template for all my est's .

Weeble

[Puma]

Transitboy I have 5 or so paint outlets within a mile of my house, 3 of them specialist!!! The closest is about 40m away so I don't charge time or diesel for picking stuff up. I find just saying materials will be APPROX X amount takes the stress out, I lump all the tiny bits and pieces caulk etc together as sundries. Even so if I have large orders I get them delivered or set up over the phone.

[fitzy]

Reading some of the posts makes me think some of you guys work in very affluent areas.

Ive been in the trade for many years and the last few years have been the most financially difficult by far. I have gone from employing two men to being a one man band with a lot of debt.

In my experience customers and builders have taken advantage of the recession and more times than not have gone for price over quality to the point of me pricing a days labour at little more than i pay in wages - disastrous when done on a regular basis.

I couldnt have added a bit for quoting, sheeting up, fetching materials or opening a window to fart. I have simply had to keep my prices to the bare bones just to get the work and many other tradesmen I know have been in the same boat - well the ones that have survived.

I suppose a lot of its down to what you charge per hour/day and whether theres room to squeeze a bit more out of the customer

[fitzy]

If you allow your customers to buy your materials then more fool you.

In essence your asking someone with little to zero diy knowledge to get correct materials for their project, most of their now acquired knowledge will be from some spotty oiik at homebase.

Would you know what computer programmes and preferred systems a website designer would need?

The more variables you can take out of the equation the easier your life will be!!

Totally agree. I never use the customers own gear unless its a trade paint.