Are things getting worse out there, or have I just been unlucky? I realise that money is short for many people, but I find that having given a sensible price for a job, others are undercutting by a long way. Their prices don't seem to make any sense. One example;
Recently, I quoted for a complete new heating system, excluding boiler which was quite new, in a 3 bed house, with an extra 2 room extension on the side. The price included pipework, 9 rads plus towel rail, TRVs, bypass, etc, etc. My quote was £1500, quite reasonable for up to 4 days work on my own, and considering that materials were approx £600. I would also have had to travel for 1.5 hours a day, as it wasn't that local.
I heard a few days later that I had lost out to some crazy b'stard who was going to do it for £1000! How can they make any money, and pay their expenses? They can't be building any capital to buy a newer van in the future, or paying into a pension.
Have I been unlucky, or are others finding that quotes that would have been quite reasonable a couple of years ago, now look expensive? Are plumbers and other trades in your area cutting each others throats to get work? Time for a change of career methinks!
Recently, I quoted for a complete new heating system, excluding boiler which was quite new, in a 3 bed house, with an extra 2 room extension on the side. The price included pipework, 9 rads plus towel rail, TRVs, bypass, etc, etc. My quote was £1500, quite reasonable for up to 4 days work on my own, and considering that materials were approx £600. I would also have had to travel for 1.5 hours a day, as it wasn't that local.
I heard a few days later that I had lost out to some crazy b'stard who was going to do it for £1000! How can they make any money, and pay their expenses? They can't be building any capital to buy a newer van in the future, or paying into a pension.
Have I been unlucky, or are others finding that quotes that would have been quite reasonable a couple of years ago, now look expensive? Are plumbers and other trades in your area cutting each others throats to get work? Time for a change of career methinks!