I don't know anyone who would go for that, if I went to price a rewire and the bloke wanted me to do it on a day rate and help (hinder) me I'd be gone like a shot, never to be seen again.
Extension cost.
- Thread starter pete01
- Start date
It works. It's a concept known as teamwork, which is probably alien to many who are used to working alone. Basically he treats working for/with me like employment. Turn up, do stuff, go home. I tell him what to build, ask him what he wants where, I make it all happen. Buckets of sand and cement are always lined up next to the mixer for him.
I realise it's not for everyone but it works well. A sort of DIY/get someone in hybrid.
I'm absolutely certain that I'd pay much more if I got someone to price the job up in advance, as then they'd include a load of contingency that they probably wouldn't need which would just become extra profit. Plus they'll include the time spent measuring up and calculating it all. They'll assume the worst case at every turn. If you want someone else to take all the risk away from you then you need to pay them money for doing this.
He's previously worked on newbuild sites as an employee, so it's what he's used to anyway.
It's probably a pretty stress-free way to work too. He doesn't need to care about the project as a whole, just stick bricks together all day.
All problems are all mine!
It's probably a pretty stress-free way to work too. He doesn't need to care about the project as a whole, just stick bricks together all day.
All problems are all mine!
The chap I use says he makes 10% on top after all wages and materials are paid, I think thats fair.....probably more like 20% but he tells me 10
Depends what they consider profit. Some builders merchants vastly overprice everything then give massive discounts. I heard of one doing 80% discount for a chap I had working here. This feller was honest and told me, others would charge you the list price then keep that massive saving.
If I was making 90% profit then I'd tell my customers it was 10%!
Obviously something is going on because the chap I use is on the cheaper side and most even on here said he's to cheap must be a cowboy, I just see him as honest
Some do actually work for little to nothing. I got roofers in a few years ago. The business owner, working hands-on and a couple of staff. I heard him telling the others that they were getting more in their wages than he was getting in profits.
I could believe this, as I knew that the materials cost was the majority of the amount I paid him. But I don't know what discounts he got from the supplier, which would probably make the difference between profit or loss.
It's a tough world out there, I guess many get wary that if they quote enough to make a good profit then someone else gets the job and they get nothing.
But I'd still price the materials up myself, just to check that it sounds like the right sort of region. You can't cost it without the details of what you're looking for, e.g. the make of the bricks you want could make £1000s of difference. I'm buying two lots of bricks, one is 4x the price of the other.
I could believe this, as I knew that the materials cost was the majority of the amount I paid him. But I don't know what discounts he got from the supplier, which would probably make the difference between profit or loss.
It's a tough world out there, I guess many get wary that if they quote enough to make a good profit then someone else gets the job and they get nothing.
But I'd still price the materials up myself, just to check that it sounds like the right sort of region. You can't cost it without the details of what you're looking for, e.g. the make of the bricks you want could make £1000s of difference. I'm buying two lots of bricks, one is 4x the price of the other.
My drive is block paved and at least 30 metres long and standard sort of width and the cost also included a patio about 4 x 7 metres in indian sandstone and all my additional costs to finish.
Any other minor details to include? A swimming pool, the hanging gardens of babylon?
It was an expensive extension, but it included a load of stuff way beyond an extension!
Agreed, we moved into a bungalow that hadn’t been touched since the ‘80’s and needed completely revamping. However its just a lick of paint now and again from now on. I missed out the new windows and french doors
You mean like your poor and naive attempt at listing extension costs with at least 50% of the value missing?
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That's more of an issue nowadays with internet pricing. People can find out the "proper" price of materials at the click of a button and they can add up.
You see it on here often, "I've had a quote of x amount but I can get the stuff for y, therefore the labour seems expensive. Am I being ripped off?"
For example, yesterday, https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/13-466-kitchen-floor-quote-is-this-reasonable.661691/
Absolutely right, power to the people.
You shouldn't resent paying for someone's time. You should if it's excessive, and a quick google can tell anyone which it is.
I prefer the simple life. I buy the materials, and pay someone by the day to do stuff with them. They're not getting ripped off and neither am I. Also they don't need to spend time planning, or keep some of my money back in case they discover a volcano or my demands become unreasonable. Neither of us needs to write a contract ensuring that neither could ever possibly swindle the other in some imagined way.
Just don't take any notice of Travis Perkins prices, they list everything at double or treble the price so presumably give account customers massive discounts to take the price back down to everyone else's price.
E.g...
£2.50 each or £1.22 (+VAT). Nonsense. Dodgy builders would charge their customer £2.50 each then keep whatever massive discount they get on their bill.
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