The cost of trades people

lazer-zxr

Whilst doing up a house, I've been very suprised on two fronts by costing by trades people.

1. The range of quotes

Despite issuing what I consider to be fairly tight statements of spec and work required, the range of quotes from trades people has been wildly different. I have seen this from builders, plumbers and electricians.

The latest is my electrical rewire, with diagrams and measurements highlighting each point, and run of cable, along with site visits by all, the range has been from £2700 to £4200 (4 bed semi).

I don't understand how some can cost a job so far away from their competitors?

2. How expensive tradespeople are.

After £4k quotes for heating, £3k quotes for rewire, £4k quotes for replacing ground floor suspended timber and insulating. I am gobsmacked at the daily rate these tradespeople quote.

I've actually done the flooring, insulation and plumbing (heating and hot + cold runs) myself, after spending a £700 on materials, a few youtube videos and a month or so of late nights after work.

I've also found a local electrician who is willing to review my cable pulling, and 1st fix on a weekly basis, and monitor my 2nd fix more closely, to come in on budget.

Are people really paying thousands for these services?

phill99

I run a property maintenance company so can respond from the other side.


Quotes vary for a range of reasons:


Different business operating costs. Larger companies with premises and support staff will charge more as all of these costs have to be paid for (by you).


VAT situation. One man bands will often operate under the vat threshold, so by default will be 20% cheaper on their labour costs than VAT registered companies.


Day rates. The day rate of individuals will vary from company to company and individual to individual. Allied to this, some one may think a job may take 4 days, another 5, so there will be a difference as a result.


Pain in the backside factor. If a tradesman sees you, the client as a Pain in the backside, the job will be 'out priced' so that he doesn't get the job, or if he does, there is enough profit in the job to warrant dealing with you.

greenface

All as above plus if a one man tradesman needs to get a days wage from you , if its a bigger outfit they need to get a days wage out of you aswel suppling you a tradesman

docmatt

Phill99 is right. You can spot a messer from a mile away, the way they talk to you and all anal about how they want the spec and loads of other things that you know are going to be nauseous for you and the workers, big price hike.
Sorry but it’s true!

Doozergirl

Yeah, that specification that protects buyer and tradesperson by ensuring everything is covered and included in the quote meaning little to nothing in extras, less mistakes, less fall-outs, and someone therefore more likely to complete the work.

Those kind of messers.

southcoastrgi

You forget how much money it costs to actually run a business & make a profit, whereas you have none of the costs involved, you are paying for knowledge & experience as well as labour, you are lucky if you have found someone to sign off your work most trades would tell you to do one

Furts

docmatt wrote: »

Phill99 is right. You can spot a messer from a mile away, the way they talk to you and all anal about how they want the spec and loads of other things that you know are going to be nauseous for you and the workers, big price hike.
Sorry but it’s true!

Unbelievable! But in turns of a total wind up, fair play to you for getting a reaction from folks.