Additional day added to original quote by tradesman

Doozergirl

If it is circular then it's becaused you've changed from referring to a new bathroom out as "removing a toilet and putting another one in its place" to now being a top rate tradesman capable of building bespoke units from scratch in your free time but choosing not to. (free being the operative word).

How much for you to fit out a bathroom now you've demonstrated your excellent workmanship? Is £10 an hour okay?

Furts

Pdbaggett wrote: »

AHH "workmanship" and how things are put toghther, so that's why a pro would have done a better than me. And obviously my workmanship would be subpar to any other "pro" based purely on the fact he's a pro, without any actual proof of course or scrutiny up close.

Well I think I'll bow out of this thread at this point seems to be going around in circles.

I have not chipped in to your posts but will add my penny worth.

I think it is brilliant that you have undertaken work to your home, and equally brilliant that you are happy with the result. If only millions more folks were to adopt your mindset, or your skills, the country would be a better place.

There is even a bizarre flip to all this, which some folks may not have given any thought to. There is a dire shortage of good trades people. By doing your own work you have freed up trades people to do work elsewhere - so you have actively assisted in relieving a skills crisis.

Well done!

david1951

Pdbaggett wrote: »

The amount of pressure and responsibility I have to deal with on a day to day basis in my job to earn £20+ an hour is unbelievable so yes I'm going to turn my nose up at someone wanting £20+ an hour to tile a floor or dig a garden up.

Assuming you are employed then you aren't comparing like with like. The equivalent would be to find out what it costs your employer to employ you, including overheads like office space, pension, car allowance, sick/holiday/maternity/paternity pay etc. Usually the total cost of employing someone is at least double their salary.

Comparing the salary element of your job to what you pay a tradesperson is just silly.

teneighty

Before this thread completely looses the plot, did we ever establish whether it was a quotation or an estimate? The difference is vital in determining whether the contractor can charge extras.

Doozergirl

genau wrote: »

Thanks for sharing the work! I have to say that this looks pretty darn awesomely impressive!! Did you do everything in that picture or just part of it? It looks a particularly high level of finish. To my untrained eye that looks to the level of finish that would and could meet the requirements for demanding clients who for example would require the standard of finish you'd expect in a small-bone kitchen. I could be completely wrong of course but it certainly has a wow factor in terms of the level of finish

I design and project manage and I like things done properly. I don't work on the tools but I have lovely people that do. When you give them a demanding job, they step right up and do it, which is why I feel it's unfair to say that people aren't worth a sensible wage when they have genuine skills that are underutilised by many of us.

I love what they do. My grubby, potty-mouthed friends always step up and make beautiful things.

Kiran

Doozergirl wrote: »

I design and project manage and I like things done properly. I don't work on the tools but I have lovely people that do. When you give them a demanding job, they step right up and do it, which is why I feel it's unfair to say that people aren't worth a sensible wage when they have genuine skills that are underutilised by many of us.

I love what they do. My grubby, potty-mouthed friends always step up and make beautiful things.

And that is the key. If you don't specify what you want or you tell you trades person that you what it done the cheapest or simplest way then you can't really be surprised when you get a cheap or simple job. Building a client/customer relationship is the main step in getting it right. There are good and bad trades people but equally good and bad clients.

shortcrust

Pdbaggett wrote: »

Go get another job if you resent running your own business so much then. I thought people ran their own business for the love of it not solely for profit. The amount of pressure and responsibility I have to deal with on a day to day basis in my job to earn £20+ an hour is unbelievable so yes I'm going to turn my nose up at someone wanting £20+ an hour to tile a floor or dig a garden up...

As for the "pro's" don't make me laugh the amount of times I have seen work performed from so called pros that is horrendous, shoddy and bordering on dangerous is laughable.

I can also unequivocally guarantee, you would not be able to tell my bathroom install from that of "pro" if we are going to use that phrase to determine quality.

What an excellent illustration of how we don’t value tradespeople in this country. What really makes me fume is the underlying sense of injured/threatened supiriority. They just can’t stand an hourly rate that approaches or exceeds their hourly salary. Never mind that, as has been explained, comparing the two is daft.

I’m self employed and if I charged 20/hour I wouldn’t be able to put food on the table, and my costs are tiny compared to most trades. But then no one moans about my hourly rate because I don’t do the sort of job that people like to look down on.

Jakg

dunroving wrote: »

I'm just wondering, does anyone have experience of a tradesperson charging lower than the estimate because the job ended up being much easier than expected?

I have great respect for people running their own business so I'm not asking this to provoke a rant. I'm just curious.

Yes, exactly this.

Had soffits replaced by a company who said they would charge £x, plus about £400 for the scaffolding which they would arrange (subbed out).

When the final bill came in, the company told me the scaffolding was actually only £320 and so the final bill was reduced.

Didn't have to tell me, could've just pocketed the money, would never of known and was happy with the total job price anyway. Was very surprised.

Similarly, got locked out of my house and needed a locksmith. Called about 10, none were interested. Finally found someone who would do it. He said £50 on the phone. My partner told him we'd struggled to find someone, so he knew he had us, but it didn't take him very long and I think he felt bad so he only charged £20 + asked for a review.

plumberpaig

It's important to note that a quote and an estimate are not the same. Having said that, you are well within your right to query the final bill where it started out as an estimate.

Tradesmen will always get paid what they are worth and what the market dictates. If you think tradesmen are expensive then find a cheaper one that you are happy with. Cheaper doesn't always mean less quality. Sometimes, but not always.

I would also add that any good tradesman starts at around £40 per hour or £300 per day. I have hired hundreds and I have seen their work. We always used to quote jobs at a fixed price and take the rough with the smooth - that way the customer can make an informed decision.

I always felt uneasy charging hourly or estimating and I also thought I could win more business quoting fixed prices.

If you're a customer looking to hire a tradesman and worried about costs spiraling out of control then hire that tradesman on a fixed price. If he or she is unsure of the scope of the job then you might get a slightly higher quote but at least you know where you stand (and you might even get a bargain that way).

scd3scd4

plumberpaig wrote: »

It's important to note that a quote and an estimate are not the same. Having said that, you are well within your right to query the final bill where it started out as an estimate.

Tradesmen will always get paid what they are worth and what the market dictates. If you think tradesmen are expensive then find a cheaper one that you are happy with. Cheaper doesn't always mean less quality. Sometimes, but not always.

I would also add that any good tradesman starts at around £40 per hour or £300 per day. I have hired hundreds and I have seen their work. We always used to quote jobs at a fixed price and take the rough with the smooth - that way the customer can make an informed decision.

I always felt uneasy charging hourly or estimating and I also thought I could win more business quoting fixed prices.

If you're a customer looking to hire a tradesman and worried about costs spiraling out of control then hire that tradesman on a fixed price. If he or she is unsure of the scope of the job then you might get a slightly higher quote but at least you know where you stand (and you might even get a bargain that way).

Never paid more than £120 a day for a paint and decorator in LOndon. Ohh and you are right paying more is no guarantee you will get better quality. One toad thought a day started at about 9.45 and finished at 3.30. Picking he's wife up was something he thought I cared about.