Estimate vs reality - what is fair?

Doozergirl

If you agree a day rate, you don't agree a price. They do not go together in the industry. Ever.

This week, I had to agree a price with someone on a small job that I don't want to be involved in. It's based loosely on his day rate and the cost of materials, but I can't possibly know how long it will take exactly, and nor does he. If he takes less time, he gets the change, if he doesn't he takes the hit. BUT the agreed price is always going to be based around a slight overestimate of what it takes. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But everyone is clear what the price is.

The OP needed some confirmation that it wasn't going to cost more than "x" on this occassion because they didn't like the day rate presented. So they agreed £700.

No one is doing a builder a favour by allowing them to go off and earn their day rate elsewhere if they can do it. If I don't like someone's price, I don't argue with it, I get comparisons. There's no agreement until agreement is made.

If you agree £700 it isn't a day rate, it is a price for the job. Bear in mind that I operate far more as a client than I do as a contractor. I can have 30 trades and agreed prices or day rates for one agreed price for a client.

A price is a price. It isn't negotiable once agreed.

A day rate is always flexible and based on time taken.

The OP agreed a price, otherwise the final number would never have been raised.

If they wanted to pay £560, they should have agreed £560 with someone willing to do it for that.