How?

RobertCDF

How do the hacks do it? Just got off the phone with someone I met with about a deck. Told him his price $31,000 for a complete rebuild composite with metal balusters. About 900 SQ FT. That is a REALLY good price for it too. He said WOW thats kind of high" So I asked what other prices he had. He tells me "Well I had one that was using choice deck product about for about $20,000" I ask "Are you sure? because my material cost alone was about $19,000" I dont know anyone who would build a deck for $1,000 but if I find him I am going to hire him!!! Then he tells me that another one said that he could reuse about 50% of the framing material!! ITS 21 YEARS old white wood and the entire deck is VERY poorly maintained. I think it is the worst one I have EVER SEEN!!! I told him I doubt the building department would let them reuse anymore than 20% IF that! So I just want to know HOW?? do they make thier prices so low? do they LIE and then when comes time for the contract bump it up $10,000 and say "sorry prices went up"?

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

Teetorbilt

Old saying, 'Buyers are liars'. There is always someone who will do a job for less. You have to sell quality, service and your rep. Provide refs. and don't be afraid to ask if the others have done the same.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Oregon_Rob

Most times if you can dig deep enough, you will find something like:
1. The guy isn’t even a Licensed and bonded contractor.
2. He is not quoting apples to apples (isn’t using PT for framing….)
3. Quoted a different size deck….

Has happened more than once to me.

Just got a project and the guy said, "you weren't the lowest, but you seemed to be the most straight forward and honest"
I'll take that from a customer any day! In fact, I may ask him to put it in writting and post it on my web page.

Tscarborough

"Wow, that is a great price. You have my number if you need me".

firemike

I've had that happen to me too. Lose a bid then down the road I hear either from them or a mutual friend that the low bid they went with ended up being more than my bid was by the time all the "extras' were added in. I love telling them that "Gee all that was included in my bid." [smirk]

BuiltByMAC

If it's a job you want, you could "TRY" to educate the owner a bit as to why the lower bids aren't actually lower. (It's up to you to decide if he's open to education...)

I.E:
1.] reusing ANY part of a 21 year old deck is inviting catastrophe down the road and you build safely, not cheaply,
2] happily provide a lengthly list of references,
3] help to owner to decide if he's comparing apples to apples with the bids (did you break down the steps you'll take and the materials you'll use on your bid?) - I'm not talking providing a materials list with the bid, that's crazy, just tell him specifically the type of decking, structural wood, foundation, fasteners, metal connectors, etc.

Why should he pay more for the fasteners you use? Screws take longer to set than gun nails but they don't pull out - ZMAX metal costs more but will withstand the new ACQ lumber treatment.

Your footings are concrete on crushed gravel pads, are the other guy's pier blocks on dirt?

Stuff like that - you don't have to give him everything, just help him to understand where $10K difference comes from in a 900 sq. ft. deck.

Your professionalism alone might help sway him. Everyone has a horror story involving a contractor - if he understands that you'll do the job right and have many happy references to back up that claim, it's possible you might still get the job.

I wish you luck,

As to an answer to your original question, because they can get enough money up front and dissappear before the job's done to make it worth their while to screw him over, ethics be damned. but you already knew that!

I've gotten to a point where I point blank tell people I will not be their lowest bid. If cost is their only or most important concern, I try to establish that before I go to their house to do an estimate. It saves both of our time.

Mac

DecksEtc

Here Here

Very well put Mac!

RobertCDF

I do my best to educate my potential customers. I tell them what can happen if they pull the permit for a hack. And I am not easy on them either I tell them straigh up you WILL be sued for anything that goes wrong. I do break down stuff very well on my bids. ACQ framing, SS nails and screws, over building etc.... I do also tell them that if they go with another contractor that the most important thing is that the other contractor has a license and is insured. Its such a pain when they say something like "Oh wow I was thinking it would cost around $15,000" Come on, $15,000 and he wants correct deck composite. BTW lives in a house valued around $450,000+ You would think that people would know a little more about pricing. I kind of hope he goes with a hack and gets a hack deck. Then maybe he will tell his neighbors "dont use the guy I used, use Robert"

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

BuiltByMAC

Hey guy,

Sounds like you did what you could with this particular customer.

Have a beer (or Pepsi, depending on your choice of poison), and move on to the next job! From looking at the Gallery on your website, you won't have any problems getting the next one lined up. Your decks have clean lines (I like the 45º end cuts next to the house) and look nice and solid. Looks like a great view off of deck #6 in addition to a new development on the next hill... hmm, they're all gonna need decks too!

Mac