Where are we going ?? - Page 2 - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Williams Ex Co · 07-21-2009, 07:22 PM

I bid a house demo a few weeks ago. Demo, cap utilities, back fill and grade... Landfill fees, cans, everything all inclusive at 12K and didnt figure I would do too well at that since the LF fees are so high now... Now I get to drive by it most days and watch the low bidder... Notice I said most days? Thats right, he's been at it for over a week now... She hired some lowlife hack to dismantle the house a piece at a time and haul it off.... Not haul it to the landfill though as he bid it at $2500 bucks.... Freakin' amazing! Veins start to pop outta my neck when I drive by.... This woman is doing something blatantly wrong AFAIK... Hauling this house off to someones farm so it can be burned or buried there just chaps my a$$... I shouldnt be surprised, she is a retired State Official...

**joasis** · 07-21-2009, 07:29 PM

I would not hesitate to make a call to the EPA or DEQ in the area.....we pay those guys to do a job, and it would only take one exposure to a Fed and a fine of thousands to ruin a hack's day.

pce · 07-21-2009, 07:45 PM

Well, after seeing the mess that the lowest bidder blocklayer left and the crooked wall that was put up, he did not put the electrial boxes in. The plumber left $ 30,000.00 on the table, no laser to shoot grades, didn't know so he says about half the stuff he needs to do. I am having a good time watching. The general has wondered away from me once and I charged him more than what my first bid was to fix all the problems that were left to me to fix. Hang in there and hold your numbers. Digger

nEighter · 07-22-2009, 01:41 AM

I am not in excavating, but this same type of thing is running rampid throughout all trades. What do you guys forecast happening? I mean this trend can't continue?!! Have you guys ever seen what is happening now? I mean you guys that have been in the biz for quite some time. Seen anything like this lowball working for material type of situation? It can't go on. Just can't. To wipe out all the trades.. there is just no way.

BobsLandscaping · 07-22-2009, 01:58 AM

Where are we going? We're going down, down down into a burning ring of fire.

+ YouTube Video

You guys take a look at the lawn industry lately? Not everyone can afford a big excavator and a truck to haul it. Unfortunately everyone can afford a POS mower from Wal Mart. Then these guys go out, do a crappy job, and make it harder to sell professional lawn care. Especially when it costs more than $10 a week.

rino1494 · 07-22-2009, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctkiteboarding

i hear ya guys my main client is looking shakey and has strated to cry abit about day rates i have a 130, a 580 and a mini on site at all times what would a rate per day be if it were you? im trying to see his side but damn this is getting old real quick

Based on 8 hr day.

130 -- $720
580 -- $600
mini -- $600

insane · 07-22-2009, 11:03 AM

I get the same crap all the time.
I wonder if these low ballers are desperate for the money.
If they are desperate for the money it must mean they don't have any and are in debt up to their eyeballs.
The way i figure it wont be long before they are out of money and out of business.
Boy i sure hope this is true because this isn't fun anymore.

Tim

ctkiteboarding · 07-23-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rino1494

Based on 8 hr day.

130 -- $720
580 -- $600
mini -- $600

im at 15 for the day w me in the seat and and 1 crew hes wants me to cut it down im finding it hard to swallow

nEighter · 07-23-2009, 11:49 AM

don't do it. I hate the fact that us contractors have to "sharpen our pencils" or eat the cost when no other industry does. Mcdonalds doesn't come down on price for 1 or 1000 big mac burgers...

fhdesign · 07-23-2009, 08:56 PM

im at 15 for the day w me in the seat and and 1 crew hes wants me to cut it down im finding it hard to swallow

It is hard to swallow, but if he is keeping up with paying the bills then you may want to stay with him, paying work is getting hard to find in our area.

ctkiteboarding · 07-24-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fhdesign

im at 15 for the day w me in the seat and and 1 crew hes wants me to cut it down im finding it hard to swallow

It is hard to swallow, but if he is keeping up with paying the bills then you may want to stay with him, paying work is getting hard to find in our area.

he wants 1000 after 2 for the crew and 150 for fuel ouch

AmeliaP · 07-24-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

sharpen our pencils

I never heard this phrase until a couple weeks ago. A customer tried to renegotiate the price at contract signing. He said "are you ready to sharpen your pencil for some greens?"

Bill held to his price and got the job. I'm so proud.

AmeliaP · 07-24-2009, 06:56 PM

I should add that he didn't always hold to his price. Early on this was a problem.....

pepe · 07-29-2009, 01:54 PM

1st post, I have been reading with interest this post and is eerie what is happening to the majority on the board and our situation here in Western AZ.

A little background, our company has been in business for 19 years and needles to say did pretty well during the real estate boom, however when the shoes started to fall down, our area when from 1800 building permits a year to 300. Anticipating the dark days ahead the owner decided to start concentrating in public works, Federal, State, County and City.

Well that have not worked that great, Companies from out of state started to flock to this area, we had bid 15 projects from sewer hook ups, demolition and Mass Excavation and cannot even smell the top 3 bidders.

What is real frustrating is that we owned our dirt pit, employ local force, have excellent relationship with our suppliers and it most cases don't even account for mobilization in order to be competitive.

I did a little research into the outfits that have been awarded the contracts and find out that these companies are basically owned by members of a church/set located out of town that employs only members of that Church. I don't have any quarrels against any religious affiliation of lack of. But it appears to me that this a clear violation of federal laws against discrimination, although the contractors in the area don't have any proof the assumption is that payroll checks are distribute and later refunded in the form of ties.

Is utterly impossible to Bid a job for 850,000 when your labor cost along amount to 350,000 and Materials are 450,000. But this has been happening in a regular basis. What about overhead? mobilization? profit?

The contractors in our area are a very tight bunch, they live by the motto "you scratch my back and I scratch yours" and regularly use each other as subs, However the matter has reach epic proportions in our area.

I have always believe that local contractors should received a sort of discount or "home field advantage" in the bidding process, after all the City will be able to collect a greater proportion of sales taxes because the labor force will spend more of their monies locally also local employment will reduce the burden of services for those unemployed and business will be able to stay afloat for future tax revenues.

All we can do for the moment is make sure that a level playing field is been enforce by local agencies in this matter and for private clients that use this type of outfits be aware that when you roof leak, your foundation start sinking or your sewer back up and is time to pick up the phone, don't be surprise to hear the dreaded "this number is no longer in service"

tgeb · 07-29-2009, 06:57 PM

Thanks for your input Pepe, and welcome to the site!

Hanalike · 07-29-2009, 11:08 PM

Its just as bad here. Guys will literally ask homeowners how much the lowest bid is, and tell them they will beat it by 10%. No take off, don't even look at the plans nothing, its ridiculous.

Hanalike · 07-29-2009, 11:14 PM

And on a second note, sometimes I go back and see what kind of job the homeowner got. 99% of the time its a pure hack job, but everytime I point it out to the homeowner they all say the same thing:

"But I got such a great deal!"

Whatever. call me when you need it redone, or it fails, or when you realized you got ripped off, IF im still in business.

Good luck guys, hang in there.