empoyee awareness on price - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

boman47k · 02-20-2007, 12:52 PM

How many of you folk let the your workers know the price for the project they are doing?

Workaholic · 02-20-2007, 01:32 PM

I would'nt go out of my way to tell them. Yet i would'nt lie about it either. A good employee sticks it out with you, so you can carry all the headaches. on the other hand a good employee will also consider going out on his own. And if you train someone ( which is the best way to make sure that they do it your way) then you would expect them to eventually go out on their own.

boman47k · 02-20-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Yet i would'nt lie about it either

I agree, completely out of the question.

**Ed the Roofer** · 02-20-2007, 01:54 PM

My foreman is made aware of the contract price, the extra charge prices and also how much overhead I have to maintain to remain in business.

He is being promoted to project manager this season, after 7 1/2 years working with me.

I have had several homeowners question the crew members, with the contract and prices in hand, when they had a question. I would rather be up front about all the costs, instead of them thinking I am getting rich from the prices they might eventually see sometimes anyway.

He even told me, that when I spent some time on a job, just making decisions about how a special detail was to be dome, that I should charge the full company hourly rate, because he feels I don't give myself enough credit in terms of financial reward directly to myself.

Its nice to know that your crew leader thinks of the higher value you should be worth.

Ed

Brian · 02-20-2007, 07:23 PM

My supervisors know the price of every job they do. They pick up the checks, so it's a little hard to hide the fact. But even if they weren't, why hide the facts? If they have a problem with it, then they need a good lesson in Business 101. As Ed the Roofer implied, they may just learn to appreciate what you do for them.

Brian Phillips

boman47k · 02-20-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

they may just learn to appreciate what you do for them

.

In a previuos business we were in, we had 12 employees. All they saw w as considerable amounts of money coming in. Not sure they realized how much had to go out sometimes. I know you can have money bulging in every pocket, nook and cranny and still be broke. I also know of others whose employees think they are loaded when that is not always as it seems. With some of these, it seems to cause resentment. Some do not appreciate anything.

Quote:

If they have a problem with it, then they need a good lesson in Business 101.

Ditto that! Or find greener pastures.

4thGeneration · 02-20-2007, 10:48 PM

I worked for my Uncle for 10 years and never once did he show me how to price. Ofcoarse that may be a good thing because my Grandpa said he was a cheap beeea well you know the rest of the word.

My Uncle always had this mind game going on. His famous line was,"The only reason I keep these jobs is to make you painters the money" If thats the case I would have upped my foreman salary from $9 to say $18 hr. Amazing stuff working for family, but my Grandpa did teach me alot with application and coatings.

Jonesey · 02-21-2007, 12:58 AM

Worked for a guy who said he couldn't pay me on an ext. I subbed from him but put $1800 rims on his wife's Yukon the same day. I still hate that SOB. When I have help I let my guys know exactly what I expect time wise, and what extra will be available for bonuses if it's done well and on time. If I ever have guys that want to go out on their own, that's fine with me, I'll treat them to lunch and talk it over with them to see if they're serious, and might even put up a little capital if they're branching into areas that I don't particularly like. Honest competition is good for business.

If I get big enough to have a foreman, I think price and estimated time and materials, right down to overhead, is necessary information. He can't do his job unless I trust him to understand what's necessary and what's not. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll every be able to let go of field work. Nobody that I've met can do it faster, or better, than I can, particularly when it's my backside over the fire.

4thGeneration · 02-21-2007, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesey

Worked for a guy who said he couldn't pay me on an ext. I subbed from him but put $1800 rims on his wife's Yukon the same day. I still hate that SOB. When I have help I let my guys know exactly what I expect time wise, and what extra will be available for bonuses if it's done well and on time. If I ever have guys that want to go out on their own, that's fine with me, I'll treat them to lunch and talk it over with them to see if they're serious, and might even put up a little capital if they're branching into areas that I don't particularly like. Honest competition is good for business.

If I get big enough to have a foreman, I think price and estimated time and materials, right down to overhead, is necessary information. He can't do his job unless I trust him to understand what's necessary and what's not. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll every be able to let go of field work. Nobody that I've met can do it faster, or better, than I can, particularly when it's my backside over the fire.

thats the way I feel about hiring, but I realize I can not do it forever. I love to paint because I have been around it all my life. I was probally baptized in lead paint by my Grandpa the day I was born. I had 10 guys working with me when I was trying to do some shell stations. They all sucked. I always love the 30 year man. I think that 30 year man was opainting his house once every year for 30 years to call himself a 30 year man. My Grandpas motivation was if you dont do it well, fast and how I say you are fired. One time a guy asked about benefits. My Grandpa said you are working, thats your benefit. As a kid I remember all my Grandpas painters were alcoholics, but they were cracker jack painters. They could do it all while sauced

. My Grandpa never paid a whole lot to anyone. He promised lots of hours that would end up bringing in a ton for each. No bonuses either and no lunch breaks paid by him. His Daddy had a great painting company and had about 100 on his crew back during the depression. Boy if you can run a business right in that time you must be doing something right. Anyhow, He actually fired 8 guys for not having their brushes cleaned properly at the start of the day and they asked what were they going to do about eating. He told them you have hunting rifles right? Pretty tough man. Ofcoarse you have to realize my Great Grandpa and his brother were thrown out on the street by their mother at the age of 5 or 6 because their dad died and her new hubby to be said its them or me. It was them and it always made them bitter. Bitterness and painting seem to go hand in hand sometimes. oh well, nuff said for now.

Boogga · 02-21-2007, 03:29 AM

They don't need to know. A former worker of mine knew what we were making and he become funny and seemed like he was annoyed or so. Then I sacked him because I prooved he was stealing from the company. (taking materials from job sites by over ordering materials and taking the excess materials to his house). I believe because he thought we could afford our losses in hime stealing from us. We are now sueing the bastard!

Joewho · 02-21-2007, 03:45 AM

Need to know basis.

George Z · 02-21-2007, 09:25 PM

They can know if they ask

siberian · 03-19-2007, 07:36 PM

Wonder how much it cost to make the pickup Im driving?

siberian · 03-19-2007, 07:38 PM

Wonder how much it cost to make the pickup Im driving

CheckmateOhio · 03-19-2007, 07:44 PM

I don't offer it up. It's bad enough I always get the "Oh yeah...Mr. 40,000 dollar truck owner can't afford a new tool."
They never see the whole picture.
I DO drop hints about how much the damn workers comp costs each year though.