How much should I charge.... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Snobnd · 12-22-2008, 06:37 PM

Ok now slow Down... Here is the issue

I get a call from an old Super I did a job for (he loves my work) anyway I get this call to go to A mall 65 Miles from my home to sand & paint 2 coats plus install rubber baseboard - wall is 17' by 50' I get the call at 5PM today I have to be at the job tonight 11pm and work till its done.

I have no standing contract for other work at this site, I charge him for 2 guys, paint included $850 I get the call from the office and the big boss was not happy and Bitched "Your a little to high" like 3 times on the phone. But I will pay the price "cause" it needs to be done Tonight!

I think it is a fair price considering . What say you guys?

Oh by the time you will have read this I will have completed the work.
Just wondering if it goes quick should I give him a little back?? (never) lol

WisePainter · 12-22-2008, 06:44 PM

meh i guess.

Workaholic · 12-22-2008, 06:54 PM

Sounds like a emergency job, and he should expect to pay more than usual.

davitk · 12-22-2008, 07:04 PM

That's not an unreasonable price, especially for an all-nighter.

17' high walls??

Tinstaafl · 12-22-2008, 07:12 PM

Depends. If you have enough work coming in to be comfortable, that's more than reasonable.

If "Well, it's not like you're doing anything else..." Uh, IMO it's reasonable for an overnighter on an emergency basis, regardless.

vandyandsons · 12-22-2008, 07:37 PM

don't give him any back. if the job takes longer than anticipated would he pay you more? NO. when was the last time your mechanic charged you less than initially agreed to because it went faster than he thought? NEVER. this guy wants you to drop what you are doing to go do good work on an emergency job and wants to cry about the price.... don't give your trade away dude. as long as you do good work, don't budge. he'll keep calling you because your tried and true. not to mention, he'll expect a break every time from hence forth.

-also don't forget, it's his job to be a cheap skate. these conversations are almost scripted.

Dan V. · 12-22-2008, 09:09 PM

Yeah, what Vandy said.

MALCO.New.York · 12-22-2008, 09:31 PM

Sounds WAY TOO CHEAP for "Emergency" After Hours work!

boman47k · 12-22-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

But I will pay the price "cause" it needs to be done Tonight!

Makes me wonder why someone waited until the last minute. Maybe he had already tried talking others down and time ran out?
130 miles travel
850 sq ft 2 sanded and 2 coated
17 ft walls
75 ft of cove base
Needs done now!
Next day is shot

I think you are reasonable.

Snobnd · 12-23-2008, 05:42 AM

Ok Im back home- Lets see -I left at 900pm got there at 10 Walked the job with the super (Bis ass store) stairs had to be moved and it is a temp wall 50 x 18 Not 17. 8 hr total per man. I think he got away cheep.... I did get to use the lift made it a little easy. I think he can go

himself. The price is the price! Now I go to bed.

Thanks for your help.

Burby · 12-23-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snobnd

Ok Im back home- Lets see -I left at 900pm got there at 10 Walked the job with the super (Bis ass store) stairs had to be moved and it is a temp wall 50 x 18 Not 17. 8 hr total per man. I think he got away cheep.... I did get to use the lift made it a little easy. I think he can go

himself. The price is the price! Now I go to bed.

Thanks for your help.

Any less price and you would have paid him to do the job, he is lucky you did him a favor, tell him you expect a large x mas bonus & don't forget the bottle to forget him as well

Do a favor for one and they want the dessert to..

MALCO.New.York · 12-23-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burby

Any less price and you would have paid him to do the job, he is lucky you did him a favor, tell him you expect a large x mas bonus & don't forget the bottle to forget him as well

Do a favor for one and they want the dessert to..

Give an "Employer" an inch and He/She will try to park a Truck in it!

Mellison · 12-23-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Sounds WAY TOO CHEAP for "Emergency" After Hours work!

Ditto!

MALCO.New.York · 12-23-2008, 09:20 PM

It is a New York State of Mind!!!!

NAV · 12-24-2008, 09:21 AM

I think you were too cheap.

850 s.f. for 2 coats plus sanding at night with over 2 hours travel port to port and no notice. I would either bill out at $55.00 per man hour + material or $1.30 per square foot if he wanted a hard number up front.

I know times are tough but you guys gotta quit low balling jobs.

Snobnd · 12-24-2008, 10:14 AM

I thought of it this way, my price was fair, I have done work for the super in the past, now I have
commitment for future work, did I underbid this last min job? Perhaps but I look at it this way Materials $107 - gas $30 - laborer- $100 = $237
I get $613 for my troubles Now I am looking at working on this project for 2 or 3 months ( I would have asked $ 1000 or 1200 if I did not know this guy) "balance" that's what it's all about! I can make more over the long run vrs sticking it to him on 1 task. At least that was my mind set.

Last time I worked on his project, it was a last min job as a backup carpenter for 1 of his subs - I knew more then the guy running his crew and it showed so...... he had his boss hire my to do all the touchups and punch list, at the end I was running the job and the super went back home,

From that - the store owner had me go to another store and help that crew finish up. So the question is if I price too high I get the job BUT no future work, to low and I will get hosed, We all go thru it.

By the way - after I finished up I was told that a painter in the area would have done it cheaper but that he likes the fact that when he gives me a task - he knows that it will come out good and its one less thing to worry about.

Merry Christmas

WisePainter · 12-24-2008, 11:04 AM

Seriously who are you contractors saying that was too low? $600+ for less than a full days (10 hours imho) work.

Get over yourselves, I pull $250 a day.

pfft.

I think you made a nice chunk of change and what Boss isn't gonna complain? They always do no matter what the price.

Well...unless it is free.

vandyandsons · 12-24-2008, 12:32 PM

hey,
just to clarify: i was not implying that you stick it to him as that is always bad business. i just feel that a guy should be fairly compensated for his troubles. fairness and quality always yields more work later. $613 is a good take for one night. but seriously though, just as you should never price gouge, you should never budge on a fair price. you gotta pay the bills.
-Vandy

boman47k · 12-24-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boman47k

Makes me wonder why someone waited until the last minute. Maybe he had already tried talking others down and time ran out?
130 miles travel
850 sq ft 2 sanded and 2 coated
17 ft walls
75 ft of cove base
Needs done now!
Next day is shot

I think you are reasonable.

Not sure where I got the many feet of base.

Anyway, wish I had few jobs like that. Glad it worked out for you.

capital city · 12-25-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WisePainter

Seriously who are you contractors saying that was too low? $600+ for less than a full days (10 hours imho) work.

Get over yourselves, I pull $250 a day.

pfft.

I think you made a nice chunk of change and what Boss isn't gonna complain? They always do no matter what the price.

Well...unless it is free.

I agree, I also aim go for the $250 day approx $30 hr. Malcomb youve got to understand the rest of the country is not on New York prices. $250 a day is good. I also believe there is money work and busy work. I have a customer that always tells me Im too high even though he gets my best price, I put up with it because he gives me alot of work and fills the gaps between jobs, hence busy work. Charlie