time and materials proposal - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

outsidethelines · 02-08-2008, 08:05 PM

Can someone please give me an example of what a Time and Materials proposal would look like? Scope of the job is unknown and we would be taking it a day at a time. How can the owners/managers of commercial property be assured that we will not just be charging them by the hour while we are taking a siesta?

Thepaintman · 02-09-2008, 05:15 PM

[quote=outsidethelines;374150]Can someone please give me an example of what a Time and Materials proposal would look like? Scope of the job is unknown and we would be taking it a day at a time.
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"Time and Materials" should be just that. The cost per hour/per man plus the costs of paint and materials. The owner may require receipts.
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[quote=outsidethelines;374150] How can the owners/managers of commercial property be assured that we will not just be charging them by the hour while we are taking a siesta?
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Why are you taking a "siesta"? This is a matter of trust between the owner and yourself. If they can't trust you then give an estimate with a firm price for labor, paints and materials. I don't allow customers to stand over my and critique.

Good luck!

Jerry

BattleRidge · 02-09-2008, 05:56 PM

If I owned a commercial property I would just get bids on everything but the smallest of projects, its just safer that way. Thats just me tho.

outsidethelines · 02-10-2008, 03:05 PM

Why are you taking a "siesta"? This is a matter of trust between the owner and yourself. If they can't trust you then give an estimate with a firm price for labor, paints and materials. I don't allow customers to stand over my and critique.

Good luck!

Jerry[/quote]

You are right. I realized after I sent this question that since one of the owners was the one who suggested I go by T&M, then they obviously trust me. I would never take advantage of that. I just was not sure how the proposal was to be typed up. Writers block I guess. I figured it out though. As for customers standing over me, it has never bothered me, and in fact I like answering their questions and showing off my work. Maybe that is the reason they trust me. I should not even concern myself with this. I guess I am just getting a little nervous about losing work to others who are way under bidding because work is hard to come by right now.

Thepaintman · 02-10-2008, 06:03 PM

You bet. Take all the work you can get it's tight out there but persist. I would suggest that you give your client a written amount you will be charging for hourly pay and have it signed. Also have them sign that they will pay for materials. I trust people but not that much - always in writing friend or foe they can't agree with a written agreement with the date and their signature on it. Good luck.

Jerry

Chris G · 02-10-2008, 06:28 PM

Let us know how it turns out!

outsidethelines · 02-13-2008, 01:08 AM

Are you mocking my bold type? Well...so far so good. GC says the numbers look good. He just needs to present it to the restaurant managers next. I'll let u know.

nap · 02-13-2008, 02:00 AM

T and M is just that, T and M.

I often have a "not to exceed" number along with that for a customer that really wants a number but for this, you do need a pretty good scope of work description to rely on.

If they cannot provide a detailed scope of work, the t and m is all you can do. Just keep the "nose to the grindstone" thing happening and they cannot have any justified complaints.