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I know we are not suppose to talk about dollar amounts but I'm fuming right now. I bid a friend's concrete job, triple driveway, cutting street for new approach as it was single before and all (80') of sidewalk.
So here's why I'm pissed, I bid just over 10k, very fair I think. Because of friendship I didn't charge for bobcat, dump trailer and major demo as I normally do. After I give bid, to say she's shocked is an understatement, and tells me another guy bid 7k! The materials cost, permit and my insurance barely cover that, most of my crews labor (not including my labor) put me way over that, how can this be? Concrete is pretty much a set price, I explain that he must not be using rebar, visqueen barrier and I'm supicious if it will be 4" through out and minimum of 6" from approach to sidewalk.
It's someone I know, they think I'm trying to screw them and not sure they understand what his bid is probably missing (I did try to explain but that's a big difference), let alone care due to 3k! How do you compete with this? How can another contractor do this job for that amount? Am I missing something?
So here's why I'm pissed, I bid just over 10k, very fair I think. Because of friendship I didn't charge for bobcat, dump trailer and major demo as I normally do. After I give bid, to say she's shocked is an understatement, and tells me another guy bid 7k! The materials cost, permit and my insurance barely cover that, most of my crews labor (not including my labor) put me way over that, how can this be? Concrete is pretty much a set price, I explain that he must not be using rebar, visqueen barrier and I'm supicious if it will be 4" through out and minimum of 6" from approach to sidewalk.
It's someone I know, they think I'm trying to screw them and not sure they understand what his bid is probably missing (I did try to explain but that's a big difference), let alone care due to 3k! How do you compete with this? How can another contractor do this job for that amount? Am I missing something?