[FRAME2FINISH]

They describe it, and then say that money is tight but keep adding stuff like glass doors, oh to keep it cheap you can paint it white.

Then too top it off they want me to waste gas to meet them!!

Twice this week alone, the first one described , sent pics etc just too disappear without even mention of a price!

People have way too much time on their hands it seems!

I'm meeting the second one this Saturday , because it's close too me, can't wait to see what kind of 300 thousand dollar home they live in!!!

This crap is getting old !!!!

 

[MarkJames]

They describe it, and then say that money is tight but keep adding stuff like glass doors, oh to keep it cheap you can paint it white.

Then too top it off they want me to waste gas to meet them!!

Twice this week alone, the first one described , sent pics etc just too disappear without even mention of a price!

People have way too much time on their hands it seems!

I'm meeting the second one this Saturday , because it's close too me, can't wait to see what kind of 300 thousand dollar home they live in!!!

This crap is getting old !!!!

Yup. There's an art to working with clients like this. I'll sometimes offer a base cost and what it entails and let them talk themselves into the upgrades. The "it is what it is" strategy (which is what it is). Keep the pressure where it belongs, letting them know its their choices/decisions that determine the price. The materials, number of shelves, everything. Play it nice, but play it cool. I'm way past sharing in the "excitement" of the project before I have an idea of numbers and expectations.

When I hear "money is tight", I just laugh and agree. Don't we know it! Shows that we empathize, yet often has little do with the actual numbers. They want us on their side, which is understandable. It's similar to how a good auto mechanic gains out trust.

 

[KAP]

They describe it, and then say that money is tight but keep adding stuff like glass doors, oh to keep it cheap you can paint it white.

Next time simply tell them "I understand your desire to get a fair price, and that's what my customer say they get, so you can rest assured you will get a fair price"...

Setting the stage for "I gave you a fair price" when they want you to drop your pants...

 

[FRAME2FINISH]

I responded with money's tight = story of my life and they still want too meet,

I also told them I'd leave it unfinished and no glass they can get it,

It gets old dealing with this crap makes you not want to do it anymore, well it's getting that way for me,
Thanks for the suggestions got to try something new before I say screw it! Here's hoping 2014 is better than 13 anyway

 

[be the builder]

I hear you on this one. I find the clients who cry poor are the worst when it comes to changes and additional work. I've had more like this than the ones that realize what's within their financial means. Every body wants something for nothing.

 

[FlyFishRI]

It sucks, but it is part of the business. A big part at that. Makes working as an employee seem amazing. Just like a kid that is in a hurry to grow up, once you get there part of you wants to go back.

 

[be the builder]

It sucks, but it is part of the business. A big part at that. Makes working as an employee seem amazing. Just like a kid that is in a hurry to grow up, once you get there part of you wants to go back.

I want to be an employee are you hiring flyfishri nice yellowtail I think

 

[FlyFishRI]

Damn, I was hoping you would hire me! Bluefin, if I pay with fishing trips do I have to go through all the legal crap associated with having employees? haha

 

[Tom M]

There was a time when the builder commanded respect. now the client think they know everything and builders are a dime a dozen. Loyalty, referrals mean less & people go to great lengths to get the wish list.

 

[Live_oak]

I've taken to doing a "basic" price that hits their budget numbers, and then the "dream" price that hits their wants. The sale usually ends up being lower than the dream, but higher than their expressed budget some wants thrown in. It shows how sensitive :whistling I am to helping them hit that number, so I am on their side for that. But then it shows I also listen to their dreams and want to help them get those as well. Then I shut my mouth and they sell the upgrades to themselves!

 

[Tom M]

Yeah I talk with the customer they tell me there ideas, I bring in my kitchen designer, we go over limitations on a construction view, she charges a design fee, then the client shops the design and construction advice to the first person who promises the world for the least.

 

[be the builder]

Damn, I was hoping you would hire me! Bluefin, if I pay with fishing trips do I have to go through all the legal crap associated with having employees? haha

I think that's considered bartering and in that case how about some part time

 

[be the builder]

Yeah I talk with the customer they tell me there ideas, I bring in my kitchen designer, we go over limitations on a construction view, she charges a design fee, then the client shops the design and construction advice to the first person who promises the world for the least.

I started charging design fees which include my time to budget the job and the designer to come up with the design. They can go elsewhere for a price but they don't get me or the designer to ensure project delivery

 

[FRAME2FINISH]

I met with the guy today,

It's a cabinet for his hobby, he collects glass insulators that use too be on power poles back in the day.

He has a lot of ideas to be done cheap, after seeing his house I figured it should match that,

He wants it back lit with a diffuser between the light and insulators , and glass doors to keep the dust off,

I told him mdf would be the cheapest material to use.

I'm waiting on him to find me the diffuser material and stain and wood species that was used in the house. To me it looks like poplar but not sure,

 

[CarpenterSFO]

... a diffuser between the light ...

If the diffuser matters, then LED strip light behind a white plastic from TAP Plastics. Or without the diffuser, LED strip lights under the shelves, behind a front lip.

 

[FRAME2FINISH]

He just sent me a email now he wants two different lights but the same color and he doesn't want too see hot spots behind the diffuser lol

But let's keep this cheap lol

 

[Gus Dering]

That could be alder

 

[FRAME2FINISH]

Yea I was thinking ash but maybe your right, I know I've never seen it around here anyway lol

 

[FRAME2FINISH]

Oh god now he wants me to research it too, he's sending me links to blogs of how his buddies made theirs. That means their more of them out there lol

The best part was he has this huge hole in the ceiling. If you do a good job on the cabinet I'll let you fix the hole in my ceiling.

You'd think he'd want the ceiling fixed first lol!!!!!!

I didn't think I had to turn into an electrical engineer to build a cabinet. I think I'm just gonna put a price tag on it he can't afford

 

[pappagor]

sometime that is the best way to get the job:laughing: