Labour and material breakdowns,

4445 Views 26 Replies 20 Participants Last post by dakzaag, Sep 15, 2013

S.U.M

Discussion Starter · Sep 5, 2013

In this past week I have had 3 possible clients asking for material and labour cost breakdowns, these job have ranged in price from lowest $1200- highest $5600, not huge jobs. I am guessing the prices are to high for the homeowner and they want to know my labour cost, which is none of the business, I have overheads etc just like all of us here,
How do I reply to this request without being rude or coming of as an *******,

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

griz

· #2 · Sep 5, 2013

Tell them your price is made up of several components and it is company policy not to provide a cost breakdown.

or, tell them it is their choice.....:whistling

$5600 job......

Labor is $5600 & materials are free.....or

Materials are $5600 & the labor is free....:laughing::thumbsup:

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Reactions: 3

S.U.M

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 6, 2013

Materials are $5600 & the labor is free....

I just hope they don't play they old " we will provide the materials" card
Haha.
Thanks Griz.

JBM

· #4 · Sep 6, 2013

Sometimes ill tell people, whatever. I never depend on any one job so I dont really lose any sleep on it.

Morbidzero

· #5 · Sep 6, 2013

Politely decline as he has no business knowing your break down costs. If you do go and tell him your costs it will just cause to many problems down the road.

blacktop

· #6 · Sep 6, 2013

griz said:
Tell them your price is made up of several components and it is company policy not to provide a cost breakdown.

or, tell them it is their choice.....:whistling

$5600 job......

Labor is $5600 & materials are free.....or

Materials are $5600 & the labor is free....:laughing::thumbsup:

I LOVE THIS GUY!!!!!!!!!!:laughing::clap:

slowsol

· #7 · Sep 6, 2013

It's really an easy situation to handle. Would you consider doing the work with only providing labor? If yes, then you shouldn't have a problem breaking out your labor cost for them.

If no, then a simple "I'm sorry, we don't do projects like this without providing a turnkey (labor and material) package."

thom

· #8 · Sep 6, 2013

Tell them:

Material $5,600
Labor $5,600

and your giving them a 50% discount so they get both for only one low low price of $5,600. .... But wait, there's more, be one of the first 5 customers to sign on today and they get a complete set of ginsu knives.

griz

· #9 · Sep 6, 2013

thom said:
Tell them:

Material $5,600
Labor $5,600

and your giving them a 50% discount so they get both for only one low low price of $5,600. .... But wait, there's more, be one of the first 5 customers to sign on today and they get a complete set of ginsu knives.

Can I get them initialed?....:whistling:laughing:

Calidecks

· #10 · Sep 6, 2013

Just tell them your cost are proprietary.

Reactions: 1

Jaws

· #11 · Sep 6, 2013

Californiadecks said:
Just tell them your cost are proprietary.

Or tell them, YOU are lucky to get a bad SOB at that cost.....

If I go back and re bid I might find a cost I missed :thumbsup::laughing:

CJKarl

· #12 · Sep 6, 2013

Most times I will break it down. If they don't like the fact that I make $100 too bad

dom-mas

· #13 · Sep 6, 2013

I'm usually pretty up front about my costs, if anyone asks me just explain it. If the customer wants to buy materials I'm usually fine with it. But I also let them know that if they screw it up then I'm walking until it gets put right, and at that point I'll come back when it's convenient

Tscarborough

· #14 · Sep 7, 2013

This I can tell you from a supplier standpoint. If the customer buys the material, do not commit until the materials are on the jobsite.

Reactions: 1

Warren

· #15 · Sep 7, 2013

Tell them their is a $250 charge to give them a detailed breakdown.

Reactions: 2

EC Craftsman

· #16 · Sep 7, 2013

I don't do this directly for homeowners. I feel like most people asking that are just looking for ammunition to use on the next of 5 contractors in line to look at their project.

Reactions: 1

EC Craftsman

· #17 · Sep 7, 2013

And I NEVER agree to that homeowner provides materials bull crap. I HATE that and never ever do that. Unless he is a contractor like me and can get materials for is own home at cost . . . Than there is no way he is getting

EC Craftsman

· #18 · Sep 7, 2013

A lower cost or something. I only trust myself to get what I need. Some architects I've worked for give a budget for materials. . . And although architects don't always know what the heck they are talking about . . . They are usually on the ball and your hands are tied anyway.

dom-mas

· #19 · Sep 8, 2013

EC Craftsman said:
And I NEVER agree to that homeowner provides materials bull crap. I HATE that and never ever do that. Unless he is a contractor like me and can get materials for is own home at cost . . . Than there is no way he is getting

Doesn't bother me too much. Figuring out sqft needs an lnft needs is pretty simple stuff. Usually. If they don't get it right, walk and go to the next one and come back when they do get it right and it fits with your schedule. If they want to spend time doing take offs and dealing with suppliers and putting their money out then fine with me.

Subia29

· #20 · Sep 9, 2013

Love it when they say "we can get to materials from homedepot" or "I can get concrete real cheap from a guy I know."

Really." We 'll prep it" . "Call us back when we are ready to come and complete it".

No thank you.

1 - 20 of 27 Posts

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