[Stevarino]

Have been soon custom tile for about 4 or 5 years now and I have developed my skills well. I recently did a custom shower job for someone in which I demoed and removed the old 3x4 shower down to the studs mud pan and all totally replaced it. New delta shower faucet, new drain, new mud pan, tile floor, walls, even two rows of diamond inlays and a 3" border, I even threw in the installation of a shower door they purchased. I did the whole job material and labor for $1900 and they balked at the bill.

My question is are my prices high or are they average or low and the customer just isn't in touch with reality?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Inner10]

Did it work out to more of less than 3.50 a square foot?

 

[Oconomowoc]

This will be somewhat of an irrelevant number for you but last week I was called in to do the plumbing portion of a project exactly like you describe. The tile guy isn't a plumber and always calls me in to swap new valves and configure a new drain. My bill for labor and material was $970 and includes one extra trip to set the trim......which will be tomorrow morning incidentally.

I'm not 100% sure what Rich charged for the total job but knowing him I'd say it was close to $3,500.

 

[BlueRidgeGreen]

$1,900?

You should register with the IRS as a non-profit, tax-exempt charity organization.

To your question. That seems like an exceptionally good value for them. They should have thanked you and spread the word.

 

[Stevarino]

Did it work out to more of less than 3.50 a square foot?

It worked out to $11 per square foot. But that includes plumbing and demo and cement boarding and everything.

 

[Evan1968]

I would be happy to sub out all my tile work to you!:thumbup::whistling

 

[Tylerwalker32]

It worked out to $11 per square foot. But that includes plumbing and demo and cement boarding and everything.

you sure you got labour in there. I've had tile showers small there that just the materials coming in around 2k.

 

[EthanB]

What kind of waterproofing?

Customers are almost never in touch with reality.

 

[MarkJames]

Geez that's low. I hope you didn't spend any time installing any free soap dishes, shampoo niches, towel bars or anything else, too.

One key to providing good value is educating the client from the beginning. They need to know you're on their side from the get-go, and that when they change/add things, it's not still part of some magic ballpark number everyone started with. Not that this is what happened to you, but it reminds me of some of my jobs...

Anyway, good luck with it all.

 

[ohiohomedoctor]

Did they buy the material?

 

[Stevarino]

Did they buy the material?

Nope I bought all the material. Thankfully the tile was cheap, but my material cost was still $800

 

[Stevarino]

What kind of waterproofing? Customers are almost never in touch with reality.

Rubber membrane and a thin set skim coat we didn't use any red devil or anything on this job.

 

[tenon0774]

Well, at least you got to eat that week. :whistling

Yeah that's low.

WAY low.

 

[Tech Dawg]

Maybe base your pricing on your closing %. If you sell all the jobs you quote then your prices are way low. For me, I have a 40% close rate which works for me. You'll find that by raising your prices will lessen the headaches and gain you better clients.

 

[Texas Wax]

Rubber membrane and a thin set skim coat we didn't use any red devil or anything on this job.

How many days and men to finish?


They Balked - When you presented the bid or after knowing the bid and come time to write the check?

 

[EthanB]

Maybe base your pricing on your closing %. If you sell all the jobs you quote then your prices are way low. For me, I have a 40% close rate which works for me. You'll find that by raising your prices will lessen the headaches and gain you better clients.

This is good advice but shouldn't be considered until you learn that L+M+O+P=Price. What someone else charges is only relevant if they are using the exact same specifications and are in your market area. Otherwise it's all piss in the wind.

L=Labor
M=Materials
O=Overhead
P=Profit

I linked the thread in my signature.

 

[Oconomowoc]

My first attempt at pricing was as follows....

Called every plumber and asked what they charged per hour.

Took the highest guy and thought "Hmmmm, I like his style"

Backed her off about a 1/8 turn and gave her hell.

Been tweaking it ever since.

 

[Tech Dawg]

This is good advice but shouldn't be considered until you learn that L+M+O+P=Price. What someone else charges is only relevant if they are using the exact same specifications and are in your market area. Otherwise it's all piss in the wind.

L=Labor
M=Materials
O=Overhead
P=Profit

I linked the thread in my signature.

Very true. I always forget to add that calculation because thats been set in stone for years on my end :thumbup:

 

[Stevarino]

How many days and men to finish? They Balked - When you presented the bid or after knowing the bid and come time to write the check?

It took 3 days two of them it was me and one guy and one day it was just me.

 

[griz]

Sounds like you didn't even make wages...

L+M+O+P+Pita= Price....