It would be less stressful for you to go to the bank and get a stack of $100 bills and light them on fire one by one

I've never done it, I had the same line of thought as you until I explored it further, I don't remember all the specifics but it was not great, you have zero control of any of it and as long as the customer doesn't complain you might get paid at the end

 

Yeah I'm not good with the "might get paid at the end thing." Thanks for sharing. I'd still like to hear from someone that has done a job for them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

What exactly do you mean by zero control? Is it a contract that you work exclusively for them? There is some value to me in being able to just show up and do the install without all the leg work. But I wonder about the issues like unexpected rot/termite damage. A water leak discovered on a cabinet demo and install. When I bid a job I've got my CYA policy in place. Would I just be expected to eat the cost of unknown/unforeseen issues?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I think you'd do better putting your business name on your truck and sitting in the Big Box store's parking lot.

I was on a job once where the laminate floor was purchased and ordered through Lowes or Home Depot. The installers worked through the store, also. They showed up, and ended up 2 pieces short. Not their fault, somebody else did the ordering. Stuff was special order, would be a couple weeks before another box showed up. Nobody gets paid until it's finished.

 

Like I said, I did not do it, but looked into it,

The box sets the price, you don't just show up you have to pick up materials from the box, put magnets from the box on your truck and wear a box t shirt, no up selling unless it goes through the box, trusting the boxes measurements, take off, and schedule. Disputes settled by the box.

Kind of a golden rule thing, he who was the gold, makes the rules

 

There is a reason why nobody in your area is doing it. The guys that are coming from a hour away are probably doing it just to keep HD happy so they get the work in their area.

You will have to do volume to make $$$ installing for the big box stores. I know in my area they have a national install service that handles all installations. At least for the flooring. They subcontract from HD and you sub from them. If you feel like being the pig at the end of the trough, go for it.

 

There is a reason why nobody in your area is doing it. The guys that are coming from a hour away are probably doing it just to keep HD happy so they get the work in their area.



You will have to do volume to make $$$ installing for the big box stores. I know in my area they have a national install service that handles all installations. At least for the flooring. They subcontract from HD and you sub from them. If you feel like being the pig at the end of the trough, go for it.

No y'all have pretty well talked me out of it. I kinda assumed that, but you never know until you ask


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I knew a guy that did that. He was an ace at installing doors. Made good money from what I saw. He moved up to a custom door company. This was about 10 yrs back.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I did HD for almost 10 years.
I got out when they went with district wide GC company. They wanted all the individuals to sign up with the district GC. The district GC was taking 30% cut and wanted to have their own guy measure.
No way.:no:

If your HD is still using individual installers and not a GC then I would say go for it.
You do the estimate and that means you add on the extras to make the money.

They have their basic charge but absolutely anything that deviates from a straight install you add on.

Capping-$
Replace old 8/4 oak threshold-$
RO not exactly what new prehung door mfg says-$
New kick board-$
Haul away old door-$
5/4 exterior trim-$
Interior casing needs to be ripped because door is in a corner-$

Like a car dealer luring in a customer with that one car they have on the lot for the cheap price.:laughing:

It's not for everyone though. You have to streamline your tools and thinking to get efficient.

 

I wish I had more specifics from experience, but the gist is the same. The install manager at the local Lowe's was begging me to be their window blinds installer, as well as other stuff.

When I got the "sign here" packet, and after an hour or so of my eyes bleeding from reading the fine print, I chose to walk away. The one detail I definitely remember was the double insurance - you had to pay for their insurance AND carry your own. Somewhere in their it also said they wouldn't be held liable for any defects in construction, everything is your fault, etc etc.

Pretty sure they'd find a way to blame a hurricane on you based on how they wrote it.

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

 

Tidbit of Info from my licence classes....HD is not licensed in any state and they will walk away from a job without payment.....so if you need a new roof....

 

I have. Run away... Fast.
My experience:
I installed doors. They sell, they measure, I install.
My first job, I showed up measured door, good..right size. I ripped out door and installed new. Beautiful install, wrong door. 3 weeks later, same job. Right door, wrong swing. (I didn't install, check EVERYTHING before install). few weeks later, got the right door installed.
3 separate trips, one install... and they wanted ME to pay for the first door I installed (the wrong one).

Another job.. showed up.. wrong door.. OK packed up moved on.

Another job.. Showed up with a door with a sidelight. Home has a 3'0" door, no sidelight. I explain to the HO the issue, and the associated costs to install a 4'6" door in a 3'0" opening.. SURPRISE, the estimator/salesman didn't explain none of that.
Pack it up..
Go back a week later, the HO has agreed to the additional costs.
Install door/framing/ new trim, etc...

get paid for basic install. When I balked, they said it wasn't agreed upon. The original estimator is no longer with them, and I did all this work, and supplied the additional materials, All to be paid my basic install price. (which barely covered the materials).

This wasn't a few bad days over several years... this was 4 MONTHS. 4 F%*@ING months.

 

Go back a week later, the HO has agreed to the additional costs.
Install door/framing/ new trim, etc...

get paid for basic install. When I balked, they said it wasn't agreed upon. The original estimator is no longer with them, and I did all this work, and supplied the additional materials, All to be paid my basic install price. (which barely covered the materials).

This wasn't a few bad days over several years... this was 4 MONTHS. 4 F%*@ING months.

"HO agreed to additional costs"

You got paid for standard install. So I take it BB got to keep all the additional costs?

 

I've subbed for big boxes. They pay on time, but when they put your labor on sale, you're expected to play along. The accounts are valuable.

 

They advertise free carpet installion all the time. I wonder if their carpet installers are required to work for free during those sales?

 

I've done it for a few years now. It has worked out well for me. They do the marketing, they do the sales, I do the work and submit an invoice and in 4 to 5 days the money is direct deposited into my bank.
I have made some good clients from them and since they require a lead rrp license that helped me land about $350k in Forest Service work this summer.(that's big for me)
I'm sure it varies from region to region but they give me a lot of revenue and my profit margins are pretty good

 

What would be the best way to go about getting hooked up with a box store like this? I'd like to try it out for gutter installs.

 

They don't sell seamless gutters so they might not be interested?

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/become-installer-home-depot-39787.html

 

Plain fact is, some installers have figured out how to make it work subbing for HD & friends.

The one time I used HD for carpet, the guy who showed up with two helpers - would have met my criteria for quality on a new build.

Asked him about it, and he said he'd been doing HD installs for years. He does good installs, and HD pays on time & gives him good jobs.

On the flip side, I am at the mercy of HD for scheduling. It's a damned good thing I had the option time-wise for the HD install, or I'd of been hurting.

A year later, I priced getting glue-down carpet from HD, Lowes & Menards. Cheap installed price - but had to install myself because did not have the luxury of waiting a month for an install date.

Likewise, I shopped the local carpet store - their price was just about double, and gave me "we can possibly squeeze you in in two weeks".

Also not acceptable - so I got to learn how to install glue down carpet.

If I had gone to my regular carpet store, I could have given them a date, and they would have made it happen.

 

never even crossed my mind to work for those outfits. No effing way I'd take that on.