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| Ek's Home | Forum | Chat | Electrical Links | |
| Subject - Share what you have learned in contracting. | |
| John A. Peters |
I learned this lesson. Do not not try to guess how much money a client might have, or not have. One time I did an estimate for a newlywed couple. I could tell they did not have very much money because they had just bought a house, they had hardly any furniture and they wanted me to give them the best price I could. I bid the job normally. Our surprised when they accepted my bid. It turned out that the mother-in-law paid for everything. She wanted to have a safe house for her daughter and son-in-law. I guess they lived happily ever after. |
| kbsparky | So true that is! I have also learned to stick by your price. Case-in-point: Submitted a price on Friday to a woman who needs a service change. She asked, "Is that your best price?" As if it wasn't! I explained that was the price, and it was my best effort. She then accepted the price, and said how soon can I do it? I guess she was trying to see she could nibble me down, but since I was recommended by another contractor (HVAC), she accepted anyways. IF I had dropped my price, it would only have taken profit out of my pocket, all other things being equal. On another occasion, I was $400 high on a $15000+ contract. They wanted me to beat the other guy's bid. I explained to them that I was "worth" the extra $400 and stuck by my guns, having done projects for them before. Not sure who the other bid was from, but they did award me the job within a week. When we are on a job, we are the most accessible sub-contractor there, always answering the phone, or returning calls promptly. Not so, with many outfits around here. -Ken |
| CooCooMike | who's to say the other guy ever existed. every one wants it done for nothing.then you get the people who won't hire you because they expect to pay a high price so they can brag to their friends "this---------- cost me umteen thousand dollars"( not that i have ever run across them ) |
| MONOLITH | quote: If they don't hire you, send them my way. I'll be happy to accomodate them. 
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| CooCooMike | Ah I should have been born rich instead of handsome. |