Knowing your value is so important as as trades person especially a self-employed person. Not all plumbers are the same, we each bring our own set of experience and qualities/level of integrity to a job. If you are honest, know your stuff and are conscientious then you should charge accordingly. I don’t charge an hourly rate anymore and haven’t for a while… you don’t want to be punished for being more efficient! The changes we make to a property are there for many years… not 2 hours. If I ever feel undervalued before I’ve even started the job then I won’t do it. All the best to you all! Know your worth!
Has the other plumber been paid for the work hes done, is that why they cant get hold of him. Id be very cautious, you know we have to be detectives in this game, theres a lot of people out there that try it on.
Hi Mark. I'm not a tradesman, but I am having a lot of work done on my house at the moment. If you quoted me £300 for that job, I'd think that was reasonable. Fully support local trade people. It's not like buying something that has been manufactured... you guys go into jobs and use your experience and knowledge to make things work. That's what we pay for 👍
Thank you for this! As someone having not long started out as self employed it is great to hear your reasoning and seeing how in real life (not sat at the college desk) prices and estimates are worked out for clients. Finding your videos super helpful as you verbalise what you are doing and why.
Hi am 37 , worked from 16 to 33 in various warehouses etc. Just done initial exam, but failed acs on practical. Just seems so much to it. Unsure to do for 2nd attempt. Thanks videos showing real world!
Do we really earn what people think we earn….. the answer is no!!! Here’s a little overview of the difference in a “Priced” job and an “hourly rate” job…… it’s what people don’t understand…..or appreciate
It's so much easier to give estimates than quotes, covers you from the get go. Really surprised more people don't give estimates. If I quoted every job I'd quote hundreds over just to cover myself and potentially price myself out of the job
Great vid Mark. I’d do £200 plus materials. Then move to an hourly rate at £50 per hour to sort any problems left behind by the previous plumber. Covered both ways then. Looking forward to to seeing how this one goes and whether it all works when pressurised
I had a figure of a minimum £300 to take into account any unknown problems. Based in the South East. The fact you were called in to complete another person's job must be appreciated by the customer so in my mind they have to pay for that privilege! Thanks for your content it's so helpful and interesting!
In the South East, especially London, customers expect to be bent over as soon as the tradesman walks in. If they went up to somewhere like Yorkshire they'd probably be lynched in the town centre.
As an estate manager for 50 properties in the south east UK I'd be biting your hand off to come and get the system up and running at that price (and be extremely thankful that I managed to get hold of a reliable tradesman). I would probably also accept a quote of £250 to do the rad/TRV installs and system fill, but have to accept a caveat of additional charges by the hour to rectify faults exposed on the system you had no direct influence on. Either way if you did the job, it would certainly be followed up with a case of beer as a thanks for getting me out a situation and to keep you sweet for further work! Great vid Mark :)
There are a large number of trades people who undervalue themselves, then it makes those that charge reasonable prices look expensive. Considering there is a shortage of trades people, then trades people really shouldn't be discounting their prices. I know good trades people working all hours, not because they hate going home, but because they need the money. When I've questioned what they charge, it becomes clear that they are undervaluing their skills and not charging enough. Some trades people are really good at what they do, but some are not so good at running a business.
I would fill after i did the rads. Wit the customer understanding any leaks elsewhere are extra t repair. I would check the drain offs and vents are shut. Minimum i would charge is £280. This would allow your mate to get a drink on top
I've got the same kind of pricing structure with all the escorts around here. They give you a fixed quote of £100 for a pop, if you go after 5 mins you ain't getting a discount it's still £100. If you're still going hammer and tongs 90 mins later like me then it's still £100. Some you win some you lose but a happy customer means repeat business and you hopefully claw back your losses on the next shift. Karma and all that jazz.
On a big house now a days I fit a filling loop up in the loft by the tank and a gate valve . Turn off the gate valve to the tank , speed fit on vent and then turn on filling loop . Works every time . I was caught out on a huge job years ago and I was there for hours trying to full this system. For the time it takes to cut in a loop it's well worth it . Also if you work there again it's a nice thing to have in place .
Great vid Mark. I'd say £300 as well inc materials and state if there are problems on the refill not related to my work done, this will be quotable to rectify. I'd most likely do a dry air pressure test when all rads are on and add that in the price
Put the rads on then fill with caution. Tell customer a price for the two rads. Any issues found with others work is charged at an additional hourly rate.
Hi Mark, I would expect to pay round about £400 for that job to be done. Keep up the great work Mark and keep the videos coming. I am a service engineer for commercial Dishwashers and Glasswashers.
In Melbourne Aus we used to charge $220.00 call out incl 1 st 30 mins then $120.00 p/hr plus 10% gst (vat) To move radiator i used to allow 4 hrs, then an extra 1hr for extra radiators, we only charged a hourly rate if the job was to run over a few days. Plus we have mainly sealed systems. Prices have since gone up and now its around $240.$250 call out and At least $140 p/hr I think $1 is equal to about 60p. Jeez i forgot how small english bathrooms are!
Thankyou mate, kind words……. When other tradesman comment and can relate to the content I’m making it shows what I’m putting out is “real world plumbing”
Hi Mark, that bathroom is coming on nicely now. I think you are correct at £300, but if any problems with the other plumbers work or the boiler, that would be extra. As you have said before, always cover yourself. A very interesting film, have a great rest of the week, take care, regards, Chris. 👍👍👍
I always estimate , the top of my printed price says estimate . That’s my get out if anyone says “ but you quoted etc” I now usually charge £40 an hour if it’s local , £150 for half day , £250 for a one off 8 hour day , when I do my bathroom renovations where I can be on a job for up to 12 days , then I charge £230 per day , plus contingency if estimating . You always have to charge more if you’re back and forth on the same job over a few weeks
Great video. I got a firm in few weeks ago to take a small rad off as all the pipe work is 10mm and made a pigs ear of the olive last time i done it myself. I drained the system before he came round. Told them I wanted it brass capped off. The guy turned up and said he doesn’t bother with olives and just hacksaws the pipe below. Then puts plastic caps on try’s to fill the system but both start to drip, so has to drain system again then can’t find 10mm brass caps in van and drives off for 40mins. Comes back puts it not fills the system…….£175! Based in billericay.
Would like to speak about my experience. I had a guy from same country as me and he gave me a quote for bathroom pipe work without Doing anything on walls and toilet. I wanted to exchange place of the bath ,sink and the electric shower. Also, to put a new towel radiator as replacing the old one . I wanted to keep the pipes as they are for the towel radiator and use elbow to connect it. He had to do extension of pipes and to connect the taps etc. He asked for £900 including all the pipes and stuff he needed. I found it quite expensive and decided doing it myself. I bought everything I needed for £230 and I found the installation quite easy and actually I am enjoying it. Thanks for the good videos and the information about prices etc.
Changed 7 rad valves on an old open vent system ... with a 26 yr old boiler badly sludged .. new Trvs done in 3 hrs .. badly air locked another 2 hrs .. all good when leaving .. get a call that evening no heat.. only to return the next day the circulating pump had gone .. the woman was so pissed .. like it was my fault .. the man was cool he got it !!!
I'm not a tradesman, but I've dealt with many. With my bathroom refit they all did the same. 1) Look at the quality of the houses on the road 2) assess the cars in the area. 3) Talk to me about my car more than the job. 4) probe into other renovations and guess the value it will add. 5) look up the pay of a BA long haul pilot 6) arrive at a price after 3 weeks of chasing.
Well sir you were not dealing with tradesman but seem to have attracted all the rouges that could not make it as a used car salesman. Or have I just countered my argument with another stereotype🤔
@@Smartie40. car salesmen are no angels, however they differ by being motivated to work and typically try to do a deal, however dubious it may be. Tradesmen tend to pick and choose more and are not afraid of really rinsing the public, presumably to cover the time on the sofa. A recommendation from a fairly wealthy but nieve friend, typically results in a high quote.
Great video to the insight of getting tradesmen in. I’m a competent DIYer I would have said about £350 on the understanding that if anything leaked that you did not touch was not covered and would be extra. Based north west UK
I would say you were about right apart from I would say, Price doesn’t include any leaks upstairs or any damage caused if it does leak so I can’t price it until the system is pressurised and tested if there is any problems
Yes Mark retired now but caught many times. You can spend an hour or more hanging the rad if the wall I plasterboard fitting pieces of wood for fixings etc. Then the old favourite stop cock leaking as soon as you touch it rad valves leaking or passing they were allright before that old chestnut I think your pricing is about right mate, go safe buddy.
I'm a plumber, 40 years experience and I would give an if all goes well price, 300 quid. Actually chemicals as well and you don't even know if the boiler works. I think if all goes well price applies. May be stick ballofix on the rad pipes and fill up first then you will know all you need to
Airlocks just kill me! Servicing a boiler when the customer says 'whilst you're here, could you just change this radiator valve'? On occasion it could be 4hrs later and your heads gone!!!!!
Level 2 in training, handyman soloists. I would say £200 (£30 per TRV+£70 per rad) + parts. Strictly - no warranty on other guy's system, only on my workmanship. Invoiced. Hmmm - lots to learn, then... But when I say £150 for the fully tiled bathtub tap change 40 miles away, customer says I'm too expensive. Float valve change: I said £30+parts as it was next door to another job - some kamikaze did it for £25. Solent area.
Hi Mark, Coming at you from Sydney, Australia Im a Plumber myself 300 pound sounds about right converted to AUD, here in Sydney it would probably be a fair bit more considering that our prices for copper and materials are dear. Love your content mate keep doing what you do!
Exactly what I thought in end. Not only getting all your years of expertise. But a TH-cam celebrity lol to boot. I would be also wondering the same with filling up too. Especially tiled walls too. Better get filled quick before a lot more gets done too. Good video and well explained too 👍👍
Would be doing an air pressure test on the system before installing anything, if the original plumber didn't make all the connections the repair bill for any water leak would eat away any profit on the job. Its also a good condition of the quote so if it passes the pressure test job is x, if it doesn't then hourly rate to find and fix the original pipework then x to add the new rads.
About £250 -£300 any problems with the system due to other plumber would be extra charges at hourly rate £40 and I would let the client know that first.
I'm a DIYer and work as a handyman although I don't really do plumbing. I know how to change a radiator, add valves and the old bits of plumbing work but not full-on plumber by any means. Hypothetically if I were to do this I would charge £350.
Agrrreee.. 1000% recent mate I suffer this pricing thingy in London almost makes me wanna do nothing lots of the time.. lol.. erfect working Tiff.. lovely work mate
I am a plumber. I never got paid per hour. I wouldn't accept it. I just gave a price and that's it, take it or leave it. If the client was thinking I was to expensive I would try explain the costs but I never accepted clients saying per hour or haggling. Your price is your price.
To be honest with you mate, given your experience with this customer I would hazard a guess the plumber not returning was more about the customer than the plumber. I would charge at my hourly rate and explain the possible issues you may find after piping up. These jobs can become a bloody nightmare tbh.
Used to have the same problems mate . Charged £80 fixed rate for a toilet repair ( fill valve / flush valve swap etc) in the hope it would take me an hour. Then you get rusted wing nuts , rusted screws , leaks etc . I charge hourly for small jobs now !
Hello Mark, I would price that at £350.00 all in for piping up the 2 rads and fitting 2 trv's to the existing 2 rads,If there was an issue with the other rads the address them and price accordingly. I'm a plumber in Surrey (South East). Good luck with it. Regards Mark
i quoted a bathroom refit some 5 years ago. Quoted £6300. customer said can i price match another quote of £2800 . I said not a chance. Got a phone call 3 weeks later with the lady crying can i help as the (so called ) plumber has walked off the job and there's water coming through the ceiling and they now have no bathroom. I was need deep in jobs so couldn't help . in the end she used dynorod to stop the leak. must have cost a fortune!! . you will always get folks jumping for the cheapest and sadly cowboys know this and ask for cash up front!!. It sad really but you're right if you state £90 for a job folks think thats your hourly rate!!. never underestimate the stupidity of folk!!!
I reckon 300 is reasonable, I would also pressure test the system with a compressor for 30 mins at 2 bar before filling the system and charge £60 an hour plus material costs for any further repairs that the previous plumber had left
£325.00 as long as it all went well, if water came through the ceiling i'd have to drain down and make it safe, i'd still want my £325.00, i'd then quote to find the leak and repair as a seperate job or do it on my hourly rate. Im a plumber, been on the tools since 1987, run a small business now and have done for 20 years, im basically a one man band with a cpl subbies when im busy, people/customers do not realise that it costs me about 10 grand a year just to be able to trade and be available to work, im running a business not just working for my wages, the business has to make a small profit just like all other businesses do otherwise I may aswell go and work for B.G. get a van, phone, holiday/sick pay and a pension.
That's $83 cdn hr. Most plumber's here charge $100+ hr. Canada. Install heaters fill and test system after informing customer only your work is guaranteed.
Years ago I was a postman. People used to complain to me about paying less than £1 for posting a Christmas card from N. Ireland to England, I always told them to take a plane over, deliver it themselves - then see how the costs work out. Some people want you to work for nothing. 🙄
Another great video Mark, I would say £300 but extra if you have any issues relating to the work the other plumber carried out. You echoed my comments on your video with paying for your skills to do the job in 4 hours. That bathroom job is coming on nicely.
Good video what you said makes sense. Also i would say most people would prefer people in their house for a shorter time if you can get the same good finish due to your experience. Im not a trade but have mates that are and they get this issue quite a bit
I would quote the same for the job if within half hr drive. I would turn all valves off on rads b4 filling same with hot and cold if possible if any leaks on existing charge according to time spent 1st hr free as good will then say £30.00 per hr after plus matsas ur there already. Done 40 years 12 brit gas 28 self. Glad 2 b out of it now but miss the banter with people
In my game (Professional Services/Contracting) all work is either Time & Materials (i.e. day rate) or Fixed Outcome, the only way it can be done really as on average the short "money makers" make up for the long, unexpected "money eaters". Seems the same for people in the trade which makes complete sense, a lot of people just don't have any experience or knowledge of how non-salaried roles/jobs work meaning they think you're taking them for a ride!
Heres my little diy plumber story. Wanted the remove a rad, get wall plastered, replace rad. Obviously requiring two visits by a plumber cuz i didnt have a clue. Well, job one was remove rad which was soo easy as the pipes had isolation valves. Sixty quid gone in a minute. Wtf?? So I put the rad back myself and since then have fitted another rad making up my own pipes, replaced the pipe at the back of the lav, installed a bath, and can isolate a rad to add inhibitor in the top hole by screwing in a 90 degree elbow and using a funnel. . Im actually glad that plumber ripped me up for 60 sovs as i made me find out that in fact loads of plumbing jobs don’t even require a proper plumber.
Great video again. I don’t think people will understand about being self employed and being on the cards unless they have experienced both types employment. £350, good price, will you be filming this if you get the job? Bit of a mystery why the boiler wasnt filled and pressure tested, hidden gremlins! 😂
Being a retired Plumber i think £300 all in , is what i would charge with no guarantee when the system is filled up, there wont be problem i.e leaks on the other side and boiler fault etc....
I think that as well as the £300 for the rads and valves I’d add another item to recommission the boiler / heating system on an hourly basis - to cover for unknown unknowns.
In the US, we call it "flat rate" vs "Time & Material" Both ways work fine. Plumbers aren't getting rich. Neither are carpenters or electricians. "making a living- not a killing"
The costing for a job! I am a plumber and have always charged a price for the job and if anyone say's 'That's £50 an hour' I say you are not paying for my time you are paying for my experience just as you would for your Solicitor'. Its one of those anomalies - the more experienced you are the quicker the job! I never do an hourly rate so todays job was typical. Radiator not heating. Open system!! Change the trv as a precaution. Connect hose to top of radiator and draw off water from each pipe. Still no heat so 2 hours into the job. Turn off all radiators and wait. Still no heat. Draw off more from top and bottom of radiator and eventually it started to get hot. No idea why it took so long but an air lock can be a bugger. I would have charged £80 for trv change and bleeding. I'm seeing him in the pub to try to get about £120!! For your other job. I would have disconnected the old pipework and capped off then filled nd powered the system up to see that what AN Other had done worked. If it did I'd do all the pipework for the new rads and then one connection to the 'live' pipework with a compression fitting. £200 plus 'additional' if previous plumber faults.
realising Im charging too little for my skillbase I would have said £210 with materials, and hanging the rads in the process. I like your pricing I do bathrooms too I need to sort some more videos out. Great Video and thanks again for the knowledge. Derbyshire ...
Hi Marc. Great video. I'd go with £120 per rad then £50 for pipe, fittings and inhibitor etc. So £300 is about right 👏 . However, you would move into an hourly rate if they are issues post fill up. You can't price for what you cannot see or is outside of your control. I refused a garage conversion job once because the build quality was appalling. Those alarm bells starting ringing when I was asked to finish off all the plumbing and the shower room. Based on what I saw I walked away. I wasn't putting my name and reputation on that! 😂 Keep up the great work 👏. See you on Sunday night.
For me quoted jobs on the whole are better, I always quote worst case, 90% of the time it's not that bad, hourly is fine though, if a customer queries the quote once I've done I say, would you pay me more if it took longer than I allowed? Great video, top work
£350 if they was supplying everything also if there’s any other issues upstairs another price would have be agreed before I touched someone else’s work
Apprentice myself, pricing nixers is the worst 🤣 you forgot to add going merchants to collect radiators - materials. Have got caught out on unvented system myself. Always one radiator... Good vid mate
I think I'd put an air pressure test on and if there's any issues say it'll have to be hourly. The boiler might not have worked before it was drained down. I've had that before and the old "it worked fine before you came" scenario. But in principle £300 seems decent. I get very paranoid on jobs like this😁😁
People get it wrong I have heard this from customers towards tradesman so many times they don't understand your paying for 30 plus years of experience. Its insulting to be honest in my personal experience I say get a cowboy In to bodge it but I won't be accepting the phone call to put it right. BTW love your channel mate
The problem is nowadays people dont want to pay the priced quote IF you are too quick and looking for discount.. If extra problems then there can also be an extra charge regardless if quote , more often than not l would say nowadays... In other words customers want their cake and to eat it !!
£150 plus materials with a caveat stating an hourly rate of £60 for any additional works not included in the original quote. You could do that in 2 hours easily enough depending on the system.
If I were the punter I'd like to discuss it with you and probably work on an hourly rate. Regarding the fill first or not I'd simply ask if it were your house how you would like to proceed with it. I just never understand why people don't put corrosion inhibitor in their systems.
I’m bang on what you are charging mate for those rads and valves £300, I’d add on a clause that any issues found after it’s filled up will incur extra costs depending on the issue (knowing that the last plumber is uncontactable) just to cover yourself.
Good Video Mark, Because Dave is a Mate £300 is a decent price to spend a day there get the job done allowing for one or two possible problems and having a bit of banter, If it is random customer calling would definitely make you think what happened to the last plumber I’d say £400 - £450 for the same job
It really does depend where you are in the country IMO. I would only wanna pay £200 in Portsmouth max sorry, £300, sounds like London prices. Up north I'd expect to pay less. I get you having to cover if things go wrong but also depends if you're supplying the TRV or the customer is, and how decent a TRV it is too. You do you mate. If a client can't afford it they find someone else, save up or learn to do it themselves.
Hi mark. Another interesting video. I've always wondered what other plumbing & heating guys would charge. Sometimes I think I don't charge enough. But after watching this video and reading the comments, I would have have priced that job at £300 materials and labour, but any issues with heating system or boiler would have to be fixed on hourly rate.
Knowing your value is so important as as trades person especially a self-employed person. Not all plumbers are the same, we each bring our own set of experience and qualities/level of integrity to a job. If you are honest, know your stuff and are conscientious then you should charge accordingly. I don’t charge an hourly rate anymore and haven’t for a while… you don’t want to be punished for being more efficient! The changes we make to a property are there for many years… not 2 hours. If I ever feel undervalued before I’ve even started the job then I won’t do it. All the best to you all! Know your worth!
Thanks buddy… great comment
How much can a self employed plumber make that isn't gas certified? Thinking of getting back into it.
Has the other plumber been paid for the work hes done, is that why they cant get hold of him.
Id be very cautious, you know we have to be detectives in this game, theres a lot of people out there that try it on.
Hi Mark. I'm not a tradesman, but I am having a lot of work done on my house at the moment. If you quoted me £300 for that job, I'd think that was reasonable. Fully support local trade people. It's not like buying something that has been manufactured... you guys go into jobs and use your experience and knowledge to make things work. That's what we pay for 👍
Thanks buddy….. 👍🏼👍🏼
Agreed
100% agree with the pricing element mate. So many people don't understand all the other costs/expenses we incur being self employed
Exactly mate…… putting it out there just gives people a view of what we have to deal with
Thank you for this! As someone having not long started out as self employed it is great to hear your reasoning and seeing how in real life (not sat at the college desk) prices and estimates are worked out for clients. Finding your videos super helpful as you verbalise what you are doing and why.
Thanks for the kind words mate
Hi am 37 , worked from 16 to 33 in various warehouses etc.
Just done initial exam, but failed acs on practical. Just seems so much to it. Unsure to do for 2nd attempt. Thanks videos showing real world!
Do we really earn what people think we earn….. the answer is no!!!
Here’s a little overview of the difference in a “Priced” job and an “hourly rate” job…… it’s what people don’t understand…..or appreciate
I am a heating engineer and just before you revealed your price I said £325:00. I think you’re spot on
It's so much easier to give estimates than quotes, covers you from the get go. Really surprised more people don't give estimates. If I quoted every job I'd quote hundreds over just to cover myself and potentially price myself out of the job
Yeah I'm the same I give estimates and all my quotes are only valid for 2 weeks
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I’m a spark and that’s what I do 👍
Problem is I can guarantee 9/10 trades people don’t say it cost less than the estimate.
Great vid Mark. I’d do £200 plus materials. Then move to an hourly rate at £50 per hour to sort any problems left behind by the previous plumber. Covered both ways then. Looking forward to to seeing how this one goes and whether it all works when pressurised
Thanks mate, I’m on it tomorrow so we will see👌🏼😉
I would agree with this pricing too 👍
Odd how it's always "the previous plumber" who gets the blame
£50 an hour all that is wrong with plumbers
@@sempereadem54eadem64 Minimum here is £60
I had a figure of a minimum £300 to take into account any unknown problems. Based in the South East.
The fact you were called in to complete another person's job must be appreciated by the customer so in my mind they have to pay for that privilege!
Thanks for your content it's so helpful and interesting!
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In the South East, especially London, customers expect to be bent over as soon as the tradesman walks in. If they went up to somewhere like Yorkshire they'd probably be lynched in the town centre.
As an estate manager for 50 properties in the south east UK I'd be biting your hand off to come and get the system up and running at that price (and be extremely thankful that I managed to get hold of a reliable tradesman). I would probably also accept a quote of £250 to do the rad/TRV installs and system fill, but have to accept a caveat of additional charges by the hour to rectify faults exposed on the system you had no direct influence on. Either way if you did the job, it would certainly be followed up with a case of beer as a thanks for getting me out a situation and to keep you sweet for further work! Great vid Mark :)
Thanks mate, appreciate that and also appreciate that you as an estate manager respect what a good tradesman charges…. Not many do sometimes….👌🏼👏🏼
There are a large number of trades people who undervalue themselves, then it makes those that charge reasonable prices look expensive.
Considering there is a shortage of trades people, then trades people really shouldn't be discounting their prices. I know good trades people working all hours, not because they hate going home, but because they need the money. When I've questioned what they charge, it becomes clear that they are undervaluing their skills and not charging enough.
Some trades people are really good at what they do, but some are not so good at running a business.
Agree buddy….
I would fill after i did the rads. Wit the customer understanding any leaks elsewhere are extra t repair. I would check the drain offs and vents are shut.
Minimum i would charge is £280. This would allow your mate to get a drink on top
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I've got the same kind of pricing structure with all the escorts around here. They give you a fixed quote of £100 for a pop, if you go after 5 mins you ain't getting a discount it's still £100. If you're still going hammer and tongs 90 mins later like me then it's still £100. Some you win some you lose but a happy customer means repeat business and you hopefully claw back your losses on the next shift. Karma and all that jazz.
Brilliant 🤣🤣
Lol your knees are ruined bet they laugh at ya
@@dmheatingplumbing9805 Set of Dewalt knee pads from the van pal, jobs a good 'un 👌
I am a new plumber and I think your prices are very good and thanks for giving us these info keep up the good work
Thanks buddy 👍🏼👍🏼
On a big house now a days I fit a filling loop up in the loft by the tank and a gate valve . Turn off the gate valve to the tank , speed fit on vent and then turn on filling loop . Works every time . I was caught out on a huge job years ago and I was there for hours trying to full this system. For the time it takes to cut in a loop it's well worth it . Also if you work there again it's a nice thing to have in place .
Very good idea that 👍🏼👍🏼
Great vid Mark. I'd say £300 as well inc materials and state if there are problems on the refill not related to my work done, this will be quotable to rectify. I'd most likely do a dry air pressure test when all rads are on and add that in the price
Video coming this Sunday of the job😉👍🏼
Put the rads on then fill with caution. Tell customer a price for the two rads. Any issues found with others work is charged at an additional hourly rate.
Exactly that mate👍🏼👌🏼
Hi Mark, I would expect to pay round about £400 for that job to be done. Keep up the great work Mark and keep the videos coming. I am a service engineer for commercial Dishwashers and Glasswashers.
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The joys of being self employed and people not understanding, exactly the same as the motor trade and being a mechanic and the business owner
Yep seems to be across the board buddy
In Melbourne Aus we used to charge $220.00 call out incl 1 st 30 mins then $120.00 p/hr plus 10% gst (vat)
To move radiator i used to allow 4 hrs, then an extra 1hr for extra radiators, we only charged a hourly rate if the job was to run over a few days. Plus we have mainly sealed systems.
Prices have since gone up and now its around $240.$250 call out and At least $140 p/hr
I think $1 is equal to about 60p. Jeez i forgot how small english bathrooms are!
Nice insight buddy
I am a tradesman and I really enjoy watching your vids. I can relate a lot
Thankyou mate, kind words……. When other tradesman comment and can relate to the content I’m making it shows what I’m putting out is “real world plumbing”
Hi Mark, that bathroom is coming on nicely now.
I think you are correct at £300, but if any problems with the other plumbers work or the boiler, that would be extra.
As you have said before, always cover yourself. A very interesting film, have a great rest of the week, take care, regards, Chris. 👍👍👍
Exactly that Chris 😉👍🏼👍🏼…… I’m doing it tomorrow😉
@@MJTiffPlumbing I hope all goes well for you, 👍👍👍
£300 labour. Materials and parts additional.
Any additional parts needed for a potential leak will be priced in later to rectify the job.
London based
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I always estimate , the top of my printed price says estimate .
That’s my get out if anyone says “ but you quoted etc”
I now usually charge £40 an hour if it’s local , £150 for half day , £250 for a one off 8 hour day , when I do my bathroom renovations where I can be on a job for up to 12 days , then I charge £230 per day , plus contingency if estimating . You always have to charge more if you’re back and forth on the same job over a few weeks
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Great video. I got a firm in few weeks ago to take a small rad off as all the pipe work is 10mm and made a pigs ear of the olive last time i done it myself. I drained the system before he came round. Told them I wanted it brass capped off. The guy turned up and said he doesn’t bother with olives and just hacksaws the pipe below. Then puts plastic caps on try’s to fill the system but both start to drip, so has to drain system again then can’t find 10mm brass caps in van and drives off for 40mins. Comes back puts it not fills the system…….£175! Based in billericay.
Your old him😉👍🏼
£300 plus materials is what I would quote Bud 👍👍
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Would like to speak about my experience. I had a guy from same country as me and he gave me a quote for bathroom pipe work without Doing anything on walls and toilet. I wanted to exchange place of the bath ,sink and the electric shower. Also, to put a new towel radiator as replacing the old one . I wanted to keep the pipes as they are for the towel radiator and use elbow to connect it. He had to do extension of pipes and to connect the taps etc. He asked for £900 including all the pipes and stuff he needed. I found it quite expensive and decided doing it myself. I bought everything I needed for £230 and I found the installation quite easy and actually I am enjoying it. Thanks for the good videos and the information about prices etc.
Changed 7 rad valves on an old open vent system ... with a 26 yr old boiler badly sludged .. new Trvs done in 3 hrs .. badly air locked another 2 hrs .. all good when leaving .. get a call that evening no heat.. only to return the next day the circulating pump had gone .. the woman was so pissed .. like it was my fault .. the man was cool he got it !!!
This is what people don’t see or understand
good video thaT mate ive being pumbing for 12 year now and thinking of setting up these videos really help cheers m8
Glad you like them mate
My price was exactly the same as yours before you said it, a fair price for the job
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I'm not a tradesman, but I've dealt with many. With my bathroom refit they all did the same.
1) Look at the quality of the houses on the road
2) assess the cars in the area.
3) Talk to me about my car more than the job.
4) probe into other renovations and guess the value it will add.
5) look up the pay of a BA long haul pilot
6) arrive at a price after 3 weeks of chasing.
And that’s exactly what I don’t do…..👌🏼
Well sir you were not dealing with tradesman but seem to have attracted all the rouges that could not make it as a used car salesman. Or have I just countered my argument with another stereotype🤔
@@Smartie40. car salesmen are no angels, however they differ by being motivated to work and typically try to do a deal, however dubious it may be. Tradesmen tend to pick and choose more and are not afraid of really rinsing the public, presumably to cover the time on the sofa.
A recommendation from a fairly wealthy but nieve friend, typically results in a high quote.
Great video to the insight of getting tradesmen in. I’m a competent DIYer I would have said about £350 on the understanding that if anything leaked that you did not touch was not covered and would be extra. Based north west UK
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I would say you were about right apart from I would say, Price doesn’t include any leaks upstairs or any damage caused if it does leak so I can’t price it until the system is pressurised and tested if there is any problems
Exactly that mate
Yes Mark retired now but caught many times. You can spend an hour or more hanging the rad if the wall I plasterboard fitting pieces of wood for fixings etc. Then the old favourite stop cock leaking as soon as you touch it rad valves leaking or passing they were allright before that old chestnut I think your pricing is about right mate, go safe buddy.
Always something isn’t there buddy
I'm a plumber, 40 years experience and I would give an if all goes well price, 300 quid. Actually chemicals as well and you don't even know if the boiler works. I think if all goes well price applies. May be stick ballofix on the rad pipes and fill up first then you will know all you need to
Cheers buddy….👍🏼👍🏼
I normally charge £250 a rad,
Supplied and fitted.
But I will always change the pipe work under the floor so the tails are new copper showing.
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I am a plumber!! Love the videos. From Scotland. £300 spot on. Keep up the great work.
👍🏼👍🏼spot on budy
Airlocks just kill me! Servicing a boiler when the customer says 'whilst you're here, could you just change this radiator valve'? On occasion it could be 4hrs later and your heads gone!!!!!
Completely agree mate
Level 2 in training, handyman soloists. I would say £200 (£30 per TRV+£70 per rad) + parts. Strictly - no warranty on other guy's system, only on my workmanship. Invoiced. Hmmm - lots to learn, then... But when I say £150 for the fully tiled bathtub tap change 40 miles away, customer says I'm too expensive. Float valve change: I said £30+parts as it was next door to another job - some kamikaze did it for £25. Solent area.
That price sounds bang on, considering 2 TRVs. two new rads and then filling and bleeding the system.
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Hi Mark, Coming at you from Sydney, Australia
Im a Plumber myself 300 pound sounds about right converted to AUD, here in Sydney it would probably be a fair bit more considering that our prices for copper and materials are dear.
Love your content mate keep doing what you do!
Thanks buddy….. love that your watching the channel over there👌🏼👍🏼👍🏼…..
Exactly what I thought in end. Not only getting all your years of expertise. But a TH-cam celebrity lol to boot. I would be also wondering the same with filling up too. Especially tiled walls too. Better get filled quick before a lot more gets done too. Good video and well explained too 👍👍
Thanks buddy 👍🏼👍🏼 it’s all done… video coming soon
Would be doing an air pressure test on the system before installing anything, if the original plumber didn't make all the connections the repair bill for any water leak would eat away any profit on the job. Its also a good condition of the quote so if it passes the pressure test job is x, if it doesn't then hourly rate to find and fix the original pipework then x to add the new rads.
Yep it’s been mentioned to the customer if there is any issues it’s not on me and it’s extra
About £250 -£300 any problems with the system due to other plumber would be extra charges at hourly rate £40 and I would let the client know that first.
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I'm a DIYer and work as a handyman although I don't really do plumbing. I know how to change a radiator, add valves and the old bits of plumbing work but not full-on plumber by any means. Hypothetically if I were to do this I would charge £350.
👍🏼👍🏼 yep around the same
Agrrreee.. 1000% recent mate I suffer this pricing thingy in London almost makes me wanna do nothing lots of the time.. lol.. erfect working Tiff.. lovely work mate
Thanks buddy
fixed price job, sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But you dont have any surprises and customers are prepared for the final bill.
Exactly mate
I general do quick jobs as jn quick repairs tap change ect on hourly. Anything install or drain down fixed price
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I am a plumber. I never got paid per hour. I wouldn't accept it.
I just gave a price and that's it, take it or leave it.
If the client was thinking I was to expensive I would try explain the costs but I never accepted clients saying per hour or haggling.
Your price is your price.
To be honest with you mate, given your experience with this customer I would hazard a guess the plumber not returning was more about the customer than the plumber. I would charge at my hourly rate and explain the possible issues you may find after piping up. These jobs can become a bloody nightmare tbh.
Video coming soon😉
Used to have the same problems mate . Charged £80 fixed rate for a toilet repair ( fill valve / flush valve swap etc) in the hope it would take me an hour. Then you get rusted wing nuts , rusted screws , leaks etc . I charge hourly for small jobs now !
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Hello Mark,
I would price that at £350.00 all in for piping up the 2 rads and fitting 2 trv's to the existing 2 rads,If there was an issue with the other rads the address them and price accordingly.
I'm a plumber in Surrey (South East).
Good luck with it.
Regards Mark
Thanks buddy 👍🏼👍🏼
i quoted a bathroom refit some 5 years ago. Quoted £6300. customer said can i price match another quote of £2800 . I said not a chance. Got a phone call 3 weeks later with the lady crying can i help as the (so called ) plumber has walked off the job and there's water coming through the ceiling and they now have no bathroom. I was need deep in jobs so couldn't help . in the end she used dynorod to stop the leak. must have cost a fortune!! . you will always get folks jumping for the cheapest and sadly cowboys know this and ask for cash up front!!. It sad really but you're right if you state £90 for a job folks think thats your hourly rate!!. never underestimate the stupidity of folk!!!
Completely get that mate…… people think cheap is good and it’s far from it
I reckon 300 is reasonable, I would also pressure test the system with a compressor for 30 mins at 2 bar before filling the system and charge £60 an hour plus material costs for any further repairs that the previous plumber had left
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Hi I’m in Surrey for what you described I would charge £400 inc pipe & fittings + the vat
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£325.00 as long as it all went well, if water came through the ceiling i'd have to drain down and make it safe, i'd still want my £325.00, i'd then quote to find the leak and repair as a seperate job or do it on my hourly rate. Im a plumber, been on the tools since 1987, run a small business now and have done for 20 years, im basically a one man band with a cpl subbies when im busy, people/customers do not realise that it costs me about 10 grand a year just to be able to trade and be available to work, im running a business not just working for my wages, the business has to make a small profit just like all other businesses do otherwise I may aswell go and work for B.G. get a van, phone, holiday/sick pay and a pension.
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Who's paying for the 30 mins sat waffling in the van though Tiffany? 🤣 Really good channel pal, credit where it's due 👏
You are…… by watching my channel🤣😉😉
Cheers buddy
That's $83 cdn hr. Most plumber's here charge $100+ hr. Canada. Install heaters fill and test system after informing customer only your work is guaranteed.
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Years ago I was a postman. People used to complain to me about paying less than £1 for posting a Christmas card from N. Ireland to England, I always told them to take a plane over, deliver it themselves - then see how the costs work out. Some people want you to work for nothing. 🙄
Another great video Mark, I would say £300 but extra if you have any issues relating to the work the other plumber carried out. You echoed my comments on your video with paying for your skills to do the job in 4 hours. That bathroom job is coming on nicely.
Exactly that buddy 👌🏼👌🏼👍🏼👍🏼
450 to 500 quid
2 rads
Trv change over
commissioning boiler
Covering yourself for any other mishap
Happy days south Yorkshire
Spot on mate 👍🏼👍🏼
Good video what you said makes sense. Also i would say most people would prefer people in their house for a shorter time if you can get the same good finish due to your experience. Im not a trade but have mates that are and they get this issue quite a bit
Thanks buddy👍🏼
I'm a plumber work on my own, Ltd company. £250 plus materials. I might consider air test the system first. Norfolk, UK
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I would quote the same for the job if within half hr drive.
I would turn all valves off on rads b4 filling same with hot and cold if possible if any leaks on existing charge according to time spent 1st hr free as good will then say £30.00 per hr after plus matsas ur there already.
Done 40 years 12 brit gas 28 self.
Glad 2 b out of it now but miss the banter with people
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as a felllow plumber watching along i said £300 as well. Fair price if you ask me dude
👍🏼👍🏼 cheers mate
In my game (Professional Services/Contracting) all work is either Time & Materials (i.e. day rate) or Fixed Outcome, the only way it can be done really as on average the short "money makers" make up for the long, unexpected "money eaters". Seems the same for people in the trade which makes complete sense, a lot of people just don't have any experience or knowledge of how non-salaried roles/jobs work meaning they think you're taking them for a ride!
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Heres my little diy plumber story. Wanted the remove a rad, get wall plastered, replace rad. Obviously requiring two visits by a plumber cuz i didnt have a clue.
Well, job one was remove rad which was soo easy as the pipes had isolation valves. Sixty quid gone in a minute. Wtf??
So I put the rad back myself and since then have fitted another rad making up my own pipes, replaced the pipe at the back of the lav, installed a bath, and can isolate a rad to add inhibitor in the top hole by screwing in a 90 degree elbow and using a funnel. .
Im actually glad that plumber ripped me up for 60 sovs as i made me find out that in fact loads of plumbing jobs don’t even require a proper plumber.
Great video again. I don’t think people will understand about being self employed and being on the cards unless they have experienced both types employment. £350, good price, will you be filming this if you get the job? Bit of a mystery why the boiler wasnt filled and pressure tested, hidden gremlins! 😂
Yep, doing it tomorrow funnily enough😉
£50 per TRV. £100 per radiator, including pipework needing doing. Sum total of £300.
😉👌🏼…. Perfect
Being a retired Plumber i think £300 all in , is what i would charge with no guarantee when the system is filled up, there wont be problem i.e leaks on the other side and boiler fault etc....
Spot on buddy
I would definitely fill and test that system before starting any work.
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I think that as well as the £300 for the rads and valves I’d add another item to recommission the boiler / heating system on an hourly basis - to cover for unknown unknowns.
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In the US, we call it "flat rate" vs "Time & Material" Both ways work fine. Plumbers aren't getting rich. Neither are carpenters or electricians. "making a living- not a killing"
👌🏼👌🏼👍🏼👍🏼 exactly that
Great video again Mark.. pricing spot on but with the warning if there's other leaks the price changes
Exactly that mate
Plus your time and diesel to assess the job and pricing the job as well
Indeed 👍🏼
Hit the nail on the head mate. I would charge £250. But word the quote accordingly for all the unknown factors. I am in Essex. 👍
Exactly that mate 👌🏼👍🏼
The costing for a job! I am a plumber and have always charged a price for the job and if anyone say's 'That's £50 an hour' I say you are not paying for my time you are paying for my experience just as you would for your Solicitor'. Its one of those anomalies - the more experienced you are the quicker the job! I never do an hourly rate so todays job was typical. Radiator not heating. Open system!! Change the trv as a precaution. Connect hose to top of radiator and draw off water from each pipe. Still no heat so 2 hours into the job. Turn off all radiators and wait. Still no heat. Draw off more from top and bottom of radiator and eventually it started to get hot. No idea why it took so long but an air lock can be a bugger.
I would have charged £80 for trv change and bleeding. I'm seeing him in the pub to try to get about £120!!
For your other job. I would have disconnected the old pipework and capped off then filled nd powered the system up to see that what AN Other had done worked. If it did I'd do all the pipework for the new rads and then one connection to the 'live' pipework with a compression fitting.
£200 plus 'additional' if previous plumber faults.
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realising Im charging too little for my skillbase I would have said £210 with materials, and hanging the rads in the process. I like your pricing I do bathrooms too I need to sort some more videos out. Great Video and thanks again for the knowledge.
Derbyshire ...
Thanks buddy….. yep add a bit to your prices 😉👍🏼
Hi Marc. Great video. I'd go with £120 per rad then £50 for pipe, fittings and inhibitor etc. So £300 is about right 👏 . However, you would move into an hourly rate if they are issues post fill up. You can't price for what you cannot see or is outside of your control. I refused a garage conversion job once because the build quality was appalling. Those alarm bells starting ringing when I was asked to finish off all the plumbing and the shower room. Based on what I saw I walked away. I wasn't putting my name and reputation on that! 😂 Keep up the great work 👏. See you on Sunday night.
Exactly that buddy….👍🏼👍🏼
2 TRV's and connecting 2 rads, test an unknown system, got to be £ 350 minimum ( DIY'er from hampshire)
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For me quoted jobs on the whole are better, I always quote worst case, 90% of the time it's not that bad, hourly is fine though, if a customer queries the quote once I've done I say, would you pay me more if it took longer than I allowed? Great video, top work
Thanks mate….👍🏼
Great information, I'll be taking fixed price offers from now on!
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very well explained, tough job, thanks for making this video
Thanks mate
£350 if they was supplying everything also if there’s any other issues upstairs another price would have be agreed before I touched someone else’s work
Agreed buddy
Apprentice myself, pricing nixers is the worst 🤣 you forgot to add going merchants to collect radiators - materials. Have got caught out on unvented system myself. Always one radiator... Good vid mate
Thanks buddy
I think I'd put an air pressure test on and if there's any issues say it'll have to be hourly. The boiler might not have worked before it was drained down. I've had that before and the old "it worked fine before you came" scenario. But in principle £300 seems decent. I get very paranoid on jobs like this😁😁
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I agree with u as a tradesman. I live in west Wales an would be charging about the same
Thanks mate
Well said Mark. I can tell you it’s the same in Holland. You earn one and you lose one
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People get it wrong I have heard this from customers towards tradesman so many times they don't understand your paying for 30 plus years of experience. Its insulting to be honest in my personal experience I say get a cowboy In to bodge it but I won't be accepting the phone call to put it right. BTW love your channel mate
Indeed mate…… glad you like the channel👍🏼👍🏼
The problem is nowadays people dont want to pay the priced quote IF you are too quick and looking for discount..
If extra problems then there can also be an extra charge regardless if quote , more often than not l would say nowadays...
In other words customers want their cake and to eat it !!
If it’s quoted then that’s what it is….. simple as that
The price seems good to me. Nice to know,I'm about to buy a house amd some of the radiators will need moving or replacing 👌
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£150 plus materials with a caveat stating an hourly rate of £60 for any additional works not included in the original quote. You could do that in 2 hours easily enough depending on the system.
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If I were the punter I'd like to discuss it with you and probably work on an hourly rate. Regarding the fill first or not I'd simply ask if it were your house how you would like to proceed with it. I just never understand why people don't put corrosion inhibitor in their systems.
Video of this job goes out this Sunday
Hi Mark.
Yep £350 for me plus £50 per hour to resolve any unforeseen issues, outside London.
£500 + £70 per hour if it was in London.
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I’m bang on what you are charging mate for those rads and valves £300, I’d add on a clause that any issues found after it’s filled up will incur extra costs depending on the issue (knowing that the last plumber is uncontactable) just to cover yourself.
Yep exactly what I did mate
As a plumber 27 years no more than 200 plus rad valves..
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Good Video Mark,
Because Dave is a Mate £300 is a decent price to spend a day there get the job done allowing for one or two possible problems and having a bit of banter,
If it is random customer calling would
definitely make you think what happened to the last plumber I’d say £400 - £450 for the same job
Thanks mate…. Yep will be nice having a day with the lads aswell, as I’m mostly on my own
It really does depend where you are in the country IMO.
I would only wanna pay £200 in Portsmouth max sorry, £300, sounds like London prices. Up north I'd expect to pay less.
I get you having to cover if things go wrong but also depends if you're supplying the TRV or the customer is, and how decent a TRV it is too.
You do you mate. If a client can't afford it they find someone else, save up or learn to do it themselves.
Consensus across the country is that way too cheap👍🏼👍🏼
Good afternoon, I would charge in Birmingham £250 all in :)
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Hi mark. Another interesting video. I've always wondered what other plumbing & heating guys would charge. Sometimes I think I don't charge enough. But after watching this video and reading the comments, I would have have priced that job at £300 materials and labour, but any issues with heating system or boiler would have to be fixed on hourly rate.
Exactly that mate 👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼