Exactly my issue with customers. I have been kind in the past learning the trade, but as experience has blessed me I need to start charging more. I wish I was younger.Keep the videos coming. I learn a lot from you.
Great videos! Graduated from school and decided to start a landscape design business in Arizona. I’ve landed my first contract job $10,000+ and so far had a few bumps and bruises but job got done with a happy client. Thanks for the videos.
I stay away from residential projects and here's why I found that by the time I calculated my time estimating and driving around to these jobs I wasn't making any money. Its more important to spend my time and energy focusing on clients that have the resources and don't want to waste time, ie commercial construction. Most residential homeowners will call everyone in the yellow pages, etc and get 20 quotes, because estimates are FREE! They don't have to pay for my time and fuel to drive around quoting their projects and they are hoping they can find one guy who will screw up their estimate and go in cheap. The alternate is they have no idea what the job actually costs and get someone who will give them the cost for FREE. I had one homeowner breakdown and try to TELL ME what I should be charging for my 12,000 lb and 48,000 lb excavators. He told me he can dry rent them for so much, fuel so much, blah, blah, blah. I politely left and never put a second thought into it. When it came time to build my house recently of course I wanted to build it myself. I drew up a budget doing all my own take offs and putting numbers to things like drywall, flooring, plumbing, HVAC, etc, etc, etc. My bank wanted to see back ups for these items and I tried to explain that I know the costs for these items, if I can be a Project Manager on a $300 million shopping center I am pretty sure I can figure out of the cost of a simple house myself. Regardless my bank wanted to confirm the numbers so I simply called my drywall contractor friend, and told me give me a quote on your letterhead for $34,900 for drywall for my house and repeated it for all the trades. AH HA, I said to myself, what if I didn't have these contacts in the industry. I could still call 5 drywall contractors, etc to give me a price and get numbers to show to the bank for their approval. The bank never sees who actually does the work so if a homeowner can strike a deal for someone for cash, its just wastes real contractors time Long story short, homeowners are cheap and will do everything they can to get a deal. They don't care about your time when its free and they will never accept an invoice for a site visit and estimate so why bother. I have more important projects to chase
I do this for mowing over the phone. If the customer says that that have like an acre of land I tell them the base price over the phone then if its out of their budget all you do is put the phone away.
Interesting. I had an old neighbor who thought he could have an 18X36 in ground pool installed for $10,000.00. He thought I was crazy when I told him it will easily cost triple that amount. And, that would be a basic pool. No crazy water features, etc..
Champagne taste on a beer budget happens is pretty common from my experience. Clients will hear a number and then keep describing more work and act surprised when the number goes up lol. Crazy people
As Many years as I spent doing class A contracting work.. I found that 99 out of 100 times a customer wants a ball park on the spot cost ..Hes shopping your number with other contractors , if that was asked of me ,I would request at least 24 hrs ,and give the customer an exact cost ....but never a ballpark....
Alec gsz I wish I bought the toro instead of the exmark. 900 cheaper . but I heard the quality on the controls are not that good made out of plastic . You should just save the money and spend 800-1200 on a used 36 belt drive. if you can find a hydro even better.
You dont strike me as the socialist, common good freeworking guy :)) ...and I dont see any annoying commercial breaks at your channel. Question; How do you gain income/benefits on this TH-cam thing of yours ? Good channel btw. I've seen no timewasting bullshit so far. :)
Never give a ballpark, because that customer will hold you to that price no matter how many times you tell them this number is going to fluctuate after going and doing the paperwork
Exactly my issue with customers. I have been kind in the past learning the trade, but as experience has blessed me I need to start charging more. I wish I was younger.Keep the videos coming. I learn a lot from you.
Great videos! Graduated from school and decided to start a landscape design business in Arizona. I’ve landed my first contract job $10,000+ and so far had a few bumps and bruises but job got done with a happy client.
Thanks for the videos.
😂I love your honesty man! Lol “champagne taste beer budget”.
The god of contractors , wish i could manage to use my brain as well as you manage yours man , so organized love the videos !
"champagne taste, beer budget" 😂🤣😂 🍾
I stay away from residential projects and here's why
I found that by the time I calculated my time estimating and driving around to these jobs I wasn't making any money. Its more important to spend my time and energy focusing on clients that have the resources and don't want to waste time, ie commercial construction.
Most residential homeowners will call everyone in the yellow pages, etc and get 20 quotes, because estimates are FREE! They don't have to pay for my time and fuel to drive around quoting their projects and they are hoping they can find one guy who will screw up their estimate and go in cheap. The alternate is they have no idea what the job actually costs and get someone who will give them the cost for FREE.
I had one homeowner breakdown and try to TELL ME what I should be charging for my 12,000 lb and 48,000 lb excavators. He told me he can dry rent them for so much, fuel so much, blah, blah, blah. I politely left and never put a second thought into it.
When it came time to build my house recently of course I wanted to build it myself. I drew up a budget doing all my own take offs and putting numbers to things like drywall, flooring, plumbing, HVAC, etc, etc, etc. My bank wanted to see back ups for these items and I tried to explain that I know the costs for these items, if I can be a Project Manager on a $300 million shopping center I am pretty sure I can figure out of the cost of a simple house myself. Regardless my bank wanted to confirm the numbers so I simply called my drywall contractor friend, and told me give me a quote on your letterhead for $34,900 for drywall for my house and repeated it for all the trades.
AH HA, I said to myself, what if I didn't have these contacts in the industry. I could still call 5 drywall contractors, etc to give me a price and get numbers to show to the bank for their approval. The bank never sees who actually does the work so if a homeowner can strike a deal for someone for cash, its just wastes real contractors time
Long story short, homeowners are cheap and will do everything they can to get a deal. They don't care about your time when its free and they will never accept an invoice for a site visit and estimate so why bother. I have more important projects to chase
So true. I feel like hiring an estimator would never pay for himself from what I've seen in the residential work for 17 years.
I do this for mowing over the phone. If the customer says that that have like an acre of land I tell them the base price over the phone then if its out of their budget all you do is put the phone away.
Logue Professional Services Same here. I give an estimated price over the phone. If they are still interested then I go out to the site.
Interesting. I had an old neighbor who thought he could have an 18X36 in ground pool installed for $10,000.00. He thought I was crazy when I told him it will easily cost triple that amount. And, that would be a basic pool. No crazy water features, etc..
Great video, great info
I love how you shot this video right under there noses.
Champagne taste on a beer budget happens is pretty common from my experience. Clients will hear a number and then keep describing more work and act surprised when the number goes up lol. Crazy people
Hollier and Son Lawn Care I know- I'm not sure what some customers are thinking. You can't add more work and expect the price to go down.
As Many years as I spent doing class A contracting work.. I found that 99 out of 100 times a customer wants a ball park on the spot cost ..Hes shopping your number with other contractors , if that was asked of me ,I would request at least 24 hrs ,and give the customer an exact cost ....but never a ballpark....
*Interesting Construction Estimating Video, ASPE*
Hey Stan, Would you have gone into a detailed quote for the $200 buck you have charged in other videos?
been there done that , Thanks Stanley .........
hey man I need some big help how do I contact you? I'm looking at a 50k job and I'm lost
Reach out to me via email, energy4@mac.com
Is the toro commercial 30 a good mower. I'm a kid starting out and need a mower that will last and give a good cut
Alec gsz He said he didnt like it a couple weeks ago.
Alec gsz Not really. I am kind of disappointed. It's really heavy and not very powerful or easy to use.
Alec gsz I wish I bought the toro instead of the exmark. 900 cheaper . but I heard the quality on the controls are not that good made out of plastic . You should just save the money and spend 800-1200 on a used 36 belt drive. if you can find a hydro even better.
Exactly the same in England
Thank You !!!
Thank you for watching !
Hey Stan,
👍
65k for wall I’m in the wrong business
You need a go pro camera lol
Your wayyy cooler than Eminem
Goku!
Levi Lemon Now I need Super Sayan 1,2,3 and 4!
goku on the shelf!!!!
Yes!
You dont strike me as the socialist, common good freeworking guy :)) ...and I dont see any annoying commercial breaks at your channel. Question; How do you gain income/benefits on this TH-cam thing of yours ? Good channel btw. I've seen no timewasting bullshit so far. :)
Never give a ballpark, because that customer will hold you to that price no matter how many times you tell them this number is going to fluctuate after going and doing the paperwork