An young English friend, who has just started a small legit. building company, just quoted another Brit for a roof job; small house; remove old slates, re-felt and new batten, rehang the original slates + say 15% new, on stainless steel hangers, plus clay ridge. He had just completed a remodel on the same guy's house, on time, below budget and did a beautiful competent job, and managed the project hiring-in a first class electrician and plumber. His roof quote was roughly US$150 per day plus materials. That sounds low, but this is a low-earnings area. Who got the job? A hack who only 3 years ago took US$2000 up-front from the same client for the urgent demolition of a storm damaged building, and then took 18 months to start the job! When pumped by me in the bar, the client admitted the French builder was 2/3 the price, which sounded too good to be true, but he liked to hire in local artisans!
Honestly, you cannot educate planks!
All they think about is the bloody price.
I still do a bit of cabinetmaking when the muse is on me. If I don't like the client on first meeting them, I double my price for future hassles, and if they don't like it hard cheese. If I think they are nuts, ( like the woman who wanted hardwood windows a foot wide from floor to ceiling), I decline to quote at all. But then, I don't need money, what I need is time, ( you know, grim-reaper getting close etc.), and they don't sell it nowhere!
edit grammar.
Alan
[This message has been edited by Alan Belson (edited 10-14-2005).]
