We keep an inhouse engineer on staff to request and compare GC bids, making sure its an apples to apples comparison for our owners, he then will take the time to bid out the work to his trusted subs just to make sure the GC's are staying honest. Without fail, he will find the GC's marking up the sub's bids for general conditions and/or additional profit. Its a shame that the GC's may still be charging your price but only paying "Get R Done" handyman special prices themselves.
We keep an inhouse engineer on staff to request and compare GC bids, making sure its an apples to apples comparison for our owners, he then will take the time to bid out the work to his trusted subs just to make sure the GC's are staying honest. Without fail, he will find the GC's marking up the sub's bids for general conditions and/or additional profit. Its a shame that the GC's may still be charging your price but only paying "Get R Done" handyman special prices themselves.
Crazy aint it!
I don't think the economy is getting better, I just think that everyone has been tight on the purse strings and has a little stash saved up. At least that's what I'm hearing from the smaller jobs I've been getting. I've refocused my company to get the high end jobs and municipal work and that has been paying off in the last 6 months or so. I've put on some new crews in the last few months so if you ask them it's getting better. I've had to compete against moonlighters for years but never as bad as the last 2 years. I've refused to go down on my prices and have actually raised them. The moonlighters are getting weeded out and I'm getting alot more work. I'll keep raising my prices until I find the ceiling again and then drop down a hair. I bid 5-20 jobs a week and can't do them all so the ones I do get will be worth my while. I tell a lot of people up front that I'm not gonna be the lowest bidder and if that's what they want then I'd rather not waste their time. I've also found it real easy to say I won't lower my price cause I'd rather go fishing or hunting instead. Seems like 1/2 of them call me back. Keep taking care of those guys Carlos and they'll keep calling you back. I keep those give aways totaled in my head and tack it on their other bids. :toast
I don't think the economy is getting better, I just think that everyone has been tight on the purse strings and has a little stash saved up. At least that's what I'm hearing from the smaller jobs I've been getting. I've refocused my company to get the high end jobs and municipal work and that has been paying off in the last 6 months or so. I've put on some new crews in the last few months so if you ask them it's getting better. I've had to compete against moonlighters for years but never as bad as the last 2 years. I've refused to go down on my prices and have actually raised them. The moonlighters are getting weeded out and I'm getting alot more work. I'll keep raising my prices until I find the ceiling again and then drop down a hair. I bid 5-20 jobs a week and can't do them all so the ones I do get will be worth my while. I tell a lot of people up front that I'm not gonna be the lowest bidder and if that's what they want then I'd rather not waste their time. I've also found it real easy to say I won't lower my price cause I'd rather go fishing or hunting instead. Seems like 1/2 of them call me back. Keep taking care of those guys Carlos and they'll keep calling you back. I keep those give aways totaled in my head and tack it on their other bids. :toast
yea man.. i also tell people im not into a bidding battle and just call me after they get their bids then ill let them know what i think.. I also stopped driving to every estimate (not a good thing because most people tell me that they hired ME and they liked ME even tho i was a higher price) But with the price of gas i just ask how many square feet? where they are located? and give em a price.. I tell them if its in your budget call me and then ill come out..
I don't believe it's any better,the housing market is sterile.Used cars are selling for more and it's harder to find them. More people are remodeling homes instead of building and repairing their older vehicles instead of buying a new one. We're still in a lot of trouble,especially if fuel and grains stay so high. The little work where I live is being bid on by so many that they're driving prices to an all time low. I do believe it's more of a selective recession and the ones who are working are not making as much and spending more to survive. The question is are you better off now than 4 years ago? 8 years ago? 2 years ago? I would say NO to all 3 questions. Obama must go!
I'll go with the Wise Man^^^^^!!!
