Best way to get quotes from Tradies

[Truly Exotic]

Im trying to get a quote for a reno project for some builders/tradies,

I call them up, explain in rough what needs to be done,

they tell me, their rates are normally $25-$45 per hour, which is fine,

I ask them roughly how long it will take to do all the tasks

they get back to me and say roughly X days

but when I send them a bit more detailed info or photos,

the quote goes from say $3000 to $6000, still taking X days

eg a quote for replacing the tiles in two rooms, each room approx 2.5m x 2.5m

was originally quoted about 10-12 hours work = $360,

but final quote is $600 per room (with me supplying the tiles), and he cant go any cheaper, and thats a cash price,

so assuming its $30 per hour, its now going to take him 40 hours ie a whole week to tile 2 rooms which is ridiculous!

frustrated!!!

 

[Melbournian]

go to www.servicecentral.com.au

and see if you can find tilers to fit your budget.

 

[goonandtell]

has anyone ever had any luck with service central everytime i have tried i never get a response and i don't put in stupid cash options.

 

[Melbournian]

you could always try localblue or google some of the people who work in your areas. some trades who tend to live locally tend to be keen to take jobs quickly

 

[S.T]

I've always had awesome responses from servicecentral, phone usually goes nuts for a 10 minute period. I think they only have a maximum of 4 people contact you per job. Would certainly recommend it.

 

[pennyk]

I think $25-45/hr sounds really cheap to me.. a good builder is not going to be able to run a business on that. So, if people are charging those rates, they are less likely to be committed to the job, and will move around chasing the best rates.
For building work on our PPOR, we have found a builder and had him do any structural work that we've needed for the past 5 years or so..... so basically, if you find a good builder, keep them! But we know we are paying fairly high rates.. its worth it for the reliability etc. They are just doing a big job for us at the moment. We havent been asked to pay any deposit, and they have forked out on all the windows/ doors etc already. They turn up whenever they say they will, and do a good job....

For IP's, we've asked the agent for details of their handymen/builders etc, and organised it through them (even for jobs in properties they are not managing). Then there is some level of commitment and trust from the builder and they are more likely to follow through, hopefully!

 

[arms]

Im trying to get a quote for a reno project for some builders/tradies,

I call them up, explain in rough what needs to be done,

they tell me, their rates are normally $25-$45 per hour, which is fine,

I ask them roughly how long it will take to do all the tasks

they get back to me and say roughly X days

but when I send them a bit more detailed info or photos,

the quote goes from say $3000 to $6000, still taking X days

eg a quote for replacing the tiles in two rooms, each room approx 2.5m x 2.5m

was originally quoted about 10-12 hours work = $360,

but final quote is $600 per room (with me supplying the tiles), and he cant go any cheaper, and thats a cash price,

so assuming its $30 per hour, its now going to take him 40 hours ie a whole week to tile 2 rooms which is ridiculous!

frustrated!!!

i would love to know how you assume a tradesman would work for $30 per hour ,even 1 st year apprentices are quoted out at $50 per hour

 

[Melbournian]

plasterer 1st year apprentice gets paid $15 an hour.

Been paying $40-50 an hour for a registered builder who is insured to come do a carpentry and miscellaneous handyman bits.

$80-120 per hour is the amount i have been paying to get a plumber in. they're the highest paid trade

 

[Doovalacky]

You said replacing in your post. If there is already tiles there its a lot bigger job to remove old ones and relay.
Until you give people the full info its hard to make a quote accurately.

 

[Ocean Architect]

As a builder you can't just charge for hours worked on site - you must also take into account time needed to get materials, specific tools, cleanup costs, and dead time (ie if you work 5 hours at one site you need to charge out for an entire day, since realistically you aren't going to get anything else done at any other site in the remaining 3 hours of work time for the day).

So for a tiling job of 2.5m x 2.5m square x 2 rooms, it works out like this:

day 1: remove old tiles, apply waterproofing membrane, take rubbish to tip

day 2: lay floor tiles

day 3: lay skirting tiles (if applicable), grout.

Assuming that nothing else goes wrong (like having to re level floor if you're putting in polished porcelain) you're looking at $400 a day plus cost of glue, grout, rubbish, fuel, waterproof membrane, tile spacers, tile strip (for doorway).

When you work out all expenses and what it actually takes to make a living for doing such work, what with losing time in quoting/collecting money/losses due to non payment/days lost in between these small jobs, you'll find that the tiler/builder isn't living like the rich and famous. It's tough.

As a tradesman you can only really make a good living and provide good prices when there is enough work on one site to allow you to use your time effectively and get stuck into it full time. In some cases, it is in your interest to get them to do additional work in another part of the house instead of paying for their dead time eg tile a concrete patio while the waterproofing dries in the bathroom

 

[Aaron_C]

So true OA. Actually I would say the significant proportion of a builder's/tradie's time is wasted time. If one guy doesn't show up to complete his section, all the other sequential trades can't start either, pushing everything back by days, weeks or even months. Such a pain.

 

[cjandlj]

I think your quote sounds pretty fair actually. Sorry but tiling is one of those finishes that Im not prepared to get a cheap job as it is not something that you can cover up again cheaply. JMHO

 

[Truly Exotic]

$25 is the cheapest so far for apprentices who are working with the builders, and for cash prices, on average its been around the $40-$55 per hour mark which im happy to pay,

eg, some of the quotes ive been getting, they tell me their hourly rate, lets say $50 per hour, and to replace a light switch is $200, paint interior is $2000, Tiling is $2000,

no way, a light switch takes 4 hours to change, or 40 hours to paint interior or 40 hours for a 10sqm room

hence the frustration

 

[wylie]

$25 is the cheapest so far for apprentices who are working with the builders, and for cash prices, on average its been around the $40-$55 per hour mark which im happy to pay,

eg, some of the quotes ive been getting, they tell me their hourly rate, lets say $50 per hour, and to replace a light switch is $200, paint interior is $2000, Tiling is $2000,

no way, a light switch takes 4 hours to change, or 40 hours to paint interior or 40 hours for a 10sqm room

hence the frustration

Wouldn't the light switch cost of $200 include call out fee, hourly rate, plus the actual cost of the new light switch? Nice ones are not cheap. I recall asking our sparkie once how much to swap over two older light switches in two bedrooms. When he told me how much they cost without his time, we decided to keep the old ones.

 

[tvadera]

Go to service central

Post your job, make sure you screen the quotes coming in.

I have found quotes varying by 3000-4500$ even for small jobs like (replacing gutters , roof restoration, etc)

Make sure you check their previous jobs, ask questions, and more questions, send them email seek responses, ask for warranty be specific (like warranty on materials, labour, etc)

Never pay full amount in advance, else you would have to go to Current Affairs to convey your sad story, but it might be too late by then.

Good luck

Regards,
TV

 

[jeff@energetik.]

Hi Tv. Need a trade company to look after your property? We are with Service Central Energetik Trade Services.

 

[mbwaterproofing]

with my company, the average price for a job like this would be around $3000 to $4000, what you have to look at is removal of tiles and disposal. materials used and labour, eg does it need waterproofing? substrate prep cleaning leveling and so forth, sometimes even the size of the tile will depend on the price eg. a smaller detail tile will take alot longer to lay and grout then a large tile.

 

[sammy1]

Face to face quotes work best,you're not cleaning carpets here.

 

[edlev]

but final quote is $600 per room (with me supplying the tiles),


jump on that quote and make cups of tea or coffee for him and sandwiches as he isnt eating.

I wouldnt do it for that price

even at 1.500 - 1.800 high not counting waterproofing if done well.

the price to me would be round $1500 upwards

but as several have said

there are overheads

good luck

 

[Angel13]

So true OA. Actually I would say the significant proportion of a builder's/tradie's time is wasted time. If one guy doesn't show up to complete his section, all the other sequential trades can't start either, pushing everything back by days, weeks or even months. Such a pain.

Oh and those lovely rainy days (which we have been having a lot of lately). They mess everything up as you are trying to re-book things while eveybody else is too.

Add to what OA and you have said the cost of the various licenses, insurances and lots of other overheads I don't see how a builder can only charge $45 per hour.

Sometimes we can forget these guys get paid for their specialist knowledge too, not just their time doing the 'labour'. I don't know any accountant, financial planner, lawyer who would charge $45 per hour.

I mean I go to H&R Block for my basic tax return, I'm there for 30 minutes max, they lodge the return right in front of me and I get charged $130.