Advice appreciated regarding job price rate

[Diver Fred]

when the man prices up a job he will use his day rate to calculate his charge. He won't tell you what that is until he does 'extras' as others have said. You could easily be shocked at what the day rate really is.

 

[teaboyjim]

when the man prices up a job he will use his day rate to calculate his charge. He won't tell you what that is until he does 'extras' as others have said. You could easily be shocked at what the day rate really is.

What day rate would be factored in do you reckon?

 

[securespark]

she did a Shirley Robinson

Is that Mrs Robinson crossed with Shirley Valentine?

 

[johnny2007]

What sort of day rate would be factored in do you reckon on average? Is going on a day rate a more transparent way of working?

It depends from the complexity of the job.
A simple decorating job could set you at £120/day, instead a floor installation could be £250/day.
A plastering job could cost as much as £500/day for stairways with lots of corners and access issues, differently from 4 straight walls which could cost £250/day.
Every job is different and requires different skills and effort.
If I have to build a simple wooden vanity unit I factor in £120 labour=1 day.
But if the customer asks for a more complex design with carver doors and inserts, then the same vanity unit could cost £200 more.

 

[Quilts76]

I have to say IMO when pricing job if its a skilled trade doing 1 task then a price is better than day rate if its someone that may be doing several different tasks then day rate is better.

Ive seen all trades when on day rate drag there heels yet you give the same trades price work they complete faster but you also need to keep an eye on quality of workmanship etc.

 

[teaboyjim]

I always factored in lost days messing about with cock ups when quoting.
99% of the time we finished earlier than expected.
I know builders who ho around claiming that they can build an extension in 2 weeks all in and incidentally only give estimates rather than quotes.
Now just picture that in your mind...

So keep away from builders who give estimates

When the fish is on the hook, the start milking the cow...

I'm hoping to avoid that particular metaphor

 

[^woody^]

It depends from the complexity of the job.
A simple decorating job could set you at £120/day, instead a floor installation could be £250/day.
A plastering job could cost as much as £500/day for stairways with lots of corners and access issues, differently from 4 straight walls which could cost £250/day.
Every job is different and requires different skills and effort.
If I have to build a simple wooden vanity unit I factor in £120 labour=1 day.
But if the customer asks for a more complex design with carver doors and inserts, then the same vanity unit could cost £200 more.

None of that is day rate. It's just pricing work differently to get x amount per day

For the vanity unit, the day rate will always be the same, the only difference will be for the complex unit you would charge for multiple days.

 

[teaboyjim]

It depends from the complexity of the job.
A simple decorating job could set you at £120/day, instead a floor installation could be £250/day.
A plastering job could cost as much as £500/day for stairways with lots of corners and access issues, differently from 4 straight walls which could cost £250/day.
Every job is different and requires different skills and effort.
If I have to build a simple wooden vanity unit I factor in £120 labour=1 day.
But if the customer asks for a more complex design with carver doors and inserts, then the same vanity unit could cost £200 more.

Is it reasonable to expect rate to be based on £200 - £250 per day

 

[^woody^]

Is it always good practice to avoid builders who give estimates or are there times when this is needed if so when?

You read to read up more on things to do with pricing.

An estimate is just that an estimate. It can change.

A quote is fixed and can't change unless the work quoted for changes. In which case you need a basis for valuing the extra work not included in the quote - which is where daywork or hour rates come in. Or you ask for a an additional fixed quote for the extra work.

An estimate is the client's risk, and a quote is the builders risk.

 

[teaboyjim]

I have to say IMO when pricing job if its a skilled trade doing 1 task then a price is better than day rate if its someone that may be doing several different tasks then day rate is better. Ive seen all trades when on day rate drag there heels yet you give the same trades price work they complete faster but you also need to keep an eye on quality of workmanship etc.

What jobs are best suited to a price? Central heating and electric/rewire?

 

[johnny2007]

None of that is day rate. It's just pricing work differently to get x amount per day

For the vanity unit, the day rate will always be the same, the only difference will be for the complex unit you would charge for multiple days.

No, a standard vanity unit is a day work = £120.
A more complex one with carbing included would set you off at £200/day, so around £400/500 for the complete unit.

 

[just pumps]

No, a standard vanity unit is a day work = £120.
A more complex one with carbing included would set you off at £200/day, so around £400/500 for the complete unit.

£120 a day in London?

 

[^woody^]

No, a standard vanity unit is a day work = £120.
A more complex one with carbing included would set you off at £200/day, so around £400/500 for the complete unit.

But that's not how daywork works.

Daywork is a fixed rate per day. Any complexities in the job are catered for by it just taking more days

 

[johnny2007]

But that's not how daywork works.

Daywork is a fixed rate per day. Any complexities in the job are catered for by it just taking more days

No, you need to factor in the skills required to do the job.
An artist will take 1 day to do a painting and sell it for £1000.
Carving is the same, costs more because you need skills, not just labour.

 

[johnny2007]

£120 a day in London?

If it's a job done in the workshop, no moving tools, no travelling, no loading and unloading the van, etc, just open the door and go, yes, £120 is fair.