Calling all carpenters, how much should I charge?

Here’s his response.
“Right now, I have so many things going on that I’m not sure when I can do it anyways. It might turn out that by the time I get ready to do it, you’re freed up again. That might work out for both of us. Let’s stay in touch. ”

How funny, I tell him I’m too busy and urge him to take up other estimates, he makes it about how he is too busy.

Good call guys. Thanks for the help.

 

Sounds like a narcissist.

 

Have an architect come out draw it and do a home owner permit. Work to spec and tell him fuck off.

 

Yep thats exactly how it rolls. He will call you in a month to give him all the info you researched and rough plans you drew up for free saying he found someone to do it at half your bid.

 

Fortunately, I was smart enough to not give him any of my quotes or measurements. I didn’t tell him what company I was ordering from either so he has no way of getting all of my work. Also, in my experience, if a contractor is willing to take someone else’s estimates to save himself some time... They might not be the best person to hire.
But I don’t doubt he will call me in a month to tell me some 18 yo is going to do it for next to nothing.

 

Edit- i just reread your post and it sounds like you are already working const. if so disregard below.

If you want to make some side cash I would look into sheds and chicken coops. I dont know about your area but many do not require permits for under a set size both in sqft and in dems. Even in my part of Ca you can build a <

$19 120sqft US Energy Products - 4' x 4' Roll (16 Sqft) Car Van SUV RV Camper Vehicle Insulation Sound Deadener & Radiant Heat Barrier Mat - Automotive Lightweight Thermal Insulation

120sqft shed with no permit as long as no utilities are ran to it. Same with coops and nowdays most people want “pretty” coops and arent willing to do it themselves.

 

Not a carpenter but as an electrician, I only trade work for work with family and friends. I hate trying to figure out a price they won’t think I’m screwing them so I just stopped taking money all together

 

Not a bad idea. I have built one in the past. My problem is marketing with side jobs. I feel like most work spreads by word of mouth but how did you market to begin with? Some places around me require permits because they are a standing structure. But I’m not sure about all areas.

 

Of the guys I have worked for in contracting typically cost is at least double the material cost (130% of the material cost is more typical). For a one man job... you’ll make less in actual hourly rate. As long as you know how long its going to take you then work for the rate you want to.

I think your gut is telling you a lot about this guy and you are refusing to listen. I think you might get burned if you don’t walk away.
Trust your gut instinct. I’m not saying it can’t happen but people rarely surprise you for the better once the work starts. Typically they become a larger pain in the ass.

Do you have experience building decks with the materials he wants?
If you are new to this and have to take twice the amount of time you think to do it, you’ll get resentful of how much you asked to do the project and he may make your head spin off with changes he keeps bringing you while you are doing it, which will put you further behind and cut into profit even more.

I think $33,000 was a solid bid from the first guy.


Trust
Your
Gut

 

Do you need any new friends?

I need to expand my friend base to include an electrician that will work for pizza and beer

 

Your price seems more than fair, we just redid a 650~sf deck with the 1.5” thick Trex Transcend and the final price with removing old deck, hauling trash, stainless screws etc came out to a little over $22500 (just the deck the frame and posts stayed the same). As others said and I’m fortunate enough to be able to “walk away” from people who don’t see our worth. In my line of work we always get 3 bids to see what the market is like for anything our homeowners want done. $33k seems WAY too high for 600sf of trex deck. If you cant make him happy from the get go I’ve learned over the years that they will never feel like they got their monies worth. I would call around and get more bids, if he still wont understand - Walk away.

 

Fortunately I have experience building the decks. (It’s my full time job). I just usually have worked through a company so I would make more as a side job. The 130% of materials sounds right though. One quote was for 30, the other for 33k. When I told him my quote of 23,500 he was either going to be grateful or bust my balls. He chose not to be grateful to save 7k and not pay any taxes. His quote was also to have all the framing replaced so with total materials coming to 12.5k it seemed reasonable.

Thanks for the input. Trusting my gut is probably a good idea. He’s a business man, and is very convincing. If I had a kid who I’d known for 20 years and knew he would build anything of quality, id probably split the difference between his price and my 3 other bids. But he certainly isn’t seeing this as an opportunity for both of us.

 

This is how he got his 4k sq ft house. - Not from being fair. I can smell his tactics from here.
Next time he calls, tell him you made a mistake and underbid...

 

Don't do that shit. Your losing money if you do that job because the time it takes you to do that job, you could've done another for full price and without dealing with someone who considers you a "family friend" who is trying to get free work

 

I've dealt with these kinds of clients in the freelance creative industry, they're the ones that will continually ask you for more all throughout the job and well after the job is done and paid for...and expect that it gets done as part of the initial job. If he accepts the $23k offer then you might consider it, even then be prepared for the headaches of having to deal with the guy. But if not then forget about it and forget about him

 

Fortunately it’s over and done with now. If he asks me to do the job even at my original price, I’d still turn it down. I’ve already been through hoops to no avail. It was good experience to estimate it though. He has had his current deck for 25 years. If my trex deck didn’t last thirty, I would hear about it till he dies.