Rates, Estimating stage

[Koogatubac]

Hi guys,
Im after some advice, im based in the north east of england and just gone self employed

Had a look around a big job today;
- Full strip out of all services
- full central heating
- brand new gas line
- moving the bathroom to upstairs and relocating main SVP
- brand new bathroom
- range cooker install
- new fire install
- new kitchen

Thats all for the plumbing side, its getting a extension, new roofs, new guttering

The custard doesnt know where they want the boiler nor what sanitry ware or chose the kitchen yet.
Ive gave them 2 options of where the boiler can go so wrote out 2 estimates (one for the boiler in kitchen, one for upstairs bedroom cupboard)

Since ive just wrote them out i need to give them to the merchants to come back to me with a price for all the materials inc boiler, flue etc

Im not too sure what to charge labour though?!
I was on £11 per hour on my last job. However self employed i should be earning at least £150 a day for this type of job?

Just need some ideas of what i should put onto of my materials for my labour costs.

Thanks

 

[SimonG]

Need to get yourself in the arms. Materials plus 20% and I won't get out of bed for less than 200 a day. Your overheads sharp eat into your daily rate.

 

[Koogatubac]

Ive contacted dave but havnt heard anything in 6 days 🙁

 

[SimonG]

Ive contacted dave but havnt heard anything in 6 days 🙁

He'll be dead busy, give him time and you'll be in.

Whereabouts in the north east?

 

[glenno1]

Really you need to know where things are going or your estimate might bite you in the rear,unless you put extra on but then you may lose the job

 

[Thoggy]

I'm based in the midlands and charge roughly £150 a day, I put enough on materials but you can't really put 20% on materials that come to the size that you want for this job you could end up losing the job. I put about 100-200 on top for big jobs like boiler installs. That's just my view, I've been on my own a year now and it is hard but can see a little bit more £ as the months go on, still not made all my setting out fees back, that will take a few years.

 

[Koogatubac]

Im in county durham mate,
Think is this will be the first for a busy builder who said he is looking for a dedicated plumber who he'll reuse on his other jobs.

So this job has to be right, and first big job for my new business. Im thinking the £150 per day but because i want to stay with this builder and show my work. I think ill charge labour costs of £125 per day. Just so he can see what i can do, hopefully pass my name around too!

Ontop of my estimate to cover extra materials etc the £200 sounds resonable, he did even mention add on 20% for extra fittings onto of your estimate, however might be quite costly once i put this on?

The builder happens to live in the same street, his wife works with my mum and has been self employed for 30+ years.

 

[SimonG]

Im in county durham mate,
Think is this will be the first for a busy builder who said he is looking for a dedicated plumber who he'll reuse on his other jobs.

So this job has to be right, and first big job for my new business. Im thinking the £150 per day but because i want to stay with this builder and show my work. I think ill charge labour costs of £125 per day. Just so he can see what i can do, hopefully pass my name around too!

Ontop of my estimate to cover extra materials etc the £200 sounds resonable, he did even mention add on 20% for extra fittings onto of your estimate, however might be quite costly once i put this on?

The builder happens to live in the same street, his wife works with my mum and has been self employed for 30+ years.

Just be careful. Had the carrot dangled many a time 'if the price on this is right you'll get loads of work' etc. I price each job as it comes and not counting promises. Ask what happened to his previous plumber.

 

[Thoggy]

Sounds good mate regular work but I think £125 with over heads is a bit low, on the other hand it's regular work at over £600 a week. Some weeks I earn a grand some weeks I earn £80 it just goes with the territory. I need to look at my pricing properly but like you I'm quite new to it all and any work is better than none, the last thing you want is to not cover bills and over heads.

 

[Koogatubac]

Im quite lucky thoggy, still living at home with parents and young (23) all my work previous from 16 was total installs, so thats the easiest part.

Never had to do pricing so it is all new, sending each copies of estimates to 3 local merchants that ive used in the past, will give me the best price overall.

Going with the speedfit plastic since ive used it the past 3 years, hate plastic however this is the only way to get price down and builder likes the idea of the 'look of a floating rad' instead of copper vertical tales to each valve.

I thought of the top of my head i should go for £150 per day. Might be fate and just go for that?

 

[Gmaservices]

Getting pricing correct is harder than doing the work! Then there's the vat another bits and pieces you need to do.
Theres not enough hours in the week!

 

[Mike Jackson]

£100 - £200 on top of materials is not enough. You need to be looking at 10 - 20%. This is not to screw extra money out of the job it is to allow for the extra little bits that you need, consumables like flux and solder and to cover your time in case of problems with the materials. If a rad springs a leak in 6 months time it may be covered under guarantee but the manufacturers won't pay labour costs for replacing it.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Dont fall for the old scam do this job cheep and we will use you for other work, typical Builder, even if he is in your street, only person makeing money on this job will be the Builder! Yes he will use you again if you are going in at these low prices, untill he finds someone who will do it for less, If you are worried about costs do job on a Labour only, Builders tend to drag out paying up for Materials , and try to get a payment each week, I tend to steer clear of Builders, been caught a couple of times in the past.

 

[glenno1]

Some landlords try the same tricks,so be wary mate

 

[woodsy]

Agree with most of the last threads - beware builders at your risk, never price with the promises of extra work- promises don't pay wages. Price your first job low and he will expect all jobs at the same price and lastly, ask yourself if the builder will be working for £125 per day - not on your nelly. Sorry for the negative reply but builders are the last people to charge cheap and also if you get / take the job, make sure he pays as you go along.

 

[Koogatubac]

I got the estimates from the merchants on this job and came close to £4500 all in! Inc, materials, boiler, rads, clock, labour + 20% to cover.

Rang him up to give him the price and he said "we'll just call it £5000" 🙂 before i do any work though, im wanting the materials, boiler and rads payment up front so thats paid off. Quoted the job for 7 days too! (give myself 2 days float)

He asked for a day rate and also price for labour only for installing bathroom, kitchen sink and other bits

 

[SimonG]

I got the estimates from the merchants on this job and came close to £4500 all in! Inc, materials, boiler, rads, clock, labour + 20% to cover.

Rang him up to give him the price and he said "we'll just call it £5000" 🙂 before i do any work though, im wanting the materials, boiler and rads payment up front so thats paid off. Quoted the job for 7 days too! (give myself 2 days float)

He asked for a day rate and also price for labour only for installing bathroom, kitchen sink and other bits

Sounds positive, just keep all your bases covered.

 

[Koogatubac]

Thanks for the advice guys 🙂

 

[Nostrum]

Hope it all works out, sounds like your on to a winner as long as you get paid. I'm of the same opinion as everyone else though re: builders and landlords. Still get twitchy when doing stuff for landlords and being paid by cheque, half expecting it to bounce. Lot's of student accommodation around here as well which seem to attract a greedier style of landlord!

That said, I do work for 1 who is excellent, cash on completion and likes to keep on top of everything to ensure it's in sound condition! so they do exist!

 

[PlumbersMate]

Have to Say £125 is too cheap mate, u can still get that working on a site

 

[Gmaservices]

All builders try this trick and most landlords!
im always wary with builders as to wether I get paid or not!

 

[Koogatubac]

Time will tell guys, this is my first encounter with a builder, problem with me i see everything as no one will screw other people other.

I know the worlds harsh though, especially landlords and builders. I havent had much work (only been trading a week though)

I thought £20 per hour for a builder for first few years would be alright, then i will bump it to £25 (most expensive company near me charges £35 per engineer and there the most expensive company plus have alot of work!)

When i was working for a company before i went self employed i was running a large building site by myself on plumbing side for £10.90 a hour

 

[jtsplumbing]

Think you need to wake up and smell the roses ! your Self Employed now ! everyone will try and screw you over, As for not haveing much work (Been at it for a week) There are Plumbers on here who have been SE for years and not getting any work at all ! think your self very lucky..