I'm just curious if anyone has experienced this craziness lately. I feel like we are at an weird time with trade prices. It seems as though it's a free for all in my area and all other areas ive visited and people ive spoke with. It seems expectations of going rates for certain services are history. Also it seems very few people look for a second or third price. Seems you could get three bids on replacing and installing a new toilet that'd range from 300-1800 labor only and someone would throw out 2995.99 if the toilet is included. this is just a guess (although I do go to church with a plumber that's 500 off the bat if he shows up) but it's reality throughout residential construction work. Contractors jack up costs if they are super busy or it's going to be a shit job or shitty costumer but it also seems prices are just jacked up to unrealistic prices due to shortages of workers. Just trying to wrap my head around this insane trend we are in.....seems most trades around here if there is such a thing as a going rate are charging 95.00 (almost the lowest price in town a roofing contractor charges) per man hour. Roofing painting plumbing sparkys and carp squares seem to be that or higher. Amish still charging 35-45 per guy......this is just a huge struggle for me going from an hourly employee to self employed trying to figure out what my time is worth with trying to be moral and honest, and at the same time not dick myself out of money. I'm new to this side of things and it may have always been like this but I remember starting out trade work had a price and it was well known throughout society...
Labor rates and wages?
- Thread starter md1
- Start date
I had a tile guy price a shower and two larger backsplashes on my parents house because I busy he was 10k labor for less than two weeks of work, i ended up doing it.
Welcome to a high demand, low supply market. With fewer people capable of doing skilled labor, both homeowners and workers alike, the disparity between the demand for labor and the availability of labor creates chaos in the system. I've seen a lot more "I'm too busy" prices for the reputable folks lately than I can recall. It's just a messy market all the way around.
For you, I'd look at what the book rate for union labor is for the skills you provide and use that as a baseline/reference for your own pricing (if you haven't already).
For you, I'd look at what the book rate for union labor is for the skills you provide and use that as a baseline/reference for your own pricing (if you haven't already).
whitetailjunky3
Junior Member
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Once you figure out a price let me know. I may have some chimney work I need done if you’re still doing that kinda work.
I think it depends on what you want to do with your company. If you are just trying to keep you busy with low overhead, charge what you want for your time. If you are trying to be legit and grow into some big, charge for that. Either way, you gotta sleep at night feeling confident in what you did that day. Only you can control.wjat that level is.
My point being, a legit company has more overhead and requires more money to support that. Insurance, warranty, vehicle, rental equipment, office. A fella just wanting to be his own man can do a job at a lower rate because he doesn't have all that. He just wants to make a good rate, cover cost and pocket enough to make it worth doing.
Remembering some background, you gave up a union spot. Total package I would guess you made around $80-85 an hour with pension, insurance and all the extras on top of your pay. I would want at least that. Which I think is what Jesse was talking about, not hourly wage.
My point being, a legit company has more overhead and requires more money to support that. Insurance, warranty, vehicle, rental equipment, office. A fella just wanting to be his own man can do a job at a lower rate because he doesn't have all that. He just wants to make a good rate, cover cost and pocket enough to make it worth doing.
Remembering some background, you gave up a union spot. Total package I would guess you made around $80-85 an hour with pension, insurance and all the extras on top of your pay. I would want at least that. Which I think is what Jesse was talking about, not hourly wage.
Charge more, work less, if at all possible. Let your quality justify the cost.
I guess my post is just seeing if this chaotic trend is consistent across the state and states that others live in. For a project to have three contractors bids be double or triple the price as one another. I think having fake tits installed or open heart surgery has way more of a tighter market than anything in residential construction. But I am definitely struggling morally on pricing.....
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From what I've seen across industries 2 out of 10 guys might be worth what they're charging. The other 8 are half ass and raised their prices because the two good guys did and they can. My HVAC guy that I get to do the final licensed work on the units that I installed is worth it, fair price and a man of his word. I've had three guys out here before I met him and I ended up running all of them off. Dishonest half ass shysters.
I've talked to a few trade guys and they said all you have to do is answer your phone, show up when you say you will, do good work, and be honest. If you can do those 4 things you're ahead of 90% of your competition and can name your price.
I've talked to a few trade guys and they said all you have to do is answer your phone, show up when you say you will, do good work, and be honest. If you can do those 4 things you're ahead of 90% of your competition and can name your price.
Mickey Merrie
Junior Member
I hire X Yoder's and tell them the Yoder boys say they can't do the job, I get great prices and better work than the English crowd.
I view charging more than what something's worth as a form of theft so it's extremely important I don't overcharge. I have zero clue if I'm in the right or wrong. There's nothing biblical I can find other than treating people fair with money. I just want to leave this earth knowing I don't screw someone over. So should I just charge to live, live comfortably, or load your pockets, there's arguments for all like use your wealth to help others if you charge top dollar, or give labor away to help others and work for less(which has been my way of life that's been a constant struggle). These are questions that run through my head non stop. I know what I want to do eventually in this life so i dont have to think about this but for the time being I just want to do right.It is the same everywhere. Do you and stop looking at others.
I can almost guarantee you will raise your prices once you begin figuring everything into the price. If you think $80/hr is fair, wait until insurance renewal, license plate time, repair in your truck comes up, or materials jump again. There are things like estimates, time to meet insurance guy, banker, etc that cannot be factored into the hourly rate. Time picking up materials is hard to bill. But if you are $20/hr higher on your rates it might cover that time. Just some things to chew on.