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The Medway Handyman The Medway Handyman is offline
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Default Labour Cost for Fence Works etc

A.Lee wrote:
ARWadworth wrote:

"A.Lee" wrote in message ...
To supply and fit, I'd charge £90 per panel (for feather edge board
panels, £10 cheaper for cheaper lapped panels), plus £70 for a gate.
£1150 all in.
For labour only, that'd be taking the old down,digging the holes,
then putting the new up, probably 2 days work, £250.


As discussed in previous threads, you are too cheap. You are also
supposed to have a mark up on your parts and materials to allow you
to order and collect them. Think bigger. It is a supply and demand
world (at least the UK is) so unless you are not in demand put your
prices up. £125 a day is not a real day. You have to have days off,
go on holiday, pay for tools, transport, advertising, tax,
insurance. Your daily rate has to pay for these things on your days
off.


Wise words from Adam.

Well, yes, i know that, but actually getting the work is not quite as
easy as people think. I've had a reasonable past 2 months, as I'm
starting to get repeat customers, but it is difficult getting work at
all times, and if I started asking for £200 a day, then I'd get no
work.


There is certainly an upper limit on what you can charge, but I remain busy
at my prices (check the web site) and some consider me too cheap.

I put an ad in the local paper, and got around 25 phone calls that
weekend. It made me feel really busy. But, a week later, it dawned on
me that I had got no work whatsoever out of the ad.


Its not as simple as that. The occassional ad in the local rag won't keep
you busy. You need to generate enough enquiries to be selective in what you
take on.

SNIP
The bloke thought I was joking, he said I could do it for £50 the next
day if I wanted. I declined.
I charge a fixed rate of £30 to fit a new internal door. A woman
wanted 5 new doors putting on. OK, as they are all in one place, I'd
do it for £100. She again thought I was taking the ****, and tried to
bargain me down to £75.


You have to consider how your customers are seeing you. How you present
your 'brand'. They obviously see you as a cheap odd job man - not as a
professional handyman. Thats why they are surprised at your prices.

To show what I'm up against, a Pikey came up to me


SNIP

You will always lose some work to people who undercut you. Many customers
are willing to pay a reasonable rate to avoid pikeys & cheap jobs. You need
to direct your marketing towards them.

So, yes, I know I should be charging more, but getting it is more
difficult.


Where abouts in the UK are you? ISTR Leicester?


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257