After some advice please..

[sythai]

Hello there...

Recently started up on my own and work is not too bad, booked up for about next 4 weeks and seem to be getting quite a few calls... adverts havent even gone to press yet.

What it is, I really could do with some 'bread and butter' money as well as all these other smaller jobs.

Got a phone call from chap today who runs one of the busier kitchen fitting firms around here. Basically what it is, the spark/s they use are not good, so think they want a change. Could potentially get loads off him, I know last week they had 5 kitchens go out. Would be nice to have a kitchen a week, every week and it leaves 2-3 days to keep everyone else happy (not gonna put all my eggs in one basket)

Got to meet him tommorow to discuss terms etc.

Just want to see what 'normal' set up is, if any ?

This is what I'm going to propose:

Option 1: (doubtful)
I deal with customer direct, price and bill them accordingly.

Option 2:
Price and bill kitchen company accordingly. (they then stick on their % and pass on to customer)

Option 3:
Agree my day rate wiith kitchen company and work to that, supplying materials with (+20%) If site is more than 1/2 hr drive away need to agree travel expenses.

Any thoughts please?

What would you uggest for travel expenses?

And when I work for a customer I always get a deposit up front, is the normal thing when working with other companies - kitchen companies, builders etc??

Hope that all makes sense,

Thanks for your time,

Sy

 

[m25maintenance]

check rouge traders or companies house to see if the company has a good credit file. i charge £16 per job call out fee it just covers fuel on a 70 mile round trip 35 each way, also parking and london congestion they pay

 

[Notsosmart]

Hello there...

Option 1: (doubtful)
I deal with customer direct, price and bill them accordingly.

Option 2:
Price and bill kitchen company accordingly. (they then stick on their % and pass on to customer)

Option 3:
Agree my day rate wiith kitchen company and work to that, supplying materials with (+20%) If site is more than 1/2 hr drive away need to agree travel expenses.

Any thoughts please?

What would you uggest for travel expenses?

And when I work for a customer I always get a deposit up front, is the normal thing when working with other companies - kitchen companies, builders etc??

Sy

All of the above +
Option 4: Price per Item i.e. £x.00 per socket, lighting, oven supply etc.

Remember pricing options require visit to survey for estimate (Btw use estimate rather than fixed price)
then second visit for first fix and a third visit to second fix once tiling etc complete.

Good luck with your meeting Sy.
Regards Gaz.

 

[sythai]

Like the idea of points pricing... have started another thread to see what everyone thinks.

Anyone out there work regularly for kitchen companies, builders etc ?? Just need some feedback if poss please?

Thanks again,
Sy

 

[Voltimax]

I used to do alot of kitchens for a kitchen company. Unfortunately for me the owner decided he'd had enough of the business and folded it. I used to moan about all the kitchens he'd spring on me, but I sure am missing it now. I just used to charge him time and materials, that's how he wanted it. However after awhile we went into a few places that had some well dodgy electrics and he hadn't allowed enough to do job, so I started going out and doing a site survey and gave him estimates.

 

[sythai]

points pricing seems ok in the right circumstance, may be new build I reckon.

But what happens if on kitchen job I turn up, and no bonding old rewirable dis board etc

 

[pennywise]

Thats what the site survey is for I have never priced for a job without seeing the existing install first, your on a hiding to nothing if you don't.

 

[Voltimax]

Then you have to price to put it right, or not do the work.
If you are going down the road of point pricing and not seeing the job, then you had better let the kitchen guy know that there might very well be extras involved. Or make sure the price per point is high enough to cover jobs like that. Most times bonding will need upgrading but if the board has rewirables, you could always split the tails and put another board in to serve the new circuits.
It would be better however if you could view the job first. I know a sparks who does B&Q kitchens, he goes direct to the customer with his price after a survey, that's how B&Q want it.
With NAPIT getting into bed with B&Q and the NICEIC getting into bed with homebase, kitchen electrics might start a changing.

Listen to me and Pennywise

 

[sythai]

Well that went well....

His normal set up which suits me is: he pays £55 per appliance point. And the rest is between me and the customer.... sockets, lights, board + bonding upgrade etc. Can give me a kitchen/per week and more if and when I want it... first fix monday, second fix fri. Will get details through 3-4 weeks before so can survey etc.

Thanks,

Sy

 

[expo09]

I would try to push option 4 as you will get paid what a particular job it worth.

 

[Notsosmart]

Bonding can be allowed for within a points based system as can anything,

ie 5 metre run = £xx.00
10 metre run = £yy.00

and so on, alternatively per metre price.

Remember it is advisable to put the kitchen on a seperate ring so this can be an encompasing price ie; MCB/RCD/RCBO + cabling and X amount of sockets = £zz.00

All can be entered on a Survey check list that is agreed with the customer (and signed) so any prices are open and up front therefore the customer knows (and is happy) what he is paying for. This is a system that worked well for us on a company I used to work for. I may still have some example forms if any one is interested, I will see if I can locate them.

 

[sythai]

Thank you if you could find a copy that would a great help,

Cheers,

Sy