Anyone else getting quoted insane prices for work around your place?

[buck12]

Contractor prices are through the roof and it’s not just because of the pandemic. I started a cabin on our rural property in October. I planned to hire most of it out but have wound up doing far more myself than I intended. Contractors I have used in the past gave much higher prices than they gave me for similar jobs just a couple of years ago.

 

[dragoneggs]

Even when it involves heavy equipment, it's far cheaper to rent than to have someone else do it a majority of the time .... about the only reason to higher work out around here is if there's something that requires certifications/inspections - otherwise it's usually cheaper to buy the tools or rent the equipment (and probably take the certification courses) than it is to higher out some single jobs.....

I'm talking about really heavy equipment that I am not efficient at using... that would get hired out such as clearing wooded land. I admit when it comes to permits/inspections, I tend to plead ignorance if it is a mod to my existing structures.

 

[PILOON]

Looking to get a truckload of recycled asphalt for my driveway and not in a hurry either.
I also have known most of the trade guys for years.
Very disappointed in that they all seem to only want to do big jobs or municipal work.
OK some are aging and wanting to taper off a bit but it sure is frustrating.

As one put it, municipal work is a walk in the park.
Deliver the digger, dig a hole (1/2 hr work) go home but come back at 4:00 pm to backfill and you get to charge a full day's work plus transport.
The discusting part is this is actually more cost effective than the city doing the work themselves what with all the OSHA rules and the city worker's union.

 

[dragoneggs]

Looking to get a truckload of recycled asphalt for my driveway and not in a hurry either.
I also have known most of the trade guys for years.
Very disappointed in that they all seem to only want to do big jobs or municipal work.
OK some are aging and wanting to taper off a bit but it sure is frustrating.

As one put it, municipal work is a walk in the park.
Deliver the digger, dig a hole (1/2 hr work) go home but come back at 4:00 pm to backfill and you get to charge a full day's work plus transport.
The discusting part is this is actually more cost effective than the city doing the work themselves what with all the OSHA rules and the city worker's union.

Ain't that the truth. Sad.

 

[3Ts]

What irritates me is when the guy that's supposed to do the job asks to use my tools. Had one sub-contractor come out to prepare a window for replacement. Arrived with no tools or materials. He rescheduled, arrived with no materials. 3rd trip didn't bring enough material. 4th trip didn't bring the tools. Finally, the contractor came out as well and the job got finished. - And Yes I had the tools and all the materials except the trim board and could have done it. But, I was paying for them to do it so they weren't using my tools or materials. Next time, I'll do it.

I do not consider my work to be the best, but I do compare what I do with what I see around me and I am better than a lot of what I see while realizing that is probably the cheapest contractor. So, if I want a good job, most of the time I have to do it. I also try to evaluate what I can reasonably do and hire out the rest. I hire out concrete work and heavy equipment (i.e. bulldozer, excavator). I've run an excavator before but rental costs here are as much as the machine and operator. I am slowly finding folks I can depend on, but they are pricey.

 

[dstig1]

It's nice to have an old ski racer friend that's a contractor... I might still pay a bunch, but I know it's going to a good guy. Our first remodel, he bought himself a new van!!!

Same with my dentist, brother of my neighbor... I get a new crown, the dentist gets a new boat!!!

I heard his work was going downhill....

 

[homesteader13]

I'm not sure about price. I've had multiple times where they come out to my house, give me an estimate, I say OK, and I never see them again.

I have seen this same issue in Montana the last couple years, including spray foam insulation for the ceiling and walls in my 30x50 shop, replacing the sliding 10x12 door with an overhead door and upgrading our solar system to the tune of 20k.
They come out, do up an estimate and you never hear from them again no matter how many calls you make and leave messages, SMH, makes no sense. Doing it all myself and saving money at they same time now.

 

[buck12]

What irritates me is when the guy that's supposed to do the job asks to use my tools. Had one sub-contractor come out to prepare a window for replacement. Arrived with no tools or materials. He rescheduled, arrived with no materials. 3rd trip didn't bring enough material. 4th trip didn't bring the tools. Finally, the contractor came out as well and the job got finished. - And Yes I had the tools and all the materials except the trim board and could have done it. But, I was paying for them to do it so they weren't using my tools or materials. Next time, I'll do it.

I do not consider my work to be the best, but I do compare what I do with what I see around me and I am better than a lot of what I see while realizing that is probably the cheapest contractor. So, if I want a good job, most of the time I have to do it. I also try to evaluate what I can reasonably do and hire out the rest. I hire out concrete work and heavy equipment (i.e. bulldozer, excavator). I've run an excavator before but rental costs here are as much as the machine and operator. I am slowly finding folks I can depend on, but they are pricey.

I have found that in many cases my results are better than the results I get when I pay someone else to do it. Granted I am much slower. It seems many contractors get in too much of a hurry or can’t get good help. It seems everything I pay for I have to call the contractor back.

 

[homesteader13]

I'm talking about really heavy equipment that I am not efficient at using... that would get hired out such as clearing wooded land. I admit when it comes to permits/inspections, I tend to plead ignorance if it is a mod to my existing structures.

Sometimes it is easier (cheaper) to ask for forgivness than permission.

 

[Doofy]

In 68 years, the only thing I have paid someone else to do are front end alignments and brain surgery.

 

[milkman636]

Yep, just got a quote of $12,500 for a 30x40 concrete slab. Just a bare slab for my kids to play basketball on. He wanted extra to pour a post base. There are no grade issues, no high strength special concrete request, no access issues for the truck etc. We got into a bit of a conversation afterwards and he said that he is paying more than ever for help now and still having trouble getting guys to come to work. The other company I called said they were booked until October already, so I didn't even have them provide a bid.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I just remembered another one.

Water well contractor came out and said I needed a pressure regulator replaced on my computer operated well pump.
Said the part would be $600.00 and then he needed to reprogram the computer.

I looked up that part on the internet and it was under $200.00, I purchased it replaced it ( It was like replacing a spark plug). I started the computer back up and everything ran perfectly.

This guy looked me right in the eye knowing full well that he didn't need to program the computer and told me he needed to charge me $1,000 for NOTHING.

How do these people live with themselves?

 

[Cat_Driver]

Might put an ad in the Craigslist for concrete guys to do a side job on a Saturday for some extra cash. You buy the concreate, 2'x6's they provide labor and tools.
4" you need 15 yards. or about $2,000 or less. pay the 5 guys $200.00 ea. for a day's work. 3K and you can get er done.

 

[Doofy]

Yep, just got a quote of $12,500 for a 30x40 concrete slab. Just a bare slab for my kids to play basketball on. He wanted extra to pour a post base. There are no grade issues, no high strength special concrete request, no access issues for the truck etc. We got into a bit of a conversation afterwards and he said that he is paying more than ever for help now and still having trouble getting guys to come to work. The other company I called said they were booked until October already, so I didn't even have them provide a bid.

What would an asphalt pad cost? Should be at least half that.

 

[Doofy]

I just remembered another one.

Water well contractor came out and said I needed a pressure regulator replaced on my computer operated well pump.
Said the part would be $600.00 and then he needed to reprogram the computer.

I looked up that part on the internet and it was under $200.00, I purchased it replaced it ( It was like replacing a spark plug). I started the computer back up and everything ran perfectly.

This guy looked me right in the eye knowing full well that he didn't need to program the computer and told me he needed to charge me $1,000 for NOTHING.

How do these people live with themselves?

There appears to be no conscience when money is involved.

 

[Gem99ultra]

We have a similar problem here in mid-Georgia. Lots and lots of people out of work. Don't know if they don't WANT to work or simply can't find the right 'management' job. They seldom even show up to give a price quote, and more rarely even after giving some absurd quote, do they ever actually show up to DO any work.

This problem isn't only since the Covid-19 pandemic - its been this way for as long as we've lived here. Only solution I've found is to either do it myself, or it doesn't get done. I'm thinking that, according to the above comments, there's a lot of people out there that are getting enough government assistance that they don't have to work. ???

 

[shooterdon]

Why work when you can get $900+ a week on unemployment?

My friend is a concrete worker. He is making more money by not working than he as ever earned in his life.

And CatDriver, I tried your idea on a driveway I wanted done. I offered the concrete guys I know $35/hr cash and they wanted $75/hr for a side job. Told them I could get a licensed and insured contractor for $75/hr and they would not budge. These are not well-to-do people. They drive beaters and live in run down homes. They normally earn $16/hr and pay taxes but would not work for $35/hr tax free. Some poor people are poor for a reason. Either lazy or stupid or both.

 

[Dadnatron]

People are becoming less and LESS capable of doing things for themselves. This results in high demand for those who have the ability. With all the underlying 'costs of business' added to demand, the prices are more and more reasonable. This is nothing different than a $6 Bud light at the bar or a $40 ribeye.

But don't discount the amount of time it takes you to perform the task. Even though you are working for yourself, it isn't 'free'. But, in essence, I agree. Prices for everything has reached a point that DIY is more and more reasonable.

 

[drssg]

On a less sinister angle, I think there are some people who are hopefully good at their trade, but they are not so good or motivated to provide good customer service.

If they put in a full day of work making money, they aren't going to take extra time returning phone calls that aren't going to make them money.

While they are being pragmatic, I also think it is short-sighted. They are damaging their reputation and might experience the impact when work isn't so plentiful.

 

[oosik]

shooterdon - - Unemployment for the average laborer is like CRP for the average farmer. BTW - a whole lot of CRP lands in this neck of the woods.