My Engineer gets $350 to answer a phone
Does anybody in Seattle have an engineer they’d like to reccomend who can work with a little guy. I’ve got one I like okay, but he’s got minimun charges for everything and I always have fairly simple design consults.
What I’m looking for is a guy who can occasionally size a beam, or write a letter that says its okay to use a Simpson tie upside down and backwards with a bent ear when it is in fact okay. Maybe asks a buck and a half a stamp, more when he’s (or she’s) gotta do some math.
DCG Your Neighbor’s Contractor LLC
“A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something.”–Marcus Aurelius
Edited 11/11/2006 7:14 pm ET by dukeofwsu
Replies
Had a customer worried about a flat roof not being strong enough so she called our mutual builder buddy and he told her to call in an engineer.The one she called was driving out of town and we talked on the cell phone he asked a bunch of questions and I laid out the whole system he checks the span loads and tells her that it was plenty stout for a roofand if she needs it he will sign off on it.
Charge ...nadda.I imagine if he wrote the letter there would be a charge.
ANDYSZ2
WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Did he ever come back to town???DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
now go read the post about the lady calling the contractor to nail three nail so the painter can paint.
Painter doesn't have his hammerin' cert., eh?DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
Does this need to be someone you can visit in person, or are you willing to deal by fax, phone, Fedex, etc.?
No, usually I can just explain or fax a drawing, and that's most effective for me. Nice to do business with someone you can put a face to though (or buy a bottle of wine for a job well done, lump of coal, etc.)DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
Why don't you write a letter to the engineer you like or have already, tell him the situation and ask if you can put him on retainer for a yearly fee, say $400 a year. That way you can ask the simple questions over the phone and only pay once per year. In the agreement you could stipulate that if actual drawings or calcs need to be done or something with stamp applied then he could charge accordingly.
Hey, send me the retainer fee and I'll put my blessing on anything you send me ... what do you think?
what's your stamp look like?
DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
I get alot of calls for letters like this. Its not worth my time for less than two hour minimum. $60 a hour. By the time I write it, double check the facts, have the secertary type it and mail. it add up, and the other customers are calling.
your's and woodway's sound like fair prices for what you get. I'd pay $150 a pop for two hours no problem. But, I get a little smoked when I use the engineer of record on a set of plans I'm building, and I ask for a quick change (delete a basement load-bearing wall and replace it with a beam and a post) and get a $540 bill. My other guy who I like has a $350 minimum, and I don't get to ask two questions for the price of one, cause they rarely come up at the same time. We're all at this to make a living, but c'mon, $350 to tell me something I already know...I don't want the cheapest, I like fast service, but it'd be great to have somebody I could call and say, "Hey I'm estimating a remodel, we're blowing out this wall, we need a beam to carry the ceiling joists, can you take a guess so I have a number, then tell me what it'll cost do an actual sizing, and do it within two weeks?" Sereously, anybody wanna be my engineer for a fair price?DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
The stamp I've got only lists my name and address, I use it on envelopes and such for my return address. I'd be happy to stamp that on anything you send me for say $50 a year. Just for this one time, I'll sacrifice and do it for $20
You could use the guy I use up here. Drop me an email if you want his number.
thank youDCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
I have an engineer that charges 500 bucks to spec 2 steel beams the wrong size... So after the job is quoted and the proper beam costs 3 times more... If it's not to much trouble could you drop me your guys number... He sounds like a bargin ;-)
I do like the guy, he's fair, and quick, but he's an industry with set prices, and sometimes I don't think I need $350 worth of answers. Maybe I'm being cheap.DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
oh yeah, and did you try to backbill that one?DCG Your Neighbor's Contractor LLC
"A wrongdoer is often a man who has left something undone, not always one who has done something."--Marcus Aurelius
No never backbill anyone anything. I'm a firm believer in the an unhappy customer will tell anyone and everyone willing to listen how I got screwed.
He was my archies sole engineer... she's a busy girl that'll never use him again.
His boilerplate bs bit him in the butt big time... We still banter over this one years later... She prays nothing else he designed and stamped for her ever fails... and she gives my customers a break on designs.
Life is good.
Sledge, have you ever noticed that the right part ALWAYS costs more than the wrong one that you were quoted?
Always, not almost always.
Joe H
So true--if for no other reason that if the initial part was correct no change will be made.