We do a lot of bath room work. About 3 months ago we agreed to do a series of jobs for a couple. We were to blow in cellulose insulation in the attic. Then tear out the shower, install a new vinyl floor, install base trim, build a new shower wall and install a new shower door.
The old shower had a crack in it they had been using it with tape. Straight forward job. Only issue is the bathroom is really small. We order everything and I send a guy out to handle the bathroom and another 2 guys to do the insulation. Long story short I get a call from my bath guy and he says this ain’t going to work. I go out and find the method I chose, size of the shower pan won’t work at all. Way to big.
They have one half #ssed shower they are using in the basement but they don’t like it. I look over my options and am concerned. I propose we order a new pan, new door and come back……….in 10 days and finish. I do a quick figure and on the bathroom side of things and had planned to net $500ish after everything. So is say if you will put up with us and live with the delay I will discount the job $500. All while apologizing.
They say ok, they don’t see many options anyway. We do it, my guy is told to make it perfect and let’s try and get past the “we hate them” point. All goes well and we get paid. I break even. Made some on the insulation so I feel good.
We did a home show this weekend. They came up to us in front of a busy group. I am scared! They rave about how they love the bathroom, love us and wouldn’t call anyone else. Sometimes it works out. DanT
Replies
You cannot buy advertising like that for $500...especially unscripted.
Good story Dan. Congrats.
I'm curious though, do you ever do tile pans?
blue
"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
No, we have never done one. Not many have been willing to pay for it in our area. Even the better homes often are found with a pan. DanT
Okay. I was just curious.
Im no expert, I've only done one but the tile one I did took me only a couple hours to do the floor. That included a mud base (very easy) over a membrane. The tile per square foot was probably about $75. You might try one if you ever get into that sticky situation again. All in all it wasn't that bad. I had more trouble getting the side walls to work...but what do you expect from a rough framer eh?
blue"...
keep looking for customers who want to hire YOU.. all the rest are looking for commodities.. are you a commodity ?... if you get sucked into "free estimates" and "soliciting bids"... then you are a commodity... if your operation is set up to compete as a commodity, then have at it..... but be prepared to keep your margins low and your overhead high...."
From the best of TauntonU.
Nothing wrong with a new approach, as long as someone is willing to pay for it. I tend to try and stick with tried and true methods that are accepted by the masses. I never claim we are craftsman, just good quality installers. DanT
Gotta love that!!!
When I worked for another contractor, we did a lot of work on a doctor's big old place. I sometimes worked late and the doc would get home and we would talk for a while. I usually explained what I had done that day, and a few other things like how they get the fancy grain on all the quarter sawed oak in his house.
fast forward a few years, and I am on my own. I was doing a project for the owner of an auto repair shop. I stopped to ask him a few questions, and this doctor is there talking with the mechanic too. After listening to the mechanic answer my questions, the doctor asks the mechanic, "Is he working on your house?" Mechanic says "Yes"
Doctor looks at mechanic and says, "Then you are lucky, because this man is an artist."
Still think about that when I run into a butthead customer.
On the flip side, I was walking through a home show once, and a salesman from a mudjacking/concrete raising company loudly suggested to someone walking by to take a brochure because, " You never know when you might need our services."
Person just as loudly said,"We had your services and they sucked!" LOL!
Bowz