 Crazy bids (by Live The Dream [AZ]) Feb 6, 2019 4:18 AM
 Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Feb 6, 2019 4:44 AM
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Feb 6, 2019 4:46 AM
Crazy bids (by Smokowna [MD]) Feb 6, 2019 6:19 AM
Crazy bids (by Nellie [ME]) Feb 6, 2019 6:19 AM
Crazy bids (by Vee [OH]) Feb 6, 2019 6:42 AM
Crazy bids (by Jim In O C [CA]) Feb 6, 2019 6:45 AM
Crazy bids (by David [MI]) Feb 6, 2019 6:52 AM
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Feb 6, 2019 6:54 AM
Crazy bids (by S i d [MO]) Feb 6, 2019 7:06 AM
Crazy bids (by Ken [NY]) Feb 6, 2019 7:11 AM
Crazy bids (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Feb 6, 2019 7:30 AM
Crazy bids (by Robert J [CA]) Feb 6, 2019 7:59 AM
Crazy bids (by James [TX]) Feb 6, 2019 8:59 AM
Crazy bids (by plenty [MO]) Feb 6, 2019 9:12 AM
Crazy bids (by MikeA [TX]) Feb 6, 2019 10:25 AM
Crazy bids (by Live The Dream [AZ]) Feb 6, 2019 11:29 AM
Crazy bids (by CGB [MI]) Feb 6, 2019 11:41 AM
Crazy bids (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Feb 7, 2019 12:00 AM
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Feb 7, 2019 4:49 AM
Crazy bids (by Timothy [CA]) Feb 7, 2019 2:06 PM
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Feb 7, 2019 2:22 PM
Crazy bids (by Smokowna [MD]) Feb 7, 2019 5:42 PM
Crazy bids (by Ken [NY]) Feb 7, 2019 8:27 PM
Crazy bids (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Feb 9, 2019 7:44 PM
Crazy bids (by Cjo’h [CT]) Feb 15, 2019 11:59 PM
Crazy bids (by Live The Dream [AZ]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 4:18 AM
Message:
Have two issues I was going to farm out. Blew a circuit at the shop. To fix that and install a 240v 50a and a 30 amp 125 v circuits the electrician wants $600!
Then I have a leak and need to replace the main water valve and irrigation silinoids and pipes at my house. Plumber wants $350 plus materials for what he says would take him an hour and a half.
How are you guys dealing with the insane prices these contractors want now. I maybe can't work as fast (or shoddy) but for a thousand bucks I can spend a couple of days on it.
Mechanic wanted like $800 to replace the radiator on my car. We did it in two hours for $180 in parts.
Jeeze kids, don't go to med school, just learn a trade. If I suddenly stop posting it means I either drowned or touched the wrong wire... --47.216.xx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 4:44 AM
Message:
Your electrician may not be too far off. 50 amp wire, assuming its 4 wire, is EXPENSIVE!! Over $3.50 a ft here. How far is it running?
Obviously get more bids, but the electrical wasn't a shocker to me. I would DIY though. --50.107.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 4:46 AM
Message:
Your 30 amp is most likely 240v as well. Not all the expensive, but definitely more expensive that 12 & 14. How far are the runs and what obstacles does he have? Have to figure he's charging $40-$50 an hour. --50.107.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 6:19 AM
Message:
So there it was, an otherwise nice calm day, clear skies. LTD had a firm grip on a desert shovel when the electrician walked up.
"Yeah, My helper is gonna sit in the truck eating fried chicken while I zip in and swap out that breaker. You get that wad of money ready".
LTD " What the? Doctors don't even charge me that rate"
" Yes" answers the electrician " When I was a doctor I didn't charge this much either".
--96.241.xx.xx |
Crazy bids (by Nellie [ME]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 6:19 AM
Message:
And a $100 just to show up. --70.16.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 6:42 AM
Message:
My jobs in my places are even more cause I do a lot of conduit before the copper shows up, I am going to try tracking my labor. After so much romex being stolen i decided to make it a level harder.
--76.188.xxx.x |
Crazy bids (by Jim In O C [CA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 6:45 AM
Message:
My Electrician went from $125 an hour to $195 an hour. Bye-bye. I look for qualified and reasonably priced vendors . --99.23.xxx.x |
Crazy bids (by David [MI]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 6:52 AM
Message:
"How are you guys dealing with the insane prices these contractors want now."
You say insane, I say free market pricing. Capitalism baby! --199.247.xx.xx |
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 6:54 AM
Message:
Some of it's insane David, especially if the wolves smell blood. If a contractor thinks you don't know much, they will hose you. --174.201.x.xxx |
Crazy bids (by S i d [MO]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 7:06 AM
Message:
I agree with David... it's a free market. People can charge whatever they want. Customers can find someone else if they don't want to pay that price.
Supply and Demand. If you can get $195/hour for your labor, why not? I demand (and get) $280+/hour as a land lord. --173.20.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 7:11 AM
Message:
I agree with David,free market at work here.When rents go up we don't complain but if an electrician or the heating guy wants to make money we complain about it,fortunately my rents went right up with the contractors pricing so I am at least staying even in that regard.They have vehicles to maintain,insurance that we expect them to have,stocked vehicle with parts etc.If you don't like it hire a competent employee and pay the insurance and buy the van yourself.Doing the work yourself is not the answer long term,then you are thinking,acting and being paid like a handyman --72.231.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Oregon Woodsmoke [ID]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 7:30 AM
Message:
Free market, but in my area there is no one else to call. The younger generation hasn't gone into the trades so there is a lot of work and very little competition. If I can get anyone out at all, I have to pay what they are asking.
My criteria is now competence and not price. It's bad enough to pay really high prices but it really sucks if the high priced job wasn't done correctly. --98.146.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Robert J [CA]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 7:59 AM
Message:
When I was 20 and owned 5 single family homes, the cost of repairs, City regulations, permits and supplies were killing my bottom line.
What really got my goat was "professionals" were doing marginal repairs. I knew that I could do a better job myself. I had helped my father and friends on their properties and had some basic skills.
So within a blink of an eye I found myself taking classes. Learning different trades and getting my contracting licenses. Within no time I was challenging City Officials who issues violations on my rentals wanting me to make dangerous repairs without regards to my personal safety or my tenants well being.
Examples: scrap off the damaged cottage cheese ceilings and provide a smooth surface. Tenants kids were playing ball inside the rental allowing the a ball to bounce off the ceiling. The City didn't care about asbestos exposure of lead paint. They also wanted me to clean up after my tenants who'd allow mold to grow on shower wall. --47.156.xx.xx |
Crazy bids (by James [TX]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 8:59 AM
Message:
The lady called out the washer repair guy. He came out, kicked it and charged her $100. "That's outrageous the woman said, I want an itemized bill". "Sure the guy said, $10 to kick it, $90 to know where to kick it". --97.99.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by plenty [MO]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 9:12 AM
Message:
Once i said "$350! For an hours work, i dont make $350 an hour how can i pay you that?" Followed by my most famous words "I'm a little budget minded " then shut up and let them give you a new lower price. --99.203.xx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by MikeA [TX]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 10:25 AM
Message:
I've had pretty good luck finding guys who work at the big shops but want a little work on the side. Stop by some construction sites and talk with the lead site electrician and ask if he does jobs on the side, I've found that 3 out of 4 will take it or know someone who does at a much cheaper price. Typically they will do it evenings or on a Saturday most of them even have someone that can pull a permit for them. --50.26.xx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Live The Dream [AZ]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 11:29 AM
Message:
I'm trying to weight just getting it done, and the time to do it myself to save about $600 between the two jobs.
Just shocked at the prices. The plumbing I figure $100 plus parts about half of which I have. The elect I figured about $350.
Guess I better get to work before my hernia surgery next week. --47.216.xx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by CGB [MI]) Posted on: Feb 6, 2019 11:41 AM
Message:
On major repairs, I like to get three estimates. I have several go to businesses but I like getting an estimate from a company who I have not done business with before. --68.49.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2019 12:00 AM
Message:
LTD,
Some local contractors are now charging $75-100 to come out and look/make a bid on these small jobs.
BRAD --73.102.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2019 4:49 AM
Message:
Same thing as what happened with a unit of mine yesterday. Got a call, no hot water. Ok.
Process of elimination. Frozen pipes, burst heater, elements bad, fuses blown, breaker tripped. Not too much else that could go wrong.
My brother and I were working on cleaning up the set out the tenants house from last week and stopped by this apartment on our way to lunch. At lunch there's like a gas station / hardware store / appliance store / deli, all in one. They had some 30 amp fuses for $1.99. I grab them at lunch and took them back and threw them in at the apartment and she had hot water again.
Passed this unit heading to lunch and back from where we were working anyways and I fixed the bad hot water heater for $1.99.
Certainly saves $100 service call just for them to show up. --50.107.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Timothy [CA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2019 2:06 PM
Message:
The only thing crazy here is a self proclaimed multi-millionaire "he she" isn't willing to pay a set of contractors a fair wage. $600 and $350?! Those prices would be double in my neck of the woods! --77.111.xxx.xx |
Crazy bids (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2019 2:22 PM
Message:
Timothy regardless of where it is, you don't get big unless you continuously manage the small along with everything else. --174.201.xx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Smokowna [MD]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2019 5:42 PM
Message:
I haven't met the landlord that is busy writing up deals everyday. So it stands to reason, some landlords can get up out of the lawn chair and do some plumbing or electrical repairs.
Most likely it is good for their health, and enjoyable. If it isn't enjoyable then I wonder why they would be in such a business when there are other ways to earn money.
--96.241.xx.xx |
Crazy bids (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Feb 7, 2019 8:27 PM
Message:
Smokowna,I spend my days looking for deals and selling the ones I have,i dislike doing the work on houses and haven't done it in years.I don't even deal with my tenants that I have anymore,i have hired that out to a manager.I love chasing deals so that is what I do. --72.231.xxx.xxx |
Crazy bids (by Ray-N-Pa [PA]) Posted on: Feb 9, 2019 7:44 PM
Message:
If the plumber has to drive for 30 minutes to your place and eye up the job, 20 minutes to get supplies, and then drive 20 minutes back after spending 30 minutes in the store.......an hour and half to do the repair and then drive back to his shop - half the morning is gone
Perhaps $350 is a tad bit high, but it isn't way over the top.
What did you want to pay the person? --72.23.xxx.xx |
Crazy bids (by Cjo’h [CT]) Posted on: Feb 15, 2019 11:59 PM
Message:
About $10 an hour.what do you think?.......... ..............charlie.........................I still won’t come out of retirement,I know I’m missing out on some nice dollar bills or pound notes,but I Just don’t want to do anything anymore .No Thing ........... --32.214.xxx.xx |
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