Quote confusion!

[new2tiling]

My understanding for quoting was to quote either a daily rate OR by the square metre. But seeing some other comments, I'm confused!

Hopefully, not appearing dim, but when I see others quoting figures for day rates and sq metre, it suggests the total quote is made up of the day rate plus the sq metre rate. For example, day rate of £150 and sq metre rate of £20. Would quoting for a 10m² floor over 2 days be a total of £500? (+materials)

I'm sure there must be other newbies finding themselves in the same situation, but afraid to ask! Either that or they're quoting too high, and wondering why they don't get work, or quoting too low, and can't believe why they are getting so much work!!

All answers appreciated.

Personally we quote things like preparation, laying UFH on a day rate and work the tiling out on a metre square rate. We then check between the two.

For example, tiling 10 square metres, if day rate was £100 and square metre rate was £25.

Square metre = £250
Say 2 days to do job =£200.

Would probably go in around the £220 area (+materials)

[Dan]

I copy that. And have given both you lads acces to the Pro's room where there is a quoting / pricing forum just for this reason.

Generally as a rule of thumb you can quote day rates for small jobs (kitchen splashbacks and WC floors and porches etc) but any bathroom type job or showroom floor or any large amount of meterage you want to make sure you dont get stung so you have a per meter price and always make the materials an additional cost and have a clause to state your quantities are estimates adhesive-wise. As you never really know how much bedding is needed till you're on the job.

Realistically though your meterage price and day rate should be near to one another overall. As you want to try and make a steady constant wage and not just win some loose some (although you'll still win some and loose some.... you just would be a bit more controlled with it).

For example. Mrs Smith has her kitchen done and it will take you 3 quaters of a day.... you have to charge a full day, so you couldnt charge her a meter price as you'd need to be fixing somewhere else for the rest of that day to keep a constant wage.

But Mr Contractor will be sending you another 6 jobs soon maybe so you want to make sure you're clear and have a per meter price he can work to without you there. Then he'll get you to check it no doubt before giving you the work. Generally when the work goes up for tender you'll find most peoples prices are similar for large jobs as they would need to be to get the work. So it's then based on qulity and more to the point... how well the contractor knows you. But you'd never get a contractor job on a day rate, you'd just earn what you fix sort of thing.

If that makes an sense at all

[Dave]

if you price yourself £150 for a days work minimum.. then if you can earn more on price per mtr then switch to price per mtr... this way you know you will earn no less than £150 a day....

[Varley]

Exactly Dave, but remember if you are new and perhaps still a little slow the customer ain't gonna be happy paying 2 day rates for something like a 4m2 kitchen splash back, sometimes you just need to use your common sense, it all comes together eventually

[new2tiling]

Thanks to all of you for your comments which all make sense, and have been a great help. Hopefully others will read and learn as well.

[Roamer]

great thread btw

How do you go about tendering for commercial work?? Does it all come down to how well you know the site manager etc..........

[Dave]

Iv'e never actually tendered for work.........but i would imagine companys put tender notice out and then you tender for the contract.......but some will just use the same contractor all the time ....

[Roamer]

Thanks I was curious to how it was done

[GazLC81]

I have found it can be difficult pricing work to start with. I have under quoted a couple and felt like slitting my wrists will working for next to nothing!!

I have also over quoted for stuff and not got it. It's mainly down to expierence. I ask on here if i'm not sure!

Gaz

[tiler tom]

Experience is the key. First job I quoted for and got I based on the Sq metre.
A 7.5 sq metre kitchen around units @ £20 a metre and a 10 metre floor at £25 a metre so around £400 for under a weeks work. But next quote for the same customer was for a downstairs toilet floor at only 3 sq metres which I quoted a day rate of 150 which I got. So as you can see you have to judge the job so you are not out of pocket.

Recentley I was offered site work which was based on a fixed price of £20 a sq metre and you had to supply your own materials. On the face of it not bad when it came to the 18 sq metre bathrooms but the kitchens where a 100 x 100 tile at 3.5 Sq metres lots of cutting around sockets and cooker hoods so 2 days at £70 less adhesives is not on. So you have to take how long the job will take on board.

I also think that sometimes you can get too hung up about price. I know on some occasions I have been the highest quote that customer has got but they went with me anyway as they had more confidence (so they said).

It's all about getting on with customer at quotation stage. Have had people who decided they wanted me to do work without worrying how much it would cost. (as long as you're not taking the pee)

Have also come away from some quotations thinking that no matter what price I put in they just aren't going to use me.