cheaper rates

[hillhead]

I don't like saying this but rates are definitely heading down in my neck of the woods.
I had a call last night to rough price 50m2 of 6"x6" ceramics in a chippy.
I'll not discuss prices here but lets just say i was well out again.
A big town close to me and a lot of tilers have dropped by 30% :yikes:
I have to watch this all closely,i have my contacts who know my work luckily enough but watch out guys and gals .

 

[DHTiling]

I have heard about rates dropping in ireland joe....but not in my area... i think by dropping rates it will be harder to get them back up...

So for me for now...NO way...

 

[hillhead]

Thats how i feel Dave,hurry up with the stickers so we can look different,it might just help a little.

 

[Thespanishtiler]

had a chat with a tiler mate of mine who lives down the street and he has found the same problem with the day to day jobs he has been to quote.

personally the top end work seems to be holding value, and if i get asked to do a quick job for a builder then i fit it in on a weekend and do it for global vouchers.

the problem is it's easy to panic and drop prices but so hard to raise them again.

i have quoted for a porc floor to be lain over ufh on 10 mm wedi in a bathroom and went in at the top of my rates with good mark up on all the materials as my diary is full to may - the quote was accepted and they will wait for me to do it. the other quotes where " too cheap and the tilers seemed desperate for the job "

round my way the more expensive tilers seem to be busy on good work and the cheaper ones running around on small jobs at poor rates.

hard work and good quality will win through this rough time ahead.

 

[davy_G]

Its not a bother if someone calls you to do the work, but when someone calls you to price it, we dont stand a chance. In the cold light of day, they find it hard to go past the cheepest option in todays economic climate. It doesnt matter how you expalain your finish, prep and materials used. Money talks just now.
As ive said before if someone I dont know calls asking me to price work i just tell them im too busy, waste of my time. Ive enough on with folks ringing to come and do it next time im free.