This is a cut and paste of some emails with acustomer after site visit and quote. This is typical lately:
Me: Hi xxxxxxx,
Sorry for delay in getting back to you, first email must be floating about in cyber space somewhere!
Back from Spain and got your texts.
Labour: Fix and grout approx 16m2 of 100mmx100mm ceramic tiles - 3 colours/random pattern above kitchen worktops and remaining walls.
1 Window cill, 11 sockets and switches, 2 radiators and 2 door returns.
Materials: Adhesive, Trim, grout and Silicon in a colour of your choice.
Total cost of labour and materials £650
Kind regards
Nick
Customer: Hi Nick,
Sorry its taken me a while to get back to you. Just trying to work out my finances at the moment as i only earn £1,097 a month at xxxxx and my rent and mortgage are £620 a month then i have my bills on top so it doesn't leave me much spare. Got my mot and insurance in September which will cost me nearly £2,000... Long story! When were.you looking to be able to come and.do it? Any chance you can.do it any cheaper? Had a quote for £565 and one for £590
Me: Hi xxxxxxxx,
I've had to increase my labour charge to cover the cost of diesel as I am no longer local to Derby.
Unfortunately I can't go any cheaper but would accept £400 on completion with the remaining balance
of £250 to be paid after 1 calender month.
If this makes it feasable then just let me know when would be a good time and I'll try to sort it.
Kind regards
Customer: Hi Nick,
Sorry again for late reply. I don't have tv or internet in my new house, so can only access email via my mobile and it's not always easy to write an email as it uses the little data allowance that I have!
I have just paid my car insurance and have my MOT coming up so I have more of an idea now of how much cash I have left after bills etc. Would have likedto have gotten TV as I am going insane being able to watch only DVDs lol ... but think that might be a way off as I can only get Sky in my area :-( And thats £40 minimum.
So - do I pay you in cash? I should be able to pay the £400 straight off on completion, so that sounds great. Don't suppose I can twist your arm a little and have me pay £200 the following month, saving me £50? Just frustrating as I hear very good reviews about yur work, so I know the job will done properly, but it means that I would have paid out £1,500 for my kitchen, which sounds silly! I have a number of people offering to do the job fo free and have quotes for a lot less, from people who are also not local (one is even from down south). Just trying to work out why your costs are as they are, lol. If you can knock anything off at all, that would be really apreciated. Struggling because I only just earn £1,000 a month at xxxxx so money is very very tight!
Me: Hi xxxxxxxxx,
I charge at the high end as my work is of a very high
standard. Means I use the correct prep and materials and take my time to get it looking perfect. This is reflected in my pricing. I have still not needed to advertise as yet as I am always in demand from word of mouth, recommendations and repeat work so I must be doing something right!
Could maybe lose the £50 if you were to lower the height of the tiling up the walls. This would also mean even more unopened boxes of tiles to take back (best check with the store you got them from first though)
Best wishes
Customer: Hiya, will stick to the original design height etc. What kind/colour trim options do i have a choice from included in the £650? What kind of times are you able to come to do the job as i imagine it may take a few days and do you have an idea when you'll be free?
Cheers, xxxxxxx
Me: Hi xxxxxxxx,
We discussed leaving the top row free of trim to reduce cost and to use trim around the window above your sink and external corners of door reveals. Plastic trim in various colours are available but metal chrome trim looks best. It's quite a bit more pricey than the plastic but would be willing to supply it as per my quote. You can of course go plastic if you wish and from memory I would recommend a beige colour as a beige grout would probably marry best with the colour selection of your tiles.
Starting a bathroom tomorrow which will be completed by 9th Sep, I may be free week beginning 12th but am waiting on a call from a delayed bathroom job as to when I can start. This delayed job is a priority but if they don't get back to me soon (this week) then my conscience is clear to book other jobs in.
Cheers
Customer: Sounds great! It is actually chrome trim that i planned to have as i think its looks nicest and yes, i remember you saying about filling the tops of the tiles, otherwise i would need metres of the stuff! Let me know when you know you're available and hopefully we can arrange something soon
Got there in the end!!!
How odd to be given a run down of prospective customers' income and outgoings!
