Anyone else getting quoted insane prices for work around your place?

[Cat_Driver]

I was quoted all over town and out of town 8K for an Aluminum welding job. I bought all the metal, PLUS THE WELDER and materials, cheaper than what I was quoted by 5K plus now I own an amazing Miller welder.

That's twice that's happened recently to me having people charge exorbitant prices for their work.

Had two separate quotes for some brushwork and chipping 18K to do the work. I bought a 10K dump trailer loaded it all in the trailer took it to the recycler (40 trips). Cost other than the trailer fuel, and my time. I gained a nice dump trailer out of the deal and still saved 8K and if I sell the trailer now less a couple of K I just put 16K in my pocket.

I guess people are getting these high prices when they quote or they wouldn't be quoting so high for their work. Beats me, but when a guy can buy the equipment and do it cheaper by many many thousands of dollars. Used to be by the time you bought the equipment it would cost you MORE to do the job yourself so you always went with the bid price.

Listen, I understand labor costs, insurance, licenses etc - I also realize you can cook a steak cheaper but still don't these people quoting these jobs realize.

Anyone else getting insane price or is just my area.

 

[MossRoad]

Well, you didn't put $16K in your pocket.

You KEPT $16K in your pocket. And that's a good feeling if you have the time and ability to do the work yourself.

We are adding on to our garage. The garage package is about $5200. The concrete quotes were about $6500.... yikes!

So my wife, one daughter, future son-in-law and I did it ourselves and used my little machine to bring the concrete around in the bucket. Cost was about $3000 including all materials and new tools. Does it look professional? No. We did it in 3 pours on different weekends, and each pour was progressively better. Had I broom finished them, no one would be the wiser, and I'd have said Yes to the looks question. Will it hold up over time? Definitely. Did we have a good time doing it? Yes. Are we satisfied with the outcome? Very much so. Did we learn some things? Yes. Wife learned I never change (I think she knew that already). Kids learned how concrete works, and can now say that they actually did concrete work that was acceptable. I learned that if you don't tell your rookie crew what hard work heavy wet concrete can be, it'll take them about 15 minutes into the job to realize they should have been driving the tractor! :laughing:

 

[Diggin It]

Last I checked a few years ago, concrete was $100/yard, 4 yard minimum.

Recently got quoted $10/ft installed for 6" seamless gutter.

Quoted $500 minimum to clip off a 6" diameter Oak tree branch hanging about 25' above ground.

 

[oosik]

I don't even seek quotes. I'm retired and on a limited budget. If I can't do it - it didn't really need to be done.

 

[ericm979]

It seems like almost everyone in CA is doing home remodels or other construction work now. And everyone else is DIYing. Two of our neighbors have home remodels going and another's trying to build an ADU (though to be fair that was in the works before Covid). The local hardware store is more crowded than I have ever seen it and the Home Despot is out of pressure treated lumber.

Labor prices have been high where I am for a while, but I'm closer to major metro areas. You may be seeing the same effect now.

There's a lot of people who don't have the skills or the time to DIY but they have money to pay others to do it.

 

[drssg]

I'm not sure about price. I've had multiple times where they come out to my house, give me an estimate, I say OK, and I never see them again.

 

[old and tired]

It's nice to have an old ski racer friend that's a contractor... I might still pay a bunch, but I know it's going to a good guy. Our first remodel, he bought himself a new van!!!

Same with my dentist, brother of my neighbor... I get a new crown, the dentist gets a new boat!!!

 

[Doofy]

I don't even seek quotes. I'm retired and on a limited budget. If I can't do it - it didn't really need to be done.

Same here. Hiring a job out might not be so bad if you were guaranteed to get a quality job, exactly the way you wanted and for the agreed price. Seems like everyone wants max profit for minimum work. Not biting, ever again.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

My neighbor just got a quote for some fencing.... removing old 4"x4" wire fence from t-posts, reinstalling 2x4" welded wire, 5'tall ----- $18,000 was the cheapest, $22k the highest... crazy prices! This was around the perimeter of a square 5 acre parcel, no obstructions or obstacles.

I paid $2200 for an electric meter power pedestal, and I dug the hole for the base and supplied the concrete! Took them about 4 hours...I could have purchased the same pedestal and supplies for around $300.

Another neighbor was just quoted $2600 to add a sub panel right next to the existing panel! That was their cheapest quote!

I am like Oosik.... if I cannot do it ... it won't be done (unless critically needed and requires Licensed contractor in order to get inspections, like the meter base). Then they have you over a barrel!

 

[/pine]

Just speculation but it seems like a lot of businesses and contractors etc. are trying to make up for lost revenue do to COVID.. many that lost employees are having to pay top wages to find quality help that's willing to work...many are/were making more on the handouts than they were working...

 

[dragoneggs]

I find it very difficult for me to hire something out unless it demands heavy equipment. I just can't stand to pay dearly for a tradesman come to my place, when I can DIY, even though it will take longer and the quality might not be as good.

I feel sorry for those that need to pay a huge chunk of cash to someone that makes far more per hour than they do. :smiley_aafz:

 

[Steppenwolfe]

My neighbor just got a quote for some fencing.... removing old 4"x4" wire fence from t-posts, reinstalling 2x4" welded wire, 5'tall ----- $18,000 was the cheapest, $22k the highest... crazy prices! This was around the perimeter of a square 5 acre parcel, no obstructions or obstacles.

I paid $2200 for an electric meter power pedestal, and I dug the hole for the base and supplied the concrete! Took them about 4 hours...I could have purchased the same pedestal and supplies for around $300.

Another neighbor was just quoted $2600 to add a sub panel right next to the existing panel! That was their cheapest quote!

I am like Oosik.... if I cannot do it ... it won't be done (unless critically needed and requires Licensed contractor in order to get inspections, like the meter base). Then they have you over a barrel!

I just had 600 ft of 5ft high tensile tornado wire fence installed at our farm. 6 inch round posts 8ft tall driven to 5ft above grade, .40 treated, 16ft on center, two heavy duty farm gates and it was 5K. I thought that was a great price.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I find it very difficult for me to hire something out unless it demands heavy equipment. I just can't stand to pay dearly for a tradesman come to my place, when I can DIY, even though it will take longer and the quality might not be as good.

I feel sorry for those that need to pay a huge chunk of cash to someone that makes far more per hour than they do. :smiley_aafz:

I've never minded getting that huge chunk of cash...

 

[dragoneggs]

I've never minded getting that huge chunk of cash...

Me either. And I don't charge enough!

 

[fried1765]

I don't even seek quotes. I'm retired and on a limited budget. If I can't do it - it didn't really need to be done.

At just a very few months short of 80, that is EXACTLY how I see it also!

 

[KennyG]

It seems that everything is backed up and in demand. I need to get a certified inspection done on a furnace and water heater in a building and can't get it done until mid August. I'm trying to get a dishwasher and it won't be available for pickup until July 31. If I want it delivered, it will be a week later and if I want it installed it will be two weeks later and cost an additional $180.

 

[jjp8182]

That sounds just a bit higher than the normal insane quotes around here since there's a whole lot of white-collar workers who'd rather pay someone else to do it than pick up the tools and do it themselves.

Even when it involves heavy equipment, it's far cheaper to rent than to have someone else do it a majority of the time .... about the only reason to higher work out around here is if there's something that requires certifications/inspections - otherwise it's usually cheaper to buy the tools or rent the equipment (and probably take the certification courses) than it is to higher out some single jobs.....

...but if they can get paid at those prices the more power to them (almost enough to make me want to change professions....almost)

 

[MossRoad]

I installed our last dishwasher about 6 months ago. It's a pretty easy job.

 

[MossRoad]

Last I checked a few years ago, concrete was $100/yard, 4 yard minimum.

Recently got quoted $10/ft installed for 6" seamless gutter.

Quoted $500 minimum to clip off a 6" diameter Oak tree branch hanging about 25' above ground.

Concrete was between $135 and $150 per yard here last month. Add on a shortage fee if under 4 yards. And add on a Saturday delivery fee. Still came out way ahead doing it myself.

 

[dragoneggs]

I installed our last dishwasher about 6 months ago. It's a pretty easy job.

Yep... simple job. When we moved, I swapped our Bosch dishwasher from our old place with the noisy Kitchen Aid or Whirlpool or whatever from our new place. So glad I did that 12 years ago. Bosch still like new other than some worn labels on the buttons.