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

[buck12]

Contractor prices are through the roof and it’s not just because of the pandemic. I started a cabin on our rural property in October. I planned to hire most of it out but have wound up doing far more myself than I intended. Contractors I have used in the past gave much higher prices than they gave me for similar jobs just a couple of years ago.

 

[dragoneggs]

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.....

I'm talking about really heavy equipment that I am not efficient at using... that would get hired out such as clearing wooded land. I admit when it comes to permits/inspections, I tend to plead ignorance if it is a mod to my existing structures.

 

[PILOON]

Looking to get a truckload of recycled asphalt for my driveway and not in a hurry either.
I also have known most of the trade guys for years.
Very disappointed in that they all seem to only want to do big jobs or municipal work.
OK some are aging and wanting to taper off a bit but it sure is frustrating.

As one put it, municipal work is a walk in the park.
Deliver the digger, dig a hole (1/2 hr work) go home but come back at 4:00 pm to backfill and you get to charge a full day's work plus transport.
The discusting part is this is actually more cost effective than the city doing the work themselves what with all the OSHA rules and the city worker's union.

 

[dragoneggs]

Looking to get a truckload of recycled asphalt for my driveway and not in a hurry either.
I also have known most of the trade guys for years.
Very disappointed in that they all seem to only want to do big jobs or municipal work.
OK some are aging and wanting to taper off a bit but it sure is frustrating.

As one put it, municipal work is a walk in the park.
Deliver the digger, dig a hole (1/2 hr work) go home but come back at 4:00 pm to backfill and you get to charge a full day's work plus transport.
The discusting part is this is actually more cost effective than the city doing the work themselves what with all the OSHA rules and the city worker's union.

Ain't that the truth. Sad.

 

[3Ts]

What irritates me is when the guy that's supposed to do the job asks to use my tools. Had one sub-contractor come out to prepare a window for replacement. Arrived with no tools or materials. He rescheduled, arrived with no materials. 3rd trip didn't bring enough material. 4th trip didn't bring the tools. Finally, the contractor came out as well and the job got finished. - And Yes I had the tools and all the materials except the trim board and could have done it. But, I was paying for them to do it so they weren't using my tools or materials. Next time, I'll do it.

I do not consider my work to be the best, but I do compare what I do with what I see around me and I am better than a lot of what I see while realizing that is probably the cheapest contractor. So, if I want a good job, most of the time I have to do it. I also try to evaluate what I can reasonably do and hire out the rest. I hire out concrete work and heavy equipment (i.e. bulldozer, excavator). I've run an excavator before but rental costs here are as much as the machine and operator. I am slowly finding folks I can depend on, but they are pricey.

 

[dstig1]

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!!!

I heard his work was going downhill....

 

[homesteader13]

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.

I have seen this same issue in Montana the last couple years, including spray foam insulation for the ceiling and walls in my 30x50 shop, replacing the sliding 10x12 door with an overhead door and upgrading our solar system to the tune of 20k.
They come out, do up an estimate and you never hear from them again no matter how many calls you make and leave messages, SMH, makes no sense. Doing it all myself and saving money at they same time now.

 

[buck12]

What irritates me is when the guy that's supposed to do the job asks to use my tools. Had one sub-contractor come out to prepare a window for replacement. Arrived with no tools or materials. He rescheduled, arrived with no materials. 3rd trip didn't bring enough material. 4th trip didn't bring the tools. Finally, the contractor came out as well and the job got finished. - And Yes I had the tools and all the materials except the trim board and could have done it. But, I was paying for them to do it so they weren't using my tools or materials. Next time, I'll do it.

I do not consider my work to be the best, but I do compare what I do with what I see around me and I am better than a lot of what I see while realizing that is probably the cheapest contractor. So, if I want a good job, most of the time I have to do it. I also try to evaluate what I can reasonably do and hire out the rest. I hire out concrete work and heavy equipment (i.e. bulldozer, excavator). I've run an excavator before but rental costs here are as much as the machine and operator. I am slowly finding folks I can depend on, but they are pricey.

I have found that in many cases my results are better than the results I get when I pay someone else to do it. Granted I am much slower. It seems many contractors get in too much of a hurry or can’t get good help. It seems everything I pay for I have to call the contractor back.

 

[homesteader13]

I'm talking about really heavy equipment that I am not efficient at using... that would get hired out such as clearing wooded land. I admit when it comes to permits/inspections, I tend to plead ignorance if it is a mod to my existing structures.

Sometimes it is easier (cheaper) to ask for forgivness than permission.

 

[Doofy]

In 68 years, the only thing I have paid someone else to do are front end alignments and brain surgery.