----- Original Message -----
From: Shawn Grigsby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: KXT Help <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: KX-T: making lemon-aide
> I have to agree.. I have had people purchase stuff online for cheaper and
> then call me to install for them. Then they complain about the fee I
charge
> for the install of the equipment that they bought. I do have to make a
> living too...
Hi, Shawn...
As long as you give people a "ballpark" price before you start the work, and
tell them the type of things that could make the price higher than you
expect, you have done the right thing and they have no legitimate reason to
complain about your price.
In the past, when I've had to estimate a job with a lot of "unknowns," I'd
say something like: "If we can use all the wire the way it is, the total
price will be about $600. If we have to repair any wiring, it will cost
about $50 - $100 to repair each segment. If we have to install new wire, it
will cost about $100 - $150 per segment. If we have to reprogram the system,
it could cost another $50 - $100..."
The more you can explain before you start the work, the easier it will be to
collect when the work is finished. Put it all in writing, before you start.
I learned this from a dentist, BTW.
Here's something I learned from car repair places: Add $20 - $100 or more
per job for all the small stuff, such as tie-wraps, staples, tape, screws,
anchors, tags, D-rings, cross-connect wire, etc. that cost you money but
don't normally show up on a list of materials.
Our proposals included "miscellaneous small hardare," calculated at about
$10 per wire segment, plus maybe $10 per system. Bigger stuff, including
punchdown blocks and phone jacks, should be listed on the proposal and
invoice. Keep a record of everything you use. It's easy to underbill by
$50 - $200 per job. Multiply that by 50 - 150 systems a year, and you've
lost money for a vacation, a car or college.
Michael N. Marcus
AbleComm, Inc.
www.ablecomm.com etc.
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