You may think calculating the price for a quotation is easy, after all we do it all the time. No, if you are seeking a quote from a builder or plumber in Kent, each job is quite unique and the spreadsheet we use has space for the following items:
1.Material
2. Labour
3. Fuel (hour far is the job)
4. car parking (if applicable)
5. a proportion of our overheads (you know, insurance and advertising)
6. smokers in the house? daily penalty for inconvenience. We may decline the work as we have to consider health and safety in the work place and providing a safe work environment for employees.
7. pets in the house? Possible penalty for inconvenience
8. Interesting people with interesting hobbies – price will include a discount – because we are interested in meeting you again and hearing more about your charity work, collection of African wood carvings or whatever (mostly because Mr Tara Plumbing and I are lonely people with no friends!)
9. friendly (sexy) housewife? secures discount of about 10% – the guys will enjoy working there.
10. Over the top sexy housewife who greets the workers in dressing gown or similar – add £100 per day danger money as no man can be left to work alone for his own safety. (Despite appearances, the men are frightened of these ladies!)
11. young children – usually discount – sympathy for sleepless nights, worry, single income household, etc…
12. teenage children – penalty due to obnoxious behaviour and the possibility they may destroy the work we’ve done whilst it is still in our guarantee period.
13. Messy house – may incur penalty depending on work
14. Rudeness on telephone or when we attend the house – huge penalty – we are not keen to see you again so we need a huge incentive to put up with you.
15. Invite us to a swinging couples party in your hot tub! We will come to the party but we won’t do the work in your house!
16. Then finally, add V. A. T., of course, 17.5%
So you see, it is not as simple as it looks.
Note: Item 6 & 7 depend largely on smell and there may be no charge if there is no inconvenience (& no smell).