Builders Profits

ashambles said:
I've heard in the UK (and probably happens here as well) - that sometimes local builders bidding for the same business can come to an arrangement.

Builder x wants to do the job, he knows builders y and z have been asked for quotes but are too busy. So he asks them to put in cover bids for him this time round. They'll bid prices that are too high and will make builder x look like an unmissable bargain.

Punter thinks he's getting a choice but isn't.
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Same two builders put in similar ratio quotes for two other jos i know of in the past few months.
 
cuchulainn said:
There is a another builder locally who specialises in bathrooms . his guarantee is that he starts on a monday and the bathroom is turnkey on a friday. I asked him over the phone to give me a ball park quote and he replied that ball park for a new bathroom was €8,000. €3000 for fittings, €1000 for tiles/floors and his labour €4000.

I'd hazzard a guess that the profit margin is pretty consistant on small work like this. dont know what it is though.
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Usually people like him get the job done in 3 or 4 days, that way they can guarantree to be out by Friday. If he buys a lot of bathroom fittings, tiles etc you can be damn sure its not costing him € 4000, far from it. Even if it was, and the work did take him 5 days, is € 4000 not good for a weeks work ? approx € 200,000 per annum ? Wish I got it, I am not a builder or tradesman.
 
rabbit. he doesn't supply any of the stuff. you do. he just rips out old stuff. carts it away and then installs new stuff.I assume he has at least one working with him. my friend has 2 working with him. and I trust him completely. the only items thats included in his quote is the door and ceiling. the door we picked out but as we are doing away with the saddle board :)eek: 6 other new doors next year) he is going to measure it and install it so he's dealing with the supplier on that and also the wooden ceiling in the bathroom. the electrics will have to switched around too. the 2nd builder who quoted ball park figures is as far as I know also pretty genuine. I believed him when he said that he only took on one bathroom per week and that I would be 7th on his list. that was 3 weeks ago. no doubt the profit is good but these two guys are definitely not working in tandem. my friend lives in northern ireland and seldom works int he south. I got a bit of a shock too when I was given the first quote, hence my 2nd enquiry. going rate obviously.I honestly think my friend is not the kind to rip people off.
 
cuchulainn said:
no doubt the profit is good but these two guys are definitely not working in tandem.

I honestly think my friend is not the kind to rip people off.
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I agree with your two statements above. No doubt in other parts of the country other builders may be more competitive for what sometimes is 30 or 40 hours work. Plus tradespeople sometimes get kickbacks from suppliers. Its a free market, free world, I do not begrudge them. Just shop around is my humble advice.
 
I ve seen threads where architects state that they charge at over 120€ per hour. A friend was quoted a €2500 fee for submitting planning permission. Thats his flat rate.
Whats the difference between one building professional and another??? Both require insurance
 
ashambles said:
I've heard in the UK (and probably happens here as well) - that sometimes local builders bidding for the same business can come to an arrangement.

Builder x wants to do the job, he knows builders y and z have been asked for quotes but are too busy. So he asks them to put in cover bids for him this time round. They'll bid prices that are too high and will make builder x look like an unmissable bargain.

Punter thinks he's getting a choice but isn't.
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This could be reported to the Competition Authority for action.
 
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