unrealistic prices

I can't believe what some customers are expecting to pay for a quality professional tile installation. Guy calls me yesterday. His tile guy backed out of the job. It's on a slab, 380sf of porceline that is 13"x20". Everything is there I just need to show up with tools. He asked how much I would charge and when I tell him he is taken back. I said what did the other guy charge. He said he was looking for someone to install it for $3.50 a sf. I told him no thanks, I don't install for that low. Another guy wanted 2 bathrooms tiled. 1 room was tile everything including the entire ceiling and the other was tile everything to the ceiling and only the ceiling above the tub. He was using porceline that was 6"x10" in one room and 12"x17" in the other. I gave him a price and again he loved everything I told him I was going to do. He knew from what I was explaining to him that I was experienced and knew what I was doing. He just thought I was too expensive. I called him 2 days later and asked if he got other estimates. 1 contractor said he would do it for $600 and the highest one he got was for $1800 for everything, which he was leaning towards. That's basically $900 a bathroom since the rooms had almost the same amount of square footage, around 275 sf total for both. I came down in price a little and tried to convince him it's better to spend a little more on qualified professional so it doesn't have to get ripped out later. I haven't heard back from him. I dont' get how people would rather pay twice to have a job done then pay once and have it done right. I saw 1 guy advertising to tile for $1 a square foot, any tile. THAT'S CRAZY. I also saw a landscaper advertising he does bathroom and kitchen renovations. Who in their right mind would higher a landscaper to do a renovation? This economy is distorting peoples thinking and causing them to make bad decisions. If you can't afford to do it right, wait until you can.

[Edited by Stan on Fri, Aug 7,2009 at 11:15 am EST]

[Edited by Stan on Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 11:16 am EST]

Here is the real situation in most of the United States. With the downturn in construction there is plenty of experienced tile layers that used to work for contractors and have been layed off. They do not own there own business, do any advertising and no phone lines or secretaries. They are very willing to work for wages. The problem with many tile contractors is they bid an automatic 6 to 9 dollars a foot that seems to be the "going rate". When I tried to price a 1200 sq foot project with no demo and one bath and a small hallway on a slab floor, I called 3 tile companies and "Home Depot" I got that will be 7 dollars a foot without even looking at it. When I questioned them about this they said that they would not do it for less. I have all the materials.

I always tell people like that to save my number. We do repairs. Just got a call the other day from guy with 20" ers that I priced twice as high as the "Other Guy". The "Other Guy" forgot to mention he would leave toe kickers every where and never finish the job. I sent my tile setter (26 yrs experience) out there to assess the situation and his reply was pull all the tile and start over. Should have had it done right the first time. Remember that the internet is key. Make a website. But do not steal my pics. I have a tracker for that. http://www.mikebocktile.com

Mike, I've been going into forums now for about 7 years, and giving my website to anyone asking. In fact, in several forums I go into, it's in my signature line, and so gets posted with every post I submit. During that time, I've had one person try and steal my photos. He had two of them on his website for about a week by the time I heard about it, and promptly took them down once I emailed him.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

Hey Bill who did your website and what's the annual cost?

My wife designed it, and it's about to get revamped. Alot of broken links, as well as info that needs updating, not to mention it's time for a new "look". I've also got about a 4000 word FAQ that I've had on my computer for some time. I've put it on (it seems) just about everyone else's website but my own! As for the annual cost, (144.00). (I go thru Yahoo, and they charge me (12.00) a month)

Pay me now or pay me later

Wow that's pretty cheap. I had this company call me and wanted to charge $500 a month plus $30 a month for a mainteneance fee. They didn't even say I would get a website so I'm assuming it would just be basically a statement about my company. I payed $400 a year for a preferred listing with a website and this company I recently spoke with had giving me the same talk. I even told her that, but she was trying to convince me that they would do a better job. She said the $500 was actual the cheaper one and I asked her how much is a top of the line one. She said a moving company in NY was getting ready to sign with them for $15,000 a month. That's rediculous. If I could I would rather make my own website. Do you happen to know if it was hard for her to do it Bill?

With the right software, it's not tough at all. She got Microsoft Front Page a couple of years ago, and although she set up the original site using plain old html, she uses this Front Page Editor to make any kind of revisions. My stepson also has HIS own site (as does my wife) and he put HIS site together with the same software right from step one. This is his site:

http://www.ccs-tile.com/site/

I know it CAN get expensive if you're not careful, though. Originally, I wanted to have [creativetile.com] for my site addresss, but some jerk had already taken that and just about every variation of it. But he was willing to sell it to me for (400.00) a year. I told him to stuff it.

[Edited by Bill Vincent on Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at 11:33 pm EST]

Hi Todd here when you know of customers looking for custom art work in natural stone here is my site [amtilestone.com] and through blue host its around (7.00) a month.