How to deal with contractors pricing your project by zip code?

[Anonymous]

Get multiple quotes and be upfront to each that you are doing so.

[Anonymous]

You aren't special because of your zip code. I price by the job but also in consideration of the client. From experience, I can tell right away which clients are going to be a real problem costing me extra time and money on the job with extra demands along the way, or just really difficult to deal with in the first place. They get priced accordingly. And guess what, almost all those people tend to be in the more affluent neighborhoods. Attorneys are some of the worst people to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in two very different local zip codes and the prices for most stuff have been the same. Plumbing, electrical, blah blah. Idk what else you are sourcing but my home maintenance costs are very similar.

The most annoying thing in fact is that some vendors exclude PG county from their “service area.”

I'd rather work with people in PG than MOCO any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You aren't special because of your zip code. I price by the job but also in consideration of the client. From experience, I can tell right away which clients are going to be a real problem costing me extra time and money on the job with extra demands along the way, or just really difficult to deal with in the first place. They get priced accordingly. And guess what, almost all those people tend to be in the more affluent neighborhoods. Attorneys are some of the worst people to deal with.

+1. Attorneys are horrific and I simply won’t take them on as clients.

[Anonymous]

Literally just went through this with a well known glass shower door company in the area.

The bid changed once they saw the house. The measurements were the same but the initial bid was on the belief the house was in Annandale and it increased by 20% when they realized the house was in Mclean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a remodeler in Fairfield County, Ct.

I have never priced by zip code.

But I am changing that and it is because of client expectations.

In the affluent towns clients have very high expectations - not for construction per se but contractor availability, construction schedule and timelines, etc.

So I am raising prices in certain towns among other criteria because demanding clients limit my ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.

I am also trying to do more work in other parts of the state because of this.

And I know a lot of mechanical trades are trying to not do construction work only service work.

I also find the architects and interior designers that service these clients are also a PITA.

Nice. Charge more because people have standards. I want a contractor who has high standards regardless of the job size.

[Anonymous]

I tell them I live in Rockville 20854 not Potomac 20854, which is the truth. My realtor told me to say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get multiple quotes and be upfront to each that you are doing so.

+1

[Anonymous]

You can’t. All you can do is get multiple quotes and choose the best value given where you live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a remodeler in Fairfield County, Ct.

I have never priced by zip code.

But I am changing that and it is because of client expectations.

In the affluent towns clients have very high expectations - not for construction per se but contractor availability, construction schedule and timelines, etc.

So I am raising prices in certain towns among other criteria because demanding clients limit my ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.

I am also trying to do more work in other parts of the state because of this.

And I know a lot of mechanical trades are trying to not do construction work only service work.

I also find the architects and interior designers that service these clients are also a PITA.

Nice. Charge more because people have standards. I want a contractor who has high standards regardless of the job size.

PP - no that’s not what I said.

I am charging more because client asks for a weekly schedule to be delivered Sunday night.

I am charging more because the client decides that the construction should complete so decides to hold back 1/2 my payment.

I am charging more because the client texts at 7:30 pm and then follows up in the morning referencing yesterday’s text.

I am charging more because their interior designer keeps changing her mind.

I am charging more because their father needs everyone to move their trucks because he wants to leave with no notice. And no he can’t wait.

I am charging more because their Architect wants to run the job - well except for the bid part because they don’t want to lose money.

The list goes on and on…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a remodeler in Fairfield County, Ct.

I have never priced by zip code.

But I am changing that and it is because of client expectations.

In the affluent towns clients have very high expectations - not for construction per se but contractor availability, construction schedule and timelines, etc.

So I am raising prices in certain towns among other criteria because demanding clients limit my ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.

I am also trying to do more work in other parts of the state because of this.

And I know a lot of mechanical trades are trying to not do construction work only service work.

I also find the architects and interior designers that service these clients are also a PITA.

Nice. Charge more because people have standards. I want a contractor who has high standards regardless of the job size.

PP - no that’s not what I said.

I am charging more because client asks for a weekly schedule to be delivered Sunday night.

I am charging more because the client decides that the construction should complete so decides to hold back 1/2 my payment.

I am charging more because the client texts at 7:30 pm and then follows up in the morning referencing yesterday’s text.

I am charging more because their interior designer keeps changing her mind.

I am charging more because their father needs everyone to move their trucks because he wants to leave with no notice. And no he can’t wait.

I am charging more because their Architect wants to run the job - well except for the bid part because they don’t want to lose money.

The list goes on and on…

this exactly. The richer the client, the more demanding and the more they expect all service providers to be at their beck and call 24/7. If you want that kind of service, you need to be willing to pony up for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I tell them I live in Rockville 20854 not Potomac 20854, which is the truth. My realtor told me to say that.

What does GPS show?

[Anonymous]

I always get multiple quotes and have never had an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You aren't special because of your zip code. I price by the job but also in consideration of the client. From experience, I can tell right away which clients are going to be a real problem costing me extra time and money on the job with extra demands along the way, or just really difficult to deal with in the first place. They get priced accordingly. And guess what, almost all those people tend to be in the more affluent neighborhoods. Attorneys are some of the worst people to deal with.

+1. Attorneys are horrific and I simply won’t take them on as clients.

How would you know they are attorneys?

[Anonymous]

Multiple quotes. Exact work quoted, all were relatively close in price except one that was $20k more.