[MAK]

some great precis of the problem and it is interesting to hear rates people charge. But to my mind there is the price people will pay and then the price the job costs. Since I lost my job I have to look at what I pay others carefully and consider their daily rate against a price per job.  Daily rates are 120 - 150 Euros here.

So now I can not pay what I used to I question each quote and get them to explain the final bill. When I worked I just paid up - because I could.My daily rate then was more than a tradesmeans weekly rate.

Now I am skint I barter - killing and cleaning of 2 pigs . Payment will be all the blood they can carry, half a pigs head and some belly. I may throw in lunch - wine and even some eggs  If all goes well.     

[deepinthewoods]

''But to my mind there is the price people will pay and then the price the job costs.''

that should be 'the price people will pay and then the price the job IS WORTH'

i had an estate agents valuation before a job i did on a lovely house in falmouth and then one 3 weeks later, the difference was 19k. i made 2k. i doubled my rate after that and still havent ever lost a quote.
 you get what you pay for.

that quote above for the decorating sounded about right, 3ish days work, 1 days prep, 1 and a half decorating, half a day making good and clearing up properly, add 150ish for cost of materials.bang on.
 have you seen the price of farrow and ball lately....





 

[Small Farmer]

Deepinthewoods, there is a difference between commodity labour and craftsmanship.   

Craftsmanship produces a unique product for which there will always be a market, sometimes deep, sometimes not.  The price shouldn't matter to your customer because he puts a high value on quality - and can afford it.

But I recall a farmer friend doing a through costing of the agricultural contracting part of his business.  He not only exited the business, he  started using his former competitors because they were prepared to charge less than the cost of the machine alone, valuing their time at nothing. The same farmer employs Ukrainian workers because they value the money they receive far higher than a local worker does. 

There will always be someone offering a cheaper price for a lesser job.

[Lesley Silvester]

My £10 an hour man is unskilled so charges accordingly.  Having said that, he worked extremely hard doing some heavy work in my garden and got more done in the time than I expected.  He is registered for tax but I didn't ask if he pays it.  He is probably below the threshold and on Tax credits.  As soon as I have some spare cash, i will get him in again to prepare and paint my kitchen ceiling.

[Sandy]

I find the price does not always reflect the quality in the building trade, my ex and his brothers have a firm and so I used to know lots in the trades....we had our fave but some thought they were better than thier standard of work.

IF, you get a good, clean, honest tradesman in ANY trade....give him anything you have to keep him/her..home made cakes, wine, money,    etc etc