Read below what one property preservation specialist had to say about many of the Craig’s List and Yahoo ads looking for EXPERIENCED Contractors. When you are a professional, you need to work for professional fees. Don’t sell yourself short. Pass on the $20 lock changes and the $15 grass cuts.
Constantly there are emails looking for “experienced contractors” being solicited for work in different areas across the country. But when you contact these companies and they send you their price list, are they really looking for contractors with experience? The problem is those with experience know you cannot do an initial lawn cut for $20-$30. If I call a local landscaping company, they want $100 minimum a month to come out twice. That’s $50 a re-cut.
Changing locks for $22-$30 a lock? A locksmith cost $75-$100 to rekey a lock, and most of the time that does not include picking or gaining access into the lock. That is usually $25 additional, depending on the lock.
Boarding up windows, the price of a sheet of plywood is $20, 2 x 4’s are $2.50 each, and bolts can cost you $2-$3 a window or door. Can you board windows for $20-$35 realistically? There isn’t a whole lot left on the bone for travel, insurance, and to pay you. So do the math, where does the price include your expertise?
An expert would walk away from those prices, so who are they really looking to hire? And, who is really doing the work at those prices? One thing I know, it is not an experienced contractor.
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