@@dlconstruction5255 Your information is wrong. That $500 rule is Communist California. There is no such thing as a handyman where I live. I'm a licensed general contractor. Takes 5 minutes at the building department. Go in, fill out some paper work, pay a fee and go build a house.
ALWAYS do your very best when doing a bathroom remodel. Because every morning when the homeowner is sitting down, doing their business, they are visually inspecting every grout line, caulking joint, tile spacing etc. on your project.
i wrote estimates for 30 years and adding that extra 1k because of how clean the house is kept is a good idea. She could be a problem client with unreasonable expectations and perfection.
Had it happen to me I always add extra 500 to 1000 . For unknown .. few times projects ended up being great and easy and I charged my less 500 . It’s my regular Costumer easy going and fair .. she loved it when I said I was Able to keep it lower she ended up tipping me 200 for great work
I say it's not spontaneous, their are certain people that expect extra organization, neatness, cleanliness. That takes more man hours. So he is not deserving. He will earn it, and hopefully not drop the ball....
You price your jobs like me, dump fees, time, rough construction materials and potential headaches. Great video a lot of little points people probably won't comprehend, like why you are charging more for a made-up table but I get it, anyone doing it long enough should understand.
I remodeled bathrooms back in 1980s. everything was taking out including the floor. Move the plumbing/electrical to where the customer wants it. When my boss/ owner seen my work he said it was better then his work. Now I started my own handyman business.
Bidding is almost an artform and gets better with experience. No two jobs are the same. I know it's weird but I will sometimes bid higher just so I can afford to do extras that will add to the overall job and make me happier doing it. Perhaps extend tile behind toilet, maybe a dimmer for the shower light or timer for the fan. An unexpected robe hook or quiet closing vanity drawers, doors and toilet seat always seems to please. Adding those dollars doesn't mean I make more; it just makes sure that workmanship is the best and I finish strong with a satisfied customer.
I'd love for you to include the element of time to future discussions of estimates. I'm wondering how long you thought this job would take, and how long it actually took. It'd be nice to get an update on the cost of the job after the fact too.
I would like to say THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge. I am planning renovations and it is extremely helping learning the terminology on various home related items that are involved in repairs/remodeling. The information you are relaying is insightful. Just yesterday I had an employee at Home Depot ask me if I was sure I wanted to know what aisle kitchen sinks were on. I said yes “kitchen sinks”. He said I just wanted to make sure you didn’t mean a faucet or something else kitchen related. Men consistently think we don’t know what we’re talking about when it comes to shopping in these stores. I’m going to watch as many of your videos as possible.
Hi Connie. Thanks for the comment. It keeps me in touch with who my audience is. Some times I think I'm making videos for the same 50 guys that comment on all my videos. Comments like this really help. Thank you.
You asked a man for directions. He made sure to give you the right directions with a short confirmation. You got correct directions. Still a complaint. My father worked at Home Depot for 25 years and simply loved helping people. Have some compassion, woman. No good deed, fellas.
I’ve been doing several decks, stairs, garage conversion to bedroom, pergolas sheet metal roofing and estimating is always one of the hardest things to do, because sometimes I forget to add dump fees or project it takes longer than anticipated and a few times I completed them faster than anticipated, like you said man, experience teaches you how to estimate more accurately, i like your channel and personal experience they don’t teach that at school, I’m a concrete carpenter by tray I’ve been foreman and superintendent building skyscrapers and bridges, and now I’m thinking on what to do, trying to build a landscape company or maybe going to remodeling like yourself, at the mean time I’m taking advantage of your videos and knowledge, great content I’ve learned a lot from you, and still learning from you
I'm callin it here first, this bathroom is gonna run $17,500K+ when all said and done. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us Handyman!! Respect!! Hope all is well 7 Dirty Jersey out!!!
your pricing hits right where im at. when you break it down everything pieces right. i think a lot of people are unaware that is what it costs. tv shows have diluted their concept of time and labor and cost. also like me the concept that you just one person will be doing the majority of the work is a huge value once people realize that they arent trying to coordinate with 5 different trades and their schedule and when they want to show up and do their part whether its the right phase of the project or not.they just wanna get paid. plus people working on top of each other. its also more expensive. so many home owners want to be their own gc and are so proud to claim it. they have no clue where to begin. " we are going to do the demo" i hear a lot. i always explain that demo price includes breaking down the material, removing it from the home, disposing of it but most importantly leaving the space fully demoed ready to move forward. no broken vanity left in pieces because they didnt know how to shut off the water and deal with where it enters the cabinet. no framing sections with electrical run through it or old ceramic tile with metal lathe and thick mortar. not aiming to knock home owners, most home owners just are not equipped with the tools, knowledge, experience or ability to do this work. that in my mind is why they call us. one of my biggest pet peeves is someone calling me to come take a look at something for them, " they want my opinion". we look at their project and they have a few hurdles that we start to discuss. as a contractor you have to find ways to isolate problems and move forward with out wasting too much time. usually the thing they want my opinion on is something requiring a lot more work than they want to pay to have done but its over their head or whatever family member is trying to help them do it. so when i start describing whats involved to move forward they say " NO thats not what we want to do". ok well you asked me here for my opinion, i do not charge for my estimates and i have spent an hour or more of my time driving here and discussing it with you let me know if you change your mind is the line i have learned to give. i mean im the pro you asked me here to look at your problem because you valued my opinion enough to ask for it. i know from red flags the people where jobs will run pretty smooth or people just looking to have someone give them a price, i call them shoppers. then there are the people that think you can sit there and discuss the whole project and how to do each little peice of it, for free. your videos are great a lot of what you discuss are the hard lessons i have already learned. those lesson make dealing with these types of things easier and also thats why we can relate with you so well. i do think thats something that you could make videos on for guys that are new to this is the red flags and ways to protect ourselves from homeowners. we got into the work because we like the work then we learned we had to be business men, marriage counselors, baby sitters and finance specialist. so many people want good work for cheap and know how to haggle someone down to get it and if you arent well practiced at explaining the cost breakdown like you did in this video people WILL push you down to the number they want with out reducing the work involved. a lot of the guys ive done work for are health care CEOs and CFOs COOs and so on. they know how to get what they want and they are used to having people work for them. they are also used to pushing their chest out and making deals. you have to be confident in your ability and pricing and stick your chest out and know that you priced it that way and it cost what it cost. if you have a good reputation, portfolio and they got you from a referral you are worth what you cost. its not a license to be a jerk but just confident. that shines through and people see the VALUE in you as you like to say. one of the best lesson i learned was here on youtube about 5 years ago right before i really started to get better jobs and better paying jobs. i wanted to get every job and felt like if i didnt price things to get them id be without work. i was getting calls from all the people and jobs that good contractors were avoiding or purposely over pricing because it was a crap job or hard to work for people. * stop doing great work for cheap for cheap people. you think you will impress them and get a great review and more work. truth is you will. you will get more of the same jobs and same people. that homeowner thats driving you crazy standing over your shoulder watching you work and asking you questions, asking you to add in extra things to do, asking you to take off your shoes at the door, asking you to stand on this plastic outside while you cut tile, he just has more cheap creepy it puts the lotion on its skin friends that he is going to refer you to and say oh man i got such a great job done by this guy and hes so cheap. you have to recognize your value once you have honed your skills and avoid people trying to get something cheap or people that will just make your life difficult. find that good niche of customers though and they will refer you to others that are great to work for with great projects you are proud to show off. rant over time to get to work,
Here's how I estimate bathrooms. A hall bathroom full bathroom with the tub or shower and toilet will be at least five grand a master bathroom will be at least 10 grand. Hall bathrooms are usually 7-8 Grand and Masters are usually 12 to 15 depending on how fancy they want to get. Edit. I posted this without seeing the whole vid. Glad to see that my prices are on par.
These people are out of their mind I have a 40 square foot bathroom. I had two estimates and they start at $10,000 without even looking at it. Based on what you are saying and what you are doing for this customer. You can probably do mine for 6000$.
I had a remodeling company come In for a quote at 40k, without even asking me the level Of finishing I wanted. Now, I just about kicked him out right then and there.. here is some background on the house - 3br 1.5 baths. It is an old house, so I’ll give them that but I was thinking 30k at the max, and it really should be no more than 25k. It is only a 48 sqft bathroom . This was all before Covid, and any of the recent material shortages/people not wanting to work. Insane , a $588 p/sqft renovation. For that kind of money, I’ll take a stab at it myself first
@@themiddleclasstaxslave651 That seems crazy high. Us. contractors are busy right now and prices reflect that. I am currently working on a bathroom with a 32x60 shower and tiling the bathroom floor and patching sheet rock. I bid it $6k plus approx $2k materials, so $8k. I couldn't give them a firm price on the materials. It's crazy out there right now
@@travisk5589that is what I believed. I don’t look for rock bottom prices, I generally just want fair market value. I think fair value would be 20-25 that includes the cost of our finishings. The guy sent me a bible verse with quote too! As if Jesus could even get me to pay those prices 😂
Greetings from Croatia, I have to admit that all your tips are great and that I have adopted a lot on both the Handyman channel and this channel. thank you very much for all your advice and your efforts to provide us with many quality videos and helpful tips. thank you very much.
super helpful...speaking of security my client flys me to there 2nd home to work on because they dont want to worry about trusting more people...cheers
just curious the size of the shower? These are what i started with and as i progressed I slowly began integrating all the other labor that goes into a bath remodel. After many years of trial and error I have stopped using the one base price fits all showers method. I currently price showers by sq ft to start then add options such as niches,benches,elaborate patterns,tile ceiling, updating plumbing,and installing the glass door. The best advice i have is take the time during your initial estimate to get to know the site including taking pics and make accurate drawing and measurments. Note the plumbing type and condition and all layers of existing floors and walls that need removed. Its not uncommon for me to spend an hour and a half to 2 hours at a large bath estimate and then i usually make them a material list and labor estimate in next few days. Never give a price at time of estimate. I am never the lowest and sometimes the highest but what gets the jobs is knowing how to offer cost effective solutions that fit their need. I Insist on certain products be used for certain things that could become liabilities if cheaper items were to be used. Know the products you push and they will sell themselves when you can answer any question confidently and explain the benefits then people usually dont mind spending more. Ive used the Schluter kerdi waterproofing kits now for many years with excellent results and faster labor times. When the kits wont work i go with Kerdi Board and mud base and always schluter drains. Curbless showers with linear drains adds $1500 as the labor for lowering joists and added cost of linear drains. Usually a $3000 shower is the most basic 3 x 3 with 1 niche and semless hinged door. Most 3 x 5 showers are between 5000-8000 in my area. I recently was quoting a full gut remodel with a huge 10 x 10 wet area with freestanding tub in shower which is very popular these days. Had another company show up to estimate after i had already been there for an hour. this was a big company known to be higher end but the estimator was in and out in 15 minutes and asked the customers no questions as to what they had in mind. I quoated labor at $7800 thinking i was on high end and got job. As i finished it up the customer brought out estimate from other guy which was $11,000 higher than mine and was easy to see why as they literally threw in every single option you could imagine and charged for demo that didnt even exist on that job.I was 2nd highest and last guy was $4000 but again he left many things up in the air and they felt they knew exactly what they were getting with me. Even my material lists ill put allowance for the items they have to pick such as tile or vanities explaining price will go up if they go above allowed price. A custom tile shower done wrong can destroy a house ive seen it many many times so the people going for cheapest usually learn a valuable lesson down the road when the cheap shower fails, The last rreplacement of a failure we did cost $3500 just to get back to square one again minus all the mold and rotten joists/subfloor. Then they have to buy all materials a 2nd time and have it done correctly.
Independent Flooring Installations - you described my estimating exactly....even the allowance for materials. It has served me VERY well because I get jobs purely based on the detailed estimate. Customers have told me I was the highest price and went with me because they knew exactly what they were getting for the price. "Interviewing" the customer during the initial visit builds their confidence in you and allows you to gauge their expectations for you.
I picked up the Means Residential SQ.FT. guide back in early 2000. I have always been pretty good at pricing jobs however i tend to shoot a little low because my jobs are "side Jobs " mainly and I usually work with customers who are flexible with my schedule. I heard a while back that if you make more money on your side work than your full time job then its a good indicator that you may want to go full time on your side gig. Your videos are a breath of fresh air and im so glad i found them. Ive been in const. remodeling for close to 20 yr. working alot with rentals and i want badly to take that leap of faith and go full time to gain financial freedom and have a more flexible schedule. your the Handy MAN !!
Great video as always handyman. I do larger GC interior jobs with 3 employees and constant subcontractors. I always line item my materials, labor, and subs. For labor I write out a schedule and multiply the amount of days I think it will take by my daily rate. I then make a material list, add in my subs price and multiply everything by a 20 percent cushion. Curious to know if you add in a percentage of a cushion or if you just throw in whatever you can sell? I just sold a job where the customer got 10 different estimates. After the fact he showed me the estimates and I was surprised to see that I was not the lowest price by a long shot. Still got it. However I did notice that my material price was exactly the same as my next closest competitor. Made me feel pretty damn good about my usually “nonchallant” method of estimating. Thanks !
8:30 You should always considering having an appraiser come in to look at your home and ask them what you're thinking about doing, not a realtor (they do not set price) that way you will have an idea if what you're planning on doing will add any real value. That also depends upon how long you plan on staying in the home as it may take a year or two to see that return in terms of market. But if you're planning on selling a home soon it's very important not to over spend on bathrooms or kitchen as your area and market determine if you're just pissing money down the drain. Fix them up, yes, but don't go crazy.
I'm an appraiser, a single job or 2 wont even come close to breaking even. I've seen people spend $15,000+ on a kitchen that "might" get them back $7,500. Bathrooms return even less. The best thing a home owner can do is to keep the home maintained. Replace/repair items as or before needed, paint a neutral color if you plan on selling (the buyers will most likely repaint with their own colors but the home will be presentable until they do it), keep the yard maintained but don't worry about the perfect lawn/landscaping, and keep the home clean. Unless you are doing a total renovation of a below average conditioned house, you typically will not recover the renovation expenses. Per>>>> www.realtor.com/news/trends/top-renovations-to-boost-home-value/ "The report found that in 2018, Americans should expect to make back only about 56% of their cost of improvements. That's down from 64% the previous two years."
I never comment on...(anything really)... but you are The absolute best brother! You have inspired me and helped to position my family in a much better situation. Much appreciation and please keep it up.
This was back in I believe 1998 I charged $8,000 for a hallway bathroom total gut except for the tub and we did a tile tub surround repainted tiled new vanity toilet.
We charge a certain amount per fixture. Customer provides fixtures. The price is for rough in and trim out, and material the demo we charge for a day or so of labor some pricing varies on certain aspects like crawl space accessibility and nowadays with the touch screen shower valves etc " the fancy stuff"
I am in no way discounting your vast knowledge base but I could watch you all day. You have a great look (dancing eyes) and good bone structure. You should have your own show on HGTV. ...
I always priced my jobs with a very similar mentality. I gave a straight labor/rough material cost but also gave allowances for finishes to give the customer a rough idea how much the overall cost would be. I figured how much time it would take me to do it myself. Doubled it. Then figured what I wanted to make an hr after taxes and doubled that. Gave 10% of the overall number as "foreseeable overages" and sold it as a buffer for them to make last minute changes. If the job had a strict timeline I added 500-2000 for a designer(depending on the size and scope) and that was non negotiable. U want ur bathroom done start to finish in 2 weeks and u want the job started in 3 weeks? Here's the card, shes 75 an hr and has a full catalog of colors from the paint shop I use, fixtures from the supply houses I use, and samples of all trim and tile in fashion this yr. Better hurry and make an appointment. None of that "my mother in law is going to be here tomorrow and this color is hideous!". U hire a professional to install. Hire a professional to design.
@@bunnyman6321 Yes. But I'm no longer a full time self employed remodeler. I took a job handling customer service and special projects for a real-estate developer. Similar $, great benefits, way less responsibility and no more unrealistic expectations. Thats what the office is for. Works out great for everyone.
@@safffff1000 Totally agree, people change to change. These are the things that I did. Replaced toilet and toilet flange(that was a pain in the rear in a 70s house), remove wall paper and paint white , replace shut off valves and water lines, replace countertop and faucets and it just feels like new. Did not even spend $1000. The guy in the video is overpricing labor and material way too much. It is because of videos like this that I almost never hire anyone because I get the feeling that hey are ripping me off.
Price in the cost of doing business and being taxed to death and tell me what he really makes on this job? It’s less than half. You my friend don’t pay labor tax and business insurance, federal state and local, state licenses, city licenses for every city you work in. Tools constantly wearing out , the trucks and equipment we need to do your job. You don’t cover your own healthcare and the other 100 things businesses cover before profit doing your own bathroom , yourself.
Ok first thing, I do exactly what you do but charge more in the times we’re in (great economy) however, I exclude ALL materials from my contract. Will you do a contract video?
Funny story. My brother did a bathroom gut job and the lady wanted to meet everyone envolved. There were 4 guys and the lady all in the bathroom. Funny as hell.
@@Jessuschrist The tile setter, electrician,plumber and carpenter. The owners wanted to meet everyone envolved. My brother was like these people are nuts.
Hey Handyman! California is very profitable for us skilled Generals who do it all without using subs. The bathroom you described I remodel for 20k to 35k all day! That doesn't include moving fixture around or full gut. Those of us with excellent referrals ( who never have to advertise) can ask more because we don't compete with the guys who aren't very skilled and typically have issues completing work.The clients want peace of mind that it is done correctly and don't have to worry about theft. One of my clients left for two months while I remodeled her kitchen and two baths as well as some other stuff. Bay area has wealthy clients who are willing to pay for professional work! Labor & some material, but doesn't include tile, or fixtures.
That last 1k is absolutely necessary. It takes SO much more time to setup, cleanup, filth prevention, etc. That is the price you should pay for cleanliness.
Recently added $750 to a paint bid when homeowner said they might as well "grab my pressure washer while I had in on site because they needed to clean the patio and fence." I was like WTF are you thinking - my $3000 pressure washer was a paid for with labor, sweat and blood. I spent hours doing researching the purchase and further hours maintaining the thing to perfection. No way I'm turning it over to some presumptive homeowner who let their house exterior go to complete shit with mold, rot and peeling paint. Spent 2 minutes going over the bid and left.
that is the prices I do for all my bathrooms 9k to 11k LABOR ONLY INCLUDING THE NICHE WITH LED LIGHT ON THE NICHE COMPLETE NEW LECTRICAL UPDATE AND PLUMBING UPDATE ANDBATHROOM FLOOR PLAN SWAP IF HOMEOWNERS REQUIRED. .
Thank you for the breakdown estimate, great information. However, your “character” description would be a deal breaker for me. You are truly a professional to only add 1K for a control freak!
How do you generally break up your payments? All at once, at the end at the beginning? Do you have "milestones" that you collect a certain amount? Have you had a client want a retainer percentage withheld until the end?
Whatever price you come up with, double it ! ...A place I worked for charged $14,000 to over $20,000 just to replace tub, wall panels and faucets. Took a day or two start to finish. In Wisconsin.
The problem is most clients at least in my area are not willing to pay the 13-15K. How do you weed out the time wasters, and get the high paying clients that are willing to pay what stuff is worth?
Very enlightening. Thank you. I am not a handyman :), I do most of the remodeling I can do myself and bring in someone when I either don't know how to do something or can't. Interesting to know, how these estimates are derived.
Cause you wash it, you putta a tub ring on it! 🤪 If you wash it, then you shouldn't putta ring on it! ☝️😡 Don't be muddy, hon! Dirty - you see that he flaunt it! If you wash it, then you shouldn't putta ring on it! ☝️😡 Whoa, oh, oh, no, no, no, no, oh no, oh no, no, no, no! 🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁 😁 (Very reasonable quote!)
That seems unrealistic. Your probably looking at 2 days or more of demo and prep. 3 days or more of tile work. 3 days or more misc work. So unless you are working 12 hour days I'm not to sure about 7 days more like 2 weeks or more.
Good vid, Thanks. There were some things I miss in my quotes which cost me money. I usually throw in £250 as the Oh shite fund. I'm upping it to £500 +
If floor cabs Pre drill bottom of cab door, if top drill top of cab door (out of view site when installed). Screw in hook. When dry apply caulking then touch up paint. Hope that helps.
Cool video. What’s your hourly fee? Are you giving a warranty with your work? I may be speaking for the minority, but I think may would like to know an hourly breakdown and materials list that contribute towards your prices…
Video of the before of this bathroom is on my instagram. Go see it now. instagram.com/the_hand_e_man/ follow me too.
@@dlconstruction5255 Your information is wrong. That $500 rule is Communist California. There is no such thing as a handyman where I live. I'm a licensed general contractor. Takes 5 minutes at the building department. Go in, fill out some paper work, pay a fee and go build a house.
Good day , what is a good software for interior demolition estimating?
@@TheHandymanBusiness how does someone go and make their bathroom remodel video political lol
ALWAYS do your very best when doing a bathroom remodel. Because every morning when the homeowner is sitting down, doing their business, they are visually inspecting every grout line, caulking joint, tile spacing etc. on your project.
I doubt that, more like on their phone
@@josebarajas5368 Guaranteed for at least a week after the jobs complete
Thank you for this. I feel like I asked people this all the damn time and they get defensive like I'm trying to steal their work. Lol
i wrote estimates for 30 years and adding that extra 1k because of how clean the house is kept is a good idea. She could be a problem client with unreasonable expectations and perfection.
Had it happen to me I always add extra 500 to 1000 . For unknown .. few times projects ended up being great and easy and I charged my less 500 . It’s my regular Costumer easy going and fair .. she loved it when I said I was Able to keep it lower she ended up tipping me 200 for great work
I love a spontaneous thought as a reason to decide I deserve another $1000.
Hopefully she dont watch your channel LOL
Hopefully not because I tacked on another $1,000 for the extra drive time.
@@TheHandymanBusiness You're my boy blue! Time is money
I say it's not spontaneous, their are certain people that expect extra organization, neatness, cleanliness. That takes more man hours. So he is not deserving. He will earn it, and hopefully not drop the ball....
@@webtheweb ~ Exactly, working for customers like that is like the old adage of marry someone for their money and you'll earn every penny of it.
You price your jobs like me, dump fees, time, rough construction materials and potential headaches. Great video a lot of little points people probably won't comprehend, like why you are charging more for a made-up table but I get it, anyone doing it long enough should understand.
Thanks for the comment. Its good to hear I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
I second this!
I got Thirds, Good old OCD allowance LOL
You can't teach experience.
I remodeled bathrooms back in 1980s. everything was taking out including the floor. Move the plumbing/electrical to where the customer wants it. When my boss/ owner seen my work he said it was better then his work. Now I started my own handyman business.
How you making out in the field?
I appreciate that you support the market rather than many handymen who crash it!
After this video I realized that I am working for free !
That's my problem too, that's why I go to work for someone else, even though I don't like it
Lmfao!
Same
That thing with the add'l $1K made me laugh so hard. And I am feeling pretty down today. I needed that.
Thank you, Thank you......I struggle with estimating and I'm in the process of doing a master bath remodel quote.
Bidding is almost an artform and gets better with experience. No two jobs are the same. I know it's weird but I will sometimes bid higher just so I can afford to do extras that will add to the overall job and make me happier doing it. Perhaps extend tile behind toilet, maybe a dimmer for the shower light or timer for the fan. An unexpected robe hook or quiet closing vanity drawers, doors and toilet seat always seems to please. Adding those dollars doesn't mean I make more; it just makes sure that workmanship is the best and I finish strong with a satisfied customer.
I'd love for you to include the element of time to future discussions of estimates. I'm wondering how long you thought this job would take, and how long it actually took. It'd be nice to get an update on the cost of the job after the fact too.
I would like to say THANK YOU for sharing your knowledge. I am planning renovations and it is extremely helping learning the terminology on various home related items that are involved in repairs/remodeling. The information you are relaying is insightful. Just yesterday I had an employee at Home Depot ask me if I was sure I wanted to know what aisle kitchen sinks were on. I said yes “kitchen sinks”. He said I just wanted to make sure you didn’t mean a faucet or something else kitchen related. Men consistently think we don’t know what we’re talking about when it comes to shopping in these stores. I’m going to watch as many of your videos as possible.
Hi Connie. Thanks for the comment. It keeps me in touch with who my audience is. Some times I think I'm making videos for the same 50 guys that comment on all my videos. Comments like this really help. Thank you.
You asked a man for directions. He made sure to give you the right directions with a short confirmation. You got correct directions.
Still a complaint.
My father worked at Home Depot for 25 years and simply loved helping people. Have some compassion, woman.
No good deed, fellas.
0:16 150K Subscribers!? 260K+ 💣💥Boom. Love it! 😊👍🏻
I’ve been doing several decks, stairs, garage conversion to bedroom, pergolas sheet metal roofing and estimating is always one of the hardest things to do, because sometimes I forget to add dump fees or project it takes longer than anticipated and a few times I completed them faster than anticipated, like you said man, experience teaches you how to estimate more accurately, i like your channel and personal experience they don’t teach that at school, I’m a concrete carpenter by tray I’ve been foreman and superintendent building skyscrapers and bridges, and now I’m thinking on what to do, trying to build a landscape company or maybe going to remodeling like yourself, at the mean time I’m taking advantage of your videos and knowledge, great content I’ve learned a lot from you, and still learning from you
Maybe open a RUclips channel 😃🙂👍✌
Some Texas customers don’t want to pay very much for landscaping unless it’s a wealthy customer. Others trades pay better.
You should do something similar for a kitchen remodel, nice job
I'm callin it here first, this bathroom is gonna run $17,500K+ when all said and done. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us Handyman!! Respect!! Hope all is well 7 Dirty Jersey out!!!
........ For that, I'm gonna throw in anotha $1,000 😂
Honestly, this makes sense to me. He is going to spend more time and effort keeping everything immaculate while he is doing this construction.
your pricing hits right where im at. when you break it down everything pieces right. i think a lot of people are unaware that is what it costs. tv shows have diluted their concept of time and labor and cost. also like me the concept that you just one person will be doing the majority of the work is a huge value once people realize that they arent trying to coordinate with 5 different trades and their schedule and when they want to show up and do their part whether its the right phase of the project or not.they just wanna get paid. plus people working on top of each other. its also more expensive. so many home owners want to be their own gc and are so proud to claim it. they have no clue where to begin. " we are going to do the demo" i hear a lot. i always explain that demo price includes breaking down the material, removing it from the home, disposing of it but most importantly leaving the space fully demoed ready to move forward. no broken vanity left in pieces because they didnt know how to shut off the water and deal with where it enters the cabinet. no framing sections with electrical run through it or old ceramic tile with metal lathe and thick mortar. not aiming to knock home owners, most home owners just are not equipped with the tools, knowledge, experience or ability to do this work. that in my mind is why they call us. one of my biggest pet peeves is someone calling me to come take a look at something for them, " they want my opinion". we look at their project and they have a few hurdles that we start to discuss. as a contractor you have to find ways to isolate problems and move forward with out wasting too much time. usually the thing they want my opinion on is something requiring a lot more work than they want to pay to have done but its over their head or whatever family member is trying to help them do it. so when i start describing whats involved to move forward they say " NO thats not what we want to do". ok well you asked me here for my opinion, i do not charge for my estimates and i have spent an hour or more of my time driving here and discussing it with you let me know if you change your mind is the line i have learned to give. i mean im the pro you asked me here to look at your problem because you valued my opinion enough to ask for it. i know from red flags the people where jobs will run pretty smooth or people just looking to have someone give them a price, i call them shoppers. then there are the people that think you can sit there and discuss the whole project and how to do each little peice of it, for free.
your videos are great a lot of what you discuss are the hard lessons i have already learned. those lesson make dealing with these types of things easier and also thats why we can relate with you so well. i do think thats something that you could make videos on for guys that are new to this is the red flags and ways to protect ourselves from homeowners. we got into the work because we like the work then we learned we had to be business men, marriage counselors, baby sitters and finance specialist. so many people want good work for cheap and know how to haggle someone down to get it and if you arent well practiced at explaining the cost breakdown like you did in this video people WILL push you down to the number they want with out reducing the work involved. a lot of the guys ive done work for are health care CEOs and CFOs COOs and so on. they know how to get what they want and they are used to having people work for them. they are also used to pushing their chest out and making deals. you have to be confident in your ability and pricing and stick your chest out and know that you priced it that way and it cost what it cost. if you have a good reputation, portfolio and they got you from a referral you are worth what you cost. its not a license to be a jerk but just confident. that shines through and people see the VALUE in you as you like to say. one of the best lesson i learned was here on youtube about 5 years ago right before i really started to get better jobs and better paying jobs. i wanted to get every job and felt like if i didnt price things to get them id be without work. i was getting calls from all the people and jobs that good contractors were avoiding or purposely over pricing because it was a crap job or hard to work for people. * stop doing great work for cheap for cheap people. you think you will impress them and get a great review and more work. truth is you will. you will get more of the same jobs and same people. that homeowner thats driving you crazy standing over your shoulder watching you work and asking you questions, asking you to add in extra things to do, asking you to take off your shoes at the door, asking you to stand on this plastic outside while you cut tile, he just has more cheap creepy it puts the lotion on its skin friends that he is going to refer you to and say oh man i got such a great job done by this guy and hes so cheap. you have to recognize your value once you have honed your skills and avoid people trying to get something cheap or people that will just make your life difficult. find that good niche of customers though and they will refer you to others that are great to work for with great projects you are proud to show off.
rant over time to get to work,
You should get an award for longest comment. 👍
This is hands down the Longest comment ive ever seen on the tube
great to hear from gc perspective, awesome value !
Thanks for the comment. I can relate to almost everything, I can't help but think of people like you as a renaissance men.
Maestro, eh aprendido mucho de ti🙂
Here's how I estimate bathrooms. A hall bathroom full bathroom with the tub or shower and toilet will be at least five grand a master bathroom will be at least 10 grand. Hall bathrooms are usually 7-8 Grand and Masters are usually 12 to 15 depending on how fancy they want to get.
Edit. I posted this without seeing the whole vid. Glad to see that my prices are on par.
These people are out of their mind I have a 40 square foot bathroom. I had two estimates and they start at $10,000 without even looking at it. Based on what you are saying and what you are doing for this customer. You can probably do mine for 6000$.
I had a remodeling company come In for a quote at 40k, without even asking me the level
Of finishing I wanted. Now, I just about kicked him out right then and there.. here is some background on the house - 3br 1.5 baths. It is an old house, so I’ll give them that but I was thinking 30k at the max, and it really should be no more than 25k. It is only a 48 sqft bathroom .
This was all before Covid, and any of the recent material shortages/people not wanting to work. Insane , a $588 p/sqft renovation. For that kind of money, I’ll take a stab at it myself first
@@themiddleclasstaxslave651 That seems crazy high. Us. contractors are busy right now and prices reflect that. I am currently working on a bathroom with a 32x60 shower and tiling the bathroom floor and patching sheet rock. I bid it $6k plus approx $2k materials, so $8k. I couldn't give them a firm price on the materials.
It's crazy out there right now
@@travisk5589that is what I believed. I don’t look for rock bottom prices, I generally just want fair market value. I think fair value would be 20-25 that includes the cost of our finishings. The guy sent me a bible verse with quote too! As if Jesus could even get me to pay those prices 😂
@@themiddleclasstaxslave651 Wow. Even I believe in Jesus but that guy is insane 😂
Great content guys. Redesigning bathrooms is something we deal with everyday and you hit a lot of these points right on the head!
$3k for a shower demo and rebuild is absurd. That's cutthroat bidding. There's no way a shower gets done for 3 without some corners being cut HARD
Greetings from Croatia, I have to admit that all your tips are great and that I have adopted a lot on both the Handyman channel and this channel. thank you very much for all your advice and your efforts to provide us with many quality videos and helpful tips. thank you very much.
super helpful...speaking of security my client flys me to there 2nd home to work on because they dont want to worry about trusting more people...cheers
That's pretty cool.
Light fixture. $150.00
Mirror. $ 500
Brass Balls. Priceless
just curious the size of the shower? These are what i started with and as i progressed I slowly began integrating all the other labor that goes into a bath remodel. After many years of trial and error I have stopped using the one base price fits all showers method. I currently price showers by sq ft to start then add options such as niches,benches,elaborate patterns,tile ceiling, updating plumbing,and installing the glass door. The best advice i have is take the time during your initial estimate to get to know the site including taking pics and make accurate drawing and measurments. Note the plumbing type and condition and all layers of existing floors and walls that need removed. Its not uncommon for me to spend an hour and a half to 2 hours at a large bath estimate and then i usually make them a material list and labor estimate in next few days. Never give a price at time of estimate. I am never the lowest and sometimes the highest but what gets the jobs is knowing how to offer cost effective solutions that fit their need. I Insist on certain products be used for certain things that could become liabilities if cheaper items were to be used. Know the products you push and they will sell themselves when you can answer any question confidently and explain the benefits then people usually dont mind spending more. Ive used the Schluter kerdi waterproofing kits now for many years with excellent results and faster labor times. When the kits wont work i go with Kerdi Board and mud base and always schluter drains. Curbless showers with linear drains adds $1500 as the labor for lowering joists and added cost of linear drains. Usually a $3000 shower is the most basic 3 x 3 with 1 niche and semless hinged door. Most 3 x 5 showers are between 5000-8000 in my area. I recently was quoting a full gut remodel with a huge 10 x 10 wet area with freestanding tub in shower which is very popular these days. Had another company show up to estimate after i had already been there for an hour. this was a big company known to be higher end but the estimator was in and out in 15 minutes and asked the customers no questions as to what they had in mind. I quoated labor at $7800 thinking i was on high end and got job. As i finished it up the customer brought out estimate from other guy which was $11,000 higher than mine and was easy to see why as they literally threw in every single option you could imagine and charged for demo that didnt even exist on that job.I was 2nd highest and last guy was $4000 but again he left many things up in the air and they felt they knew exactly what they were getting with me. Even my material lists ill put allowance for the items they have to pick such as tile or vanities explaining price will go up if they go above allowed price. A custom tile shower done wrong can destroy a house ive seen it many many times so the people going for cheapest usually learn a valuable lesson down the road when the cheap shower fails, The last rreplacement of a failure we did cost $3500 just to get back to square one again minus all the mold and rotten joists/subfloor. Then they have to buy all materials a 2nd time and have it done correctly.
Independent Flooring Installations - you described my estimating exactly....even the allowance for materials. It has served me VERY well because I get jobs purely based on the detailed estimate. Customers have told me I was the highest price and went with me because they knew exactly what they were getting for the price. "Interviewing" the customer during the initial visit builds their confidence in you and allows you to gauge their expectations for you.
I picked up the Means Residential SQ.FT. guide back in early 2000. I have always been pretty good at pricing jobs however i tend to shoot a little low because my jobs are "side Jobs " mainly and I usually work with customers who are flexible with my schedule. I heard a while back that if you make more money on your side work than your full time job then its a good indicator that you may want to go full time on your side gig. Your videos are a breath of fresh air and im so glad i found them. Ive been in const. remodeling for close to 20 yr. working alot with rentals and i want badly to take that leap of faith and go full time to gain financial freedom and have a more flexible schedule. your the Handy MAN !!
Great video as always handyman. I do larger GC interior jobs with 3 employees and constant subcontractors. I always line item my materials, labor, and subs. For labor I write out a schedule and multiply the amount of days I think it will take by my daily rate. I then make a material list, add in my subs price and multiply everything by a 20 percent cushion. Curious to know if you add in a percentage of a cushion or if you just throw in whatever you can sell? I just sold a job where the customer got 10 different estimates. After the fact he showed me the estimates and I was surprised to see that I was not the lowest price by a long shot. Still got it. However I did notice that my material price was exactly the same as my next closest competitor. Made me feel pretty damn good about my usually “nonchallant” method of estimating. Thanks !
Would u happen to be from nc 😂
And another $100 in some nice t bone steaks. So the dogs won't attack you.
Saul Goodman you make my day lol 😂 😁😁😁
It's easy to grow a second channel when your primary channel has actual value to society.
Thanks Andy.
Thanks for doing all this, started a small remodel business and all this info really helps.
8:30 You should always considering having an appraiser come in to look at your home and ask them what you're thinking about doing, not a realtor (they do not set price) that way you will have an idea if what you're planning on doing will add any real value. That also depends upon how long you plan on staying in the home as it may take a year or two to see that return in terms of market. But if you're planning on selling a home soon it's very important not to over spend on bathrooms or kitchen as your area and market determine if you're just pissing money down the drain. Fix them up, yes, but don't go crazy.
I'm an appraiser, a single job or 2 wont even come close to breaking even. I've seen people spend $15,000+ on a kitchen that "might" get them back $7,500. Bathrooms return even less. The best thing a home owner can do is to keep the home maintained. Replace/repair items as or before needed, paint a neutral color if you plan on selling (the buyers will most likely repaint with their own colors but the home will be presentable until they do it), keep the yard maintained but don't worry about the perfect lawn/landscaping, and keep the home clean. Unless you are doing a total renovation of a below average conditioned house, you typically will not recover the renovation expenses.
Per>>>> www.realtor.com/news/trends/top-renovations-to-boost-home-value/
"The report found that in 2018, Americans should expect to make back only about 56% of their cost of improvements. That's down from 64% the previous two years."
The contractor I do the majority of my work for tries to price his jobs with costs per unit pricing. That system never works well for remodels.
I'm invoicing you $50.00 for viewing this video. That's my rate.
Haha
add another $50 for unknown costs ?
Lmaoooo
I'd be cautious around someone who leaves two tables set all the time. I've seen Criminal Minds before.
It did look a little creepy.
i was thinking the same thing
CIA..
@@TheHandymanBusiness Can your customer find your channel and the comments?
@@lightmechanic2370 No
What I like about you is your shop is Messy! Most of the RUclipsrs have shops that are immaculate. Mine looks like yours shows we are working!
Most youtubers don't run a construction company. I wish I had the time to build out the shop. I will get there some day.
I never comment on...(anything really)... but you are The absolute best brother! You have inspired me and helped to position my family in a much better situation. Much appreciation and please keep it up.
This was back in I believe 1998 I charged $8,000 for a hallway bathroom total gut except for the tub and we did a tile tub surround repainted tiled new vanity toilet.
Whenever I bid anything I always add 30% for my federal and state taxes....If I get the job fine if not fine.....We're plenty busy enough....
@@notsure7874 I like that!
We charge a certain amount per fixture. Customer provides fixtures. The price is for rough in and trim out, and material the demo we charge for a day or so of labor some pricing varies on certain aspects like crawl space accessibility and nowadays with the touch screen shower valves etc " the fancy stuff"
I am in no way discounting your vast knowledge base but I could watch you all day. You have a great look (dancing eyes) and good bone structure. You should have your own show on HGTV. ...
If I could do my bath again I’d go one sink, no tub and an outlet for the toilet (bidet). And white porcelain tile.
This might be one of your most informative videos yet! Great stuff.
Here I thought it was April Wilkerson calling you all the time. 😂
LOL. 😁🍺
Ha ha ha! 😄
I assumed it was See Jane Drill
How have you adjusted your prices for 2024 have they gone up? The 500 to paint a bathroom does that include paint?
Excellent job
11:29 "I'm pretty neat and tidy". then I glance at bottom right corner at the jumbled pile of wood :D
WOW am I undercharging !!! Goodness gracious!!!
I always priced my jobs with a very similar mentality. I gave a straight labor/rough material cost but also gave allowances for finishes to give the customer a rough idea how much the overall cost would be. I figured how much time it would take me to do it myself. Doubled it. Then figured what I wanted to make an hr after taxes and doubled that. Gave 10% of the overall number as "foreseeable overages" and sold it as a buffer for them to make last minute changes. If the job had a strict timeline I added 500-2000 for a designer(depending on the size and scope) and that was non negotiable. U want ur bathroom done start to finish in 2 weeks and u want the job started in 3 weeks? Here's the card, shes 75 an hr and has a full catalog of colors from the paint shop I use, fixtures from the supply houses I use, and samples of all trim and tile in fashion this yr. Better hurry and make an appointment. None of that "my mother in law is going to be here tomorrow and this color is hideous!". U hire a professional to install. Hire a professional to design.
You still work in the field?
@@bunnyman6321 Yes. But I'm no longer a full time self employed remodeler. I took a job handling customer service and special projects for a real-estate developer. Similar $, great benefits, way less responsibility and no more unrealistic expectations. Thats what the office is for. Works out great for everyone.
@@beepo8221 May you have much success 💰
@@bunnyman6321 thank u sir.
@@beepo8221 You're welcome!
NO way in living hell, I'm paying that much for a basic bathroom and I can fix a kitchen and bathroom for that price!
@@safffff1000 Totally agree, people change to change. These are the things that I did. Replaced toilet and toilet flange(that was a pain in the rear in a 70s house), remove wall paper and paint white , replace shut off valves and water lines, replace countertop and faucets and it just feels like new. Did not even spend $1000. The guy in the video is overpricing labor and material way too much. It is because of videos like this that I almost never hire anyone because I get the feeling that hey are ripping me off.
Price in the cost of doing business and being taxed to death and tell me what he really makes on this job? It’s less than half. You my friend don’t pay labor tax and business insurance, federal state and local, state licenses, city licenses for every city you work in. Tools constantly wearing out , the trucks and equipment we need to do your job. You don’t cover your own healthcare and the other 100 things businesses cover before profit doing your own bathroom , yourself.
Not sure about your local area, but the total price seems low, I'd be closer to 20k in the Northeast
I had to laugh when you threw on another $1000.00 at the end, if I had a customer like you described, I would do the same!!
Hahaha last part about adding 1k to it got me 😅🤣
Neat and tidy just like your lovely shop
Ok first thing, I do exactly what you do but charge more in the times we’re in (great economy) however, I exclude ALL materials from my contract. Will you do a contract video?
LMFAOOOO What was that Patreon thumbnail. I ain't complaining 😉
i do believe these prices have changed dramatically in the last 2 years
Cool video, man. Nice to see this back-up channel.
Funny story. My brother did a bathroom gut job and the lady wanted to meet everyone envolved. There were 4 guys and the lady all in the bathroom. Funny as hell.
I usually skip that part
4 guys for a bathroom gut 🤨
@@Jessuschrist
The tile setter, electrician,plumber and carpenter. The owners wanted to meet everyone envolved. My brother was like these people are nuts.
Hey Handyman! California is very profitable for us skilled Generals who do it all without using subs. The bathroom you described I remodel for 20k to 35k all day! That doesn't include moving fixture around or full gut. Those of us with excellent referrals ( who never have to advertise) can ask more because we don't compete with the guys who
aren't very skilled and typically have issues completing work.The clients want peace of mind that it is done correctly and don't have to worry about theft. One of my clients left for two months while I remodeled her kitchen and two baths as well as some other stuff. Bay area has wealthy clients who are willing to pay for professional work! Labor & some material, but doesn't include tile, or fixtures.
“I know she’s strapped.” Lol!
When you say you supply something and it's on you, do you mean you don't charge for the backerboard under tile?
That is NOT what I'm saying. I charge for everything.
Gotcha thanks for your channel!
Good stuff we love it
Where did you get the jumpsuit ?
He tells you exactly where to find it in another recent video. I post the link when i find it.
Amazon. The link is in my most recent The Handyman video.
amzn.to/2omZ9Qh Here is the link.
There you go.
Prisons would give them out for free.
That last 1k is absolutely necessary.
It takes SO much more time to setup, cleanup, filth prevention, etc. That is the price you should pay for cleanliness.
Very Smart I do the same here in austin tx if the client is a perfectionist throw another 1000 or just dont do it save your soul...
Dude, exactly what I needed. Much thanks, Handyman!
Recently added $750 to a paint bid when homeowner said they might as well "grab my pressure washer while I had in on site because they needed to clean the patio and fence." I was like WTF are you thinking - my $3000 pressure washer was a paid for with labor, sweat and blood. I spent hours doing researching the purchase and further hours maintaining the thing to perfection. No way I'm turning it over to some presumptive homeowner who let their house exterior go to complete shit with mold, rot and peeling paint. Spent 2 minutes going over the bid and left.
Hahahaha. So he just grabbed it and used it without asking?
I like your pricing your on point
that is the prices I do for all my bathrooms 9k to 11k LABOR ONLY INCLUDING THE NICHE WITH LED LIGHT ON THE NICHE COMPLETE NEW LECTRICAL UPDATE AND PLUMBING UPDATE ANDBATHROOM FLOOR PLAN SWAP IF HOMEOWNERS REQUIRED. .
Can you share the name of the book you used please?
What size bathroom is it? Nice vid
How long did it take to do this job, including getting materials?
About 16 hours.
You sir deserve more attention
Thank you for the breakdown estimate, great information. However, your “character” description would be a deal breaker for me. You are truly a professional to only add 1K for a control freak!
You've never lost $K or more on a similar experience..
Hey thanks for walk through, great content.
How do you generally break up your payments? All at once, at the end at the beginning? Do you have "milestones" that you collect a certain amount? Have you had a client want a retainer percentage withheld until the end?
half in front at the begining and the other when its done..simple as that .thats what i do
Where are you located ??
Good breakdown. It will help me with my next job: tub to curbless shower conversion. Any thoughts/experience you would share on that?
How you making out?
Fellow handyman on board now
Whatever price you come up with, double it ! ...A place I worked for charged $14,000 to over $20,000 just to replace tub, wall panels and faucets. Took a day or two start to finish. In Wisconsin.
Was that mad city?
The problem is most clients at least in my area are not willing to pay the 13-15K. How do you weed out the time wasters, and get the high paying clients that are willing to pay what stuff is worth?
Here in Illinois, contractors are charging at least $35k for the same project.. no kidding!
2nd video of yours I’ve seen.....
I just subscribed!!!!!
Good video man love it as always
Very enlightening. Thank you. I am not a handyman :), I do most of the remodeling I can do myself and bring in someone when I either don't know how to do something or can't. Interesting to know, how these estimates are derived.
….neat and tidy… good one.
Lmao. Beyonce. That was quick thinking handyman. Lol
Cause you wash it, you putta a tub ring on it! 🤪
If you wash it, then you shouldn't putta ring on it! ☝️😡
Don't be muddy, hon! Dirty - you see that he flaunt it!
If you wash it, then you shouldn't putta ring on it! ☝️😡
Whoa, oh, oh, no, no, no, no, oh no, oh no, no, no, no!
🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁🛁
😁
(Very reasonable quote!)
How long would it typically take to complete this project?
7 days or so
How many people or total hours?
That seems unrealistic. Your probably looking at 2 days or more of demo and prep. 3 days or more of tile work. 3 days or more misc work. So unless you are working 12 hour days I'm not to sure about 7 days more like 2 weeks or more.
@@cl5473 12 hour days are the minimum in this line of business.
@@TheHandymanBusiness How long did the job take?
I like that last thousand dollar reason😂
Another good video, to the point information, it’s no wonder why your channels grow so well.
Good vid, Thanks. There were some things I miss in my quotes which cost me money. I usually throw in £250 as the Oh shite fund. I'm upping it to £500 +
love the coat hanger idea for the panels!!! how do you do that without putting screw holes in the panels?
If floor cabs Pre drill bottom of cab door, if top drill top of cab door (out of view site when installed). Screw in hook. When dry apply caulking then touch up paint. Hope that helps.
What basic price for Bath tub installation with tub Surround using loctite adhesive.
Depends on where you live. $3,000 for me.
Thank you so much for this, subscribing to both your channels
How do you calculate charging for a shower pan? Mortar bed with preslope, pvc liner and final slope?
50 to 100$ sf
36x 60 $1600
Well detailed video
Thanks
Better watch out for bath fitters or rebath those type of outfits do overlays and for master bath they'll charge 40 grand and that was 15 years ago
And they are still doing it. I have sincerely considered hiring a guy to follow their trucks around and knock on people doors after they leave.
Cool video. What’s your hourly fee? Are you giving a warranty with your work? I may be speaking for the minority, but I think may would like to know an hourly breakdown and materials list that contribute towards your prices…