A contractor’s perspective on fixed prices and how to handle changes to work orders.
I was recently asked to provide a quote and then carry out a fairly small job: tidy a basement cosmetically, build a partition wall to create a new room, lay some flooring, and paint the garage floor. At the time I suspected this work might lead to additional tasks for the clients, but I had no idea how much more. Nine months later I was still working at the property. No, I don’t work slowly — and yes, I did complete the original brief.
Every morning I arrived to the homeowner greeting me with, “Good morning, I’ve been thinking about….” Eventually we both agreed there was no point in preparing fresh quotes every time the specification changed. Instead I charged a fixed daily rate for the work.
How to Build a DIY Snow Ramp for Skiing and Snowboarding
Winter doesn’t mean the end of backyard projects. If you live where snowfall is reliable—or you’ve simply got more than enough snow to play with—consider building a DIY snow ramp to upgrade your sledding fun right at home. Erin and her husband, who publish their projects on The Stucco Bungalow (where he’s affectionately called Handy … Read more
