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.
Hand Pinstriping Techniques for Classic Cars: A Step-by-Step Guide
Last year, after a long search, we bought a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300D turbo diesel. The car had the color combination we wanted, low miles, and a clean, well-preserved interior. Its bold red paint immediately caught our eye, but my partner Laura felt it needed a subtle accent to complete the look. We decided on a … Read more
