Have been reading all of the posts here having just moved to San Jose del Cabo and it been very informative. Thanks
I hope this isn't posted in the wrong forum since I'm looking for a general sense of direction...
I have a question for those who may have recent experience with contracting out for work done on remodeling or general house repairs or other types of
service. Is it generally considered acceptable to negotiate prices, i.e. roof replacement, fence installation, concrete repair, gardening and the
like?
For example, the roof of our carport is in desperate need of replacement. We've receive bids that range from $3,000 to $6000 for materials and labor.
Is the bid the ?price? or is that the negotiation starting point?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks.Bruce R Leech - 6-14-2006 at 06:36 PM
I would negotiate it. just tell them that if they need the work to fine tune the bid.comitan - 6-14-2006 at 06:50 PM
Unless you have unlimited funds always negotiate, where ever!!!!!!~!~!Oso - 6-14-2006 at 07:31 PM
Materials should be a known quantity(with a bit of variation due to source), do some research so you're on the same page and the bidder knows you
know. Labor is always negotiable. Get agreement on a set price and always remember:
"Musico pagado toca mal son."Bruce R Leech - 6-14-2006 at 07:39 PM
The number 1 must in making your decision is to have them prove to you that they are paying the sagero or insurance for all of there workers . if they
are not don't hire them.tim40 - 6-14-2006 at 07:59 PM
All of you seem to have more knowledge than I on the subject.....however....with the little data share about the work to be done, the price reads
excessive for even north of the border prices. Thoughts?Marie-Rose - 6-14-2006 at 08:06 PM
Price quoted did not say whether it was pesos or US dollars.
Totally agree with OSO in being sure that you have some idea of the price of the materials you are negotiating for. We got a tremendous surprise when
we saw how expensive a quote for palo de arco fence was,capt. mike - 6-15-2006 at 06:12 AM
don't depend on their proposals, write your own formal bid package and specs, or "RFP" as it may otherwise be known as. Get it translated even if you
have to hire that. Send it out to all interested bidders/proponents and never "shop" a bid, only refer to your "target" budget.Wally - 6-15-2006 at 10:40 AM
All great info and much appreciated.
We too thought the price of $3000 USD was a little much for a Palo de Arco cover. There doesn?t seem to be a lot of info on what this stuff costs in
bulk but so be it. Out of the 5 bids we received (and all got the same specs for the job) the lowest ($3k) was the only that we?re thinking about at
this point. The guy did a rough line drawing and notated the amount of and different types of material to be used. The other higher bidders, to
varying degrees, weren?t too interested in going to that level of detail (guess they didn?t want the job). He then used the old formula of
cost-of-materials and doubles it for the total price. Basically works out to be $1500 labor and $1500 materials.
It?s a pretty basic job (sorry to bore with details) consisting a 26? x 24? layer of Palo de Arco, on top a cross-section of morillos, secured to a
frame of 6?x10? beams which will bolt to the 6 existing concrete posts. Anyone got a feel if $1500 is reasonable for material?
It sounds like asking for a ?fine-tuned? bid may get some result. Will try that.
What I haven?t heard is that it is standard (or even expected) to ?haggle? over the price for this sort of thing as you might expect to do with a
street vendor or at the open market for fruit. That correct?
Thanks again.Bruce R Leech - 6-15-2006 at 12:10 PM
never hurts to try WallyBob and Susan - 6-15-2006 at 12:23 PM
be aware if the price is too low the project WILL NOT be finishedcomitan - 6-15-2006 at 12:39 PM
Or halfway through they want more moneyMarie-Rose - 6-15-2006 at 12:43 PM
I wish I could rermember what the square feet total of our palo de arco project was. I will go back to our records. I do know that we were surprised
at the cost. Apparently palo de arco is becoming scarse and thus the huge increase in cost. ALWAYS remember
to keep back at least 10% until the project is completed.Marie-Rose - 6-15-2006 at 12:47 PM
35 linear meters of palo de arco including labor, $1500. (US)Wally - 6-16-2006 at 06:26 AM
Thanks again all.
Marie-Rose, pricing very helpful and roughly what we have been told for materials.
Morgaine: Everythig has been in Pesos...bajalou - 6-16-2006 at 08:29 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Wally
What I haven?t heard is that it is standard (or even expected) to ?haggle? over the price for this sort of thing as you might expect to do with a
street vendor or at the open market for fruit. That correct?
Thanks again.
I would to the same anywhere including US -Dave - 6-16-2006 at 07:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
be aware if the price is too low the project WILL NOT be finished
That's a keeper.
<But that doesn't mean you aren't obligated to pay.> Marie-Rose - 6-16-2006 at 07:59 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by morgaine7
Wally and others speaking in $USD ... are your contractors actually bidding in and asking for payment in dollars, or are you converting for us? Just
wondering, as my own transactions have been in pesos.
