| In this article we would like to discuss the most | | | | (e.g. here laminate and there glaze-tile will be |
| frequent questions asked by potential customers | | | | installed etc). It is also necessary to discuss what |
| that often cause the conflict between a customer | | | | quality and price of materials will be used in the |
| and a contractor. | | | | cost estimate. |
| I. Cost of work: | | | | 3). A customer should make sure that it is |
| Very often one might come across customers' | | | | impossible to envision everything in this document. |
| complaints about the total cost for the repair that | | | | Before work start one can not identify what area |
| appears to be pretty higher than originally | | | | of the wall should be plastered and what area |
| expected. Is it possible? Yes. Why? Let us clarify | | | | should be only aligned and what exact quantity of |
| this. We need to say that we would ignore the | | | | materials would be used for this. Even for the |
| situation (that unfortunately occurs) when chasing | | | | detailed cost estimate a customer should envision |
| customer, the contractor intentionally provides | | | | a reserve of minimum 0-15%. In this case it is |
| underestimated numbers and when the customer | | | | better to include more in the document and get |
| is on the hook anything can be done. | | | | lower actual spending. Besides you pay for specific |
| Let us view the standard situation. You decided to | | | | work and material at specific price. So, the higher |
| do repair, choose several companies and ask | | | | amount and range of work as well as material |
| them to prepare a cost estimate. Immediately | | | | prices, the higher cost of work. |
| many questions arise: e.g. "Is it possible to prepare | | | | II. Terms. |
| a cost estimate accurate to a gulden?" In general | | | | Obviously any repair is related to inconveniency |
| it is possible. But for this you would need a | | | | and any customer would want to finish it as soon |
| detailed design with the drawings, specifications, | | | | as possible. But let us not become heroes of |
| list of materials etc. It would take several months | | | | popular TV shows that describe how brave |
| and more to do this kind of cost estimate and | | | | contractors over one day glue the wall paper, put |
| 2-3% of costs would be allocated for | | | | the glaze-tiles, install the wiring and even |
| contingencies. | | | | eventually clean everything with the vacuum |
| Let us be realistic. Over eight years experience in | | | | cleaner. |
| managing the enterprise we had a chance to deal | | | | One should realize that there are some activities |
| with such projects several times. In the best case | | | | that can not be done in rush. If it is required to |
| the design finishes at the stage of general | | | | dry the aligned wall before putting the glaze tiles, |
| drawings with further stage-by-stage delivery of | | | | this should be done, no matter how long it would |
| detailed drawings. | | | | take. If it is required to glaze and clean the wall |
| Sometimes we receive general outlays, rough | | | | 2-3 times before putting high-quality paint, this |
| design outlines etc. But the most frequent | | | | should be done. Violation of the technology and |
| situation is as follows: nothing is available or "please | | | | required terms will lead to additional customer's |
| do for me what you see in this magazine". Can | | | | cost. |
| you specify what exactly you want? Who | | | | III. Quality of work. |
| knows? Can you propose something as a | | | | All mentioned above is true for the quality of |
| professional? Over several minutes of | | | | work. Besides, there are also two significant |
| conversation with you the estimator has to guess | | | | factors. To great extend the quality of work |
| what your taste is and propose to you some | | | | depends on the quality of materials. We all want |
| options as well as make your dreams, desires, | | | | to save the money but you should avoid absurd |
| unclear outlines and all that you thought during | | | | situation when you assign work with the high cost |
| long evenings come true in the form of concrete | | | | materials to people earning pences. A good |
| numbers. Actually cost estimate is the plan for | | | | master should be highly qualified, earn good |
| the repair of your apartment with connectivity to | | | | money, use good tools and take responsibility for |
| concrete materials (for example in the bedroom | | | | his work. |
| painted wallpaper and in the children's room plain | | | | IV. "If I pay, do what I want" |
| wallpaper will be used) with showing average | | | | Magic words ..... but let me notice that there are |
| prices for them. | | | | objective phenomena that can not be ignored. For |
| In our opinion to make this cost estimate | | | | example without special measures one can not |
| maximum close to actual cost you would need to | | | | make aperture work or remove load-bearing wall |
| do the following: | | | | no matter whether someone wants it. And quality |
| 1). Work with the designers as possible. The costs | | | | glaze-tiles can not be installed on the cement, only |
| you incur for the design work will be generously | | | | on the special glue. And for specific paint specific |
| repaid. You will look at the repaired apartment | | | | filler should be used, not the one that was found |
| beforehand, not when everything has been done. | | | | at low price. A good professional who value his |
| It may appear that what you have planned is not | | | | work would explain why your desires sometimes |
| good for your apartment or the material that you | | | | cannot be satisfied and would rather refuse to do |
| like is too expensive and there is a better option | | | | the job than do something wrong. |
| for you. Cost of redesign on paper is not so high. | | | | Hope that this article will help you to find a good |
| 2). While preparing cost estimate it is necessary | | | | contractor. In all your undertakings follow the |
| to make a list of work and take some decisions | | | | slogan: Entrust your work to professionals. |