Vent: A client from Miami offered me a flat $500 for a job that took three full days to finish.

Last week, I agreed to the price before I knew the full scope of the project. I spent Monday through Wednesday on it, which worked out to less than $170 a day before taxes. Three years ago, I would have just taken the money and been quiet about it. Now I see I need to get better at spotting jobs that will eat up my time for too little pay. How do you guys figure out a fair price when a client's needs aren't clear at the start?

4 comments

4 Comments

ray6132mo ago

Sometimes you just gotta take the hit and learn for next time. @hunt.hayden's method sounds good but asking a million questions can scare off a decent client who just doesn't know how to explain their own house.

matthewking22h ago

@susan_allen hit the nail on the head with that paper list trick. I do EXACTLY the same thing now after getting burned twice. The key for me is to ask for a written list BEFORE I give any number. If they push back or say "just trust me, it's simple" I walk away. End of story. That saved me from a nightmare project last summer where the client kept adding "little things" each day. Your $500 lesson hurts but it taught you something important. Don't let it shake your confidence, just use it to get tougher.

hunt.hayden2mo ago

Oof, that's brutal. Honestly, you gotta start asking way more questions before you give a number. I always make them walk me through every single step they want done, out loud. Like, "Okay, so you want me to do X. Then after that, will you need Y fixed too, or is that a separate thing?" People forget half the job until you're already there. If they can't explain it clearly, that's a red flag for a money pit.

susan_allen2mo ago

Yeah, the "money pit" red flag is so real. I learned that the hard way last year with a kitchen job that kept growing. Client said "just the backsplash," then it was "well, while you're here" for the counter edge and a loose outlet. Now I make them list it all on paper before I even grab my tools. If they get vague or add things, my price goes up. Saves a ton of headache.