Pro tip: Always triple check the blueprint measurements before you quote

I took on a job installing a custom fence for a backyard in Austin last month. The owner said it was a simple 150 foot run, so I quoted $900 for labor. Turns out the survey was off by 40 feet and there were three tree roots I had to dig around. It took me six full days instead of two because I kept hitting rocks and had to reroute the posts. I lost money on that deal for sure. Now I always bring my own measuring tape and double check before I name a price. Has anyone else gotten burned by a client's rough estimate?

2 comments

2 Comments

parker_hall51d ago

Yeah I feel that. I had a job in San Antonio last spring where this guy told me his backyard was "pretty level" and I just believed him. Showed up with my crew and the whole thing was on a slope that dropped like 4 feet from one corner to the other. Had to dig stepped footings and do all this extra grading work. Took me almost twice as long and I didn't charge him more because I felt stupid for not checking. Now I make it a rule to walk the whole property line with my own tape and a level before I even pull out my calculator. The worst part is the client probably thinks I'm just slow instead of realizing his rough estimate cost me money.

emma_lee221d ago

Oh jeez, that's rough. But just a heads up, a 150 foot fence that takes 6 days for $900 labor works out to like $150 a day which is actually below minimum wage in a lot of places if you think about it. You really gotta factor in your time better on the front end, not just the measurements.