I'm going to encourage my boys to become plumbers!***exciting update pg 2***

[Mishetta]

I just called 3 companies for estimates on replacing a kitchen faucet for us. We've had the original cheap faucet the builder installed nearly 8 years ago & it's time for it to go. We just bought a nice new faucet with a high swivel spout, sprayer & soap dispenser. My DH is not very handy so he just told me to call a plumber out to have it installed.

I had the first guy come out this morning & he gave me a quote of $333.82. Once I was able to pick up my chin from the floor & popped my eyes back in, I told him that that amount was waaaay more than we expected to pay. So he quickly adds that he can give me a "members price" (whatever the heck that is) & that amount would be $285. No thank you.

I called another plumber who advertises in our church paper & he quoted $135. (That seems more reasonable but still high!) What ever happend to $65 rates or something like that?

I think I'm going to encourage my boys to become plumbers. Seems like they would have a good future with what plumbers make!

Do you think those listed quotes are competitive?

 

[Tiggeroo]

Yep, definitely competitive, at least the lower one. Service call rates are generally $75. an hour plus parts.This includes travel one way. And some jobs are priced out by the job not the hour. I'm surprised he didn't charge you to come out. Around here you don't get free estimates for something that small. They can give you a ballpark over the phone but if they come out there is a charge.

 

[stinkerbelle]

My DH will do it for ya - will cost you the cost of the caulk (calk? whatever) and a glass of soda!

It really is VERY easy to swap faucets out...as long as you remember to turn the water off - you're golden.

the trickest thing DH ever did was run a line from our bathroom sink to our fridge (the fridge wall/sink wall were the same wall - bought a kit at homedepot and hook up our ice maker in like an hour.)

 

[KristaTX]

Yikes! How much was the faucet? Do you have any handy friends ?

 

[RitaZ.]

My DH has done this and it's not hard to do.

$333 to install a faucet???? Get real!!!!!!!! The other quote for $135 is reasonable though.

Good luck!

 

[monkeyboy]

I never hire anyone

but like a Dr. you are not just paying for their time, but for their insurance, tools, truck, gas, etc.

$75-100 and hour for a skilled tradesman is not uncommon at all

 

[Pooh67_68]

I am lucky my husband can fix anything, so we have never had to hire anyone.
$333.82

 

[Serena]

YIKES!!! Boy am I glad I'm still on good terms with my soon to be ex. He can fix just about anything.

 

[stinkerbelle]

seriously - go to Home Depot and get the "Home Depot 1-2-3" book (aka - the orange bible)...perfect for someone who isn't too handy, but wants to be able to do some simple stuff around the house. the book is probably $20-$25...a good investment!

 

[Serena]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to get that book.

 

[Snowysmom]

It is amazing how much it costs to have things replaced or repaired. The first 2 estimates seem high but the one for $135 sounds about average. We had our shower faucet repaired last summer and it cost $125.

 

[Bob Slydell]

The $135 price sounds fairly reasonable. On average, their hourly price is usually $75-$100 and it's probably more than an hour's work.

You might also be getting a higher estimate because you already purchased the faucet. Oftentimes, plumbers make profit on the parts as well (they buy them at contractor's price and mark them up slightly), so they might be trying to recoup some of that profit by charging more.

 

[my3kids]

Heck, for that price, forget the kids....I'm going to plumber's school myself!

Seriously, Mishetta, you can do this yourslf. It will have instructions in the package, or from the library, check out a book like a Reader's Digest Handy tips book.

Turn off your hot and cold shutoffs. Hold the nuts under the sinks and the top pieces should lift right off. Wrap the threads with plumbers tape(white vinyl stuff) and then put the new ones on. Read the individual directions cause same say put caulk under the pieces, some say plumbers putty, and some say pure silicone.

You will not need to do anything with the plumbing at all, as long as your new faucet(sounds pretty, btw!) is the same size as the existing.

I promise, you can do this!!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

DH is a carpenter. When he was employed for a development company, he did a lot of small jobs as side work (fix a garage door, build a set of stairs) that took only a couple of hours at a time. Now that he is in business for himself, he can't afford to do a bunch of small jobs.

You see it as he shows up, stays for two hours to install the faucet and leaves. He sees it as meeting with the you - usually after hours to find out what you want and to see the scope of the job. Most contractors will give you a free estimate. Then he has to pick up or order the materials, drive to your home and perform the work, hoping he doesn't run into any problems for which he is not prepared. Before he even arrives he may have put in several hours of his time.

Materials aren't cheap either. The kitchen faucets I have been pricing for my kitchen are well over $100. If you are getting a quote for materials and labor of $135, I would be a little suspect.

Don't forget that he has to supply all the tools. He has to purchase liability insurance. He has to provide, insure and maintain a vehicle. He has to pay taxes, medical insurance premiums and retirement savings. He may have to pay sales tax on materials. Also don't forget business is not about providing a public service, it's about making profit. So factor that in too.

Also take into account that a licenced plumber (at least in VT) has spent many years as an apprentice learning the trade. During that time he has worked for peanuts. His expertise has come at a cost which he needs to recoup. It's the same reason a doctor or a lawyer charges so much for their services.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I don't mean to lecture anyone or to chastise the OP. Most people don't stop to think about all that goes into what DH does. You would not believe the number of people who want him to build custom furniture at a fraction of the cost they could buy manufactured pieces. He can't usually even buy the materials for that price! He can't do it for nothing.

I have to chime in with stinkerbelle, try to install it yourself. The small jobs make financial sense to do on your own. There are also some do it yourself websites that can walk you through the process step by step.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[Mishetta]

Thank you all for your input. I still do think that over $300 is ridiculous to pay but I can see $135 (but I don't like it).

We bought the faucet at Sam's Club for $48. I think that could be the other reason why I think the first quote in particular was a bit over the top!

I think my DH would have tried to do it himself if he was replacing the same faucet with the same faucet. This new faucet is one handled whereas the one it will be replacing has a hot & cold water knob. Also, if any of you remember, not too long ago we had an "I Love Lucy" episode at our house because my DH didn't think he had to shut the water valve off. He proceeded to change a washer in the cold water knob & suddenly it was raining in our house! As he was standing with his hands tightly clasped over the water which was shooting up all over the place, he was screaming at me to get under the sink & shut the valve off. I said "oh, you want me to do what I told you to do before you started??" So I don't trust my DH to try it again, nor would I want to try it, but thanks for the step by step instructions!!!

 

[my3kids]

Roto Rooter, the people ya call when a tree root has entered your sewer drain, also do regualr old plumbing stuff. They might be able to give an estimate for the installation.

 

[Jeanny]

one of my friends is a plumber and he still charges me $50 minimum... that's a discount for him... he usually gets $75 just to walk in the door.

 

[Mishetta]

I can't believe calling for a plumbers quote could become so exciting!!! (I need a life, don't I?? )

Anyway, you won't believe this but the first guy that came out today & gave me the first estimate of $333.82 came back later on & I was totally surprised to see him again. I thought maybe he forgot something here. Anyway, he gave me his personal business card with his cell number & told me he'd do the job after work for a flat fee of $150 cash only. Hmmm......that sounded tempting. So my DH & I had decided to go with him, although we had not called him back yet.

Now it gets more exciting....a few minutes ago, the plumbing company who plumbed our house when it was built, just returned my call & said that as long as I can wait a week or two (since they are super busy with new construction), they'll do it for $65! WOO HOO!!!! SOLD!!! Wow, what a difference from the first quote to the last quote of the day!! That's a diff of $268.82!!

I wonder why one company can charge so much & another so little?? Anyway, I'm doing the "happy dance" here!!

 

[my3kids]

Hooray.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooooooo!! For $65!! Sounds like the other companies are ripping us all off. Any time I called a plumber in FL, it was $90 for them to walk in the door.