quick question

[blknomad]

I just got a quote from a guy to remove a couple of trees from a family cemetery and it sounded like robbery. This is not the first time a repairman or contractor has don this. I think when they see a class a sitting in the drive they think "this guy is loaded, lets get him" Has this ever happened to any of you??

[wallynm]

Just park the MH at Walmart for the time the estimate is to be scheduled.

[westernrvparkow]

Effy wrote:
Multiple quotes is the key. Recent inspection on one of the rental properties revealed we needed some exterior painting on the unit. Got 3 quotes - first was $2,800, then $680, another at $700. All licensed, bonded and recommended by the inspector. Usually I find when I get a really high estimate, it's because the contractor doesn't really want the job. The only way they'll do it is to make a ton of money so they throw out a crazy number.

Exactly. I business person I highly respect once told me he never, ever told a potential customer "NO". He just priced his services at a point the customer told him "NO". No hard feelings that way.

[wildmanbaker]

What a lot of people have said is true, get more quotes, make sure they have the required insurance, and yes, a MH most times do affect the bid.

[wannavolunteerF]

yes, I think people see a Motorhome and think you have money... but I don't think it truly affects a professional quote for service. As many have said, there are lots of costs involved in many trades beyond what you see up front.

My son works for a tree service and has mentioned the amount of equipment they have (bucket trucks, dump trucks, excavators, and tons of smaller items). these trucks don't get very good gas mileage and have to travel to job site and be operated by skilled operators. expenses like workman's comp are unbelievable and then payroll cost to have the skilled operators show up to do dangerous work in all types of weather is also prohibitive.

[time2roll]

No I do not think any RV in the driveway affects prices any more than anything else.
If it seemed high why not call him back later after you put the quote in front of the committee?

[2gypsies1]

I don't think this post was asking about the tree fee. I think he was asking if anyone thinks there's a correlation of having a motorhome parked in the driveway to people thinking you have a lot of money which isn't necessarily true.

[Tinstar]

I think a lot has to do with what services they are going to complete. Cut the tree down, cut it in smaller pieces, haul all of it off, get rid of the stump? They more they do, the more it will cost. I had 3 cut and hauled off recently. I feel like I got a good deal for $1500. One of them was about 9 foot around. Both trees were very near my shop. They were praying they wouldn't fall the wrong way but they said it it does, they will rebuild and damage. Luckily all went as planned. BTW, I removed those trees so I could build my covered RV shed.

[Mile_High]

dougrainer wrote:
Yes, It is called Affluent area Creep or Zip Code creep. They look at where you live, Type house you have and what type cars you have and determine you have no concept of money.

So if I own a house with a zip code and some cars, I have no concept of money? Interesting. I suppose if its a Toyota, I do have a concept of money, but if its a Bentley then I'm just ignorant?

RV mechanics and tree cutters have a weird way of making estimates.

[Executive45]

Oasisbob wrote:
Get a few bids. Show the lowest bid to the best contractor and watch the price fall.

When I was a contractor, I had a guy do that to me. My comment, "See ya around." Some guys need drug money and will do the job cheaply. I paid high quality craftsmen to work with me and my work was above average. Cost of doing business, especially in a dangerous environment is astronomical. Insurance makes profit difficult...Dennis

[Oasisbob]

Get a few bids. Show the lowest bid to the best contractor and watch the price fall.

[DrewE]

Effy wrote:
Multiple quotes is the key. Recent inspection on one of the rental properties revealed we needed some exterior painting on the unit. Got 3 quotes - first was $2,800, then $680, another at $700. All licensed, bonded and recommended by the inspector. Usually I find when I get a really high estimate, it's because the contractor doesn't really want the job. The only way they'll do it is to make a ton of money so they throw out a crazy number.

This is a very good point. A high quote may simply mean that the professional is already booked or for whatever other reason doesn't really care for the job--maybe it's a long travel time, or maybe they dislike working with the particular tree species, or maybe they'd have to subcontract some particular piece of equipment--and so rather than say they can't or won't do the job, they quote a high price.

Particularly in this age there may be fear that refusing to quote a job would be construed as inappropriate discrimination, based on race or sexual orientation or whatever, even if the actual motives are far more ordinary and entirely reasonable.

[Tyler0215]

1 Hide the motor home and get more quotes.
2 Meet the guys in a cheap bar and get more quotes.
Cutting down and removing a big tree is a BIG job. Dangerous too.

[wildtoad]

What the market will pay is a long standing pricing rule.

[crasster]

Yes it happens depending on you coach. My coaches, they give me a discount. No seriously though, I have heard people say things like "quote based on their shoes".