How Much Money Is A Contractor Actually Worth?
I've been a contractor since 1986 and this seems to be
one of the biggest problems that homeowners and other employers of mine
seem to have. Is my contractor charging me too much money? This seems to
be one of the biggest issues and confrontational problems in the
construction industry today.
First of all, we need to figure out how much is too much money. If
you're a lawyer making $800 an hour and you hire a contractor to work on
your home who only charges $75 an hour, is this person actually charging
you too much money? If you work at a grocery store and you make $25 an
hour and your contractor is charging you $75 an hour, is this too much
money?
The biggest problem with this question is to actually figure out how
much money a contractor is actually worth. Most people are probably
going to have a problem with this, but I'm going to tell them anyway. I
know contractors that have made anywhere from six dollars an hour to
over $1000 an hour.
Six dollars an hour obviously seems to be poor wages for an experience
building contractor and $1000 an hour seems to be a little ridiculous.
It's all in your perspective and how you look at it though. If I was
charging you $200 an hour and it cost you $800, but I saved you $1200,
would $200 an hour be a lot of money?
I truly believe that it's the client and the contractor's perspective of
how they actually look at what they deserve to be paid. If the
contractor believes that he is worth $150 an hour and won't take any
jobs for less, then that's what he's worth.
If a contractor believes that he is worth $150 an hour but does jobs
sometimes for $25 an hour, his wages are obviously very flexible.
It's really up to the individual. If the contractor charges you what you
believe to be a ridiculous hourly wage, you probably won't hire that
contractor again. If you hire a contractor who works for $12 an hour and
does pretty good work, you will probably tell all your friends about
this person.
A contractor is only worth as much money as you are willing to pay and
continue to pay, if you choose to use that person ever again.