Belt Auction

Why aren't contractors more aggressive in this down economy?

We are looking to do $75-100k of work on our house, we've saved the cash over the years and assumed that now would be a good time to do it, in order to get a good price. But most contractors are still being very slow and unagressive in terms of their quotes. We'll get a competitive bidding situation and eventually get a favorable price, but why wouldn't a contractor have an incentive to try to quote it aggressively, close the deal, keep his people working?

Public Comments

1. maybe because the jobs he already has are too many and that 75K is mere pocket change.
2. Most companies (ours is a plumbing company that does bathroom remodels) give free estimates. When the customers give vibes like they are really shopping and possibly not do the job thru them, they still have to pay the person who comes out to give the estimate. So they are more likely to spend the effort to sell to the sure thing than a possibility. A lot of our jobs come from repairs and we mention that we also do remodels, and the estimates are given right on the spot and usually scheduled right then and there.
3. Your question is a bit ambiguous, you sound as if you're asking why you haven't received more attention for the dollars you're looking to spend or you can't understand why you are finding it difficult to get a good price in this tough economy or even both. I can give you a definite answer to part of your question if it concerns price, sales are not profit! I've been to trade college and have attended an estimating course and it was stressed that SALES ARE NOT PROFITS Many in the building industry have very little understanding what to charge for work and do as you suggested they should "quote aggressively, close the deal, keep their people working?" Strangely enough these people make it hard for the people who do know, because they get the jobs because of their unrealistic quoting. There would be no use to me if I were to give people jobs, pay my insurances, upkeep my tools/vehicle plus petrol and all the pressure involved with running a business if I could make the same wage flipping burgers at burger king. In short people don't go into business to keep the economy running and nor should they. Look at this post I answered a while ago, I hope you can understand what contractors and alike have to put up with, this guy got a near 20% discount on a build, made a color change to the bricks he wanted during the build and because this change was over looked by the builder, he now wants to sue! And people like you want contractors and alike to be aggressive. Hello! http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al_cPtuqTM1j9NR73UzgAB7h5gt.;_ylv=3?qid=20090521181104AAR5ZUQ&show=7#profile-info-8xdoTw6jaa
4. i gotta say this. i work as a roofer for a contractor. he has around 20 jobs on the books at cost just to keep us working because of the competitive market.1 company around my area is "running 20 crews of illegal aliens and doing it dirt cheap"dunno how true it is but 6 months ago he was begging work from us, now were staring at a layoff if things dont come around.
5. Because most of his workers have been deported back to mexico and the feds are getting tough on contractors who hire illegals.
6. Frankly, my 29 years experience and counting makes my skills worth more today than yesterday. I am extremely tired of people like you trying to take advantage of highly skilled master carpenters such as myself.I have invested thousands of dollars in tools,insurance,continuing education,advertising and more.Do you want me to bring this to you for free? If you want cheap,hire an illegal alien and continue to perpetuate the problem. Let me ask you, at your job does your boss ask you to negotiate what your worth is? Have you given up your wages because of a poor economy? Not likely.