digga Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 hi just finished a nightmare of a job stock fence there was so much buried rubbish rubble metal old fence wire . job took ages and was a price job :-( . know you win some and loss some but was wondering if any of you put a clause in your quotes for hard digging or similar stuff that might be unseen term and conditions ? worked my nuts off and earnt the grand total of £33 per day ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haydn Gleave Fencing Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 hi just finished a nightmare of a job stock fence there was so much buried rubbish rubble metal old fence wire . job took ages and was a price job :-( . know you win some and loss some but was wondering if any of you put a clause in your quotes for hard digging or similar stuff that might be unseen term and conditions ? worked my nuts off and earnt the grand total of £33 per day ouch I know what you mean, think we've all done it at one stage. Only suggestion is to ether charge them a little bit more on the original quote, even if the job doesn't entail any hard digging. Just covers you a bit then, I've had the same on a job before...."Only a couple of inches of concrete round the post", more like a couple of feet!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ajmoore1 Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 Can be a ****** when you get a job like that. Does the £33 a day profit have to cover tools used ie tractor and knocker etc. If so in real terms you have probably lost money. If you think the job is going to be tricky, (difficult ground conditions) either suggest an hourly rate a put a good price in and hope it's not as bad. Probably won't be the last time you get a pig of a job but will make you appreciate the easier one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digga Posted July 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 was no sign the job was going to be tricky if there had of been would have brought it up with the customer when quoting . defiantly lost money on it when taking into account the strainers and posts i smashed trying to get them in had post thumper there . gave up trying to work out to the penny what i earnt or lost as was getting to depressing but still wasnt going to cut corners jobs done to a standard im happy with . not my first bad job and defiantly wont be my last for sure just wondering if any1 trys to put something in there paperwork to cover there back a bit with out scaring off the customers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frontrowfencing Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 Hi digga, I am afraid I can't console you. We don't generally have anything in our quoted regarding hard ground or extra work. The only time there would be something is if I think there may be a problem. I know one chap who adds that if ground needs rock spiking he adds x per metre. I know a lot of the ground round us and we are lucky, very rarely have a rock spike. I have though been to jobs and it's not gone well and I have had to swallow it. I think if I try and charge more than quoted customers wouldn't be happy. But never tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charliehub Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 I think we've all had these situations .. And you learn from them but basically no one knows what's down there until you start digging or banging a post in and thats just the risk you take doing this job with the hope that the good ones far out way the bad ones, we don't have any kind of clause for difficult ground just one of those things .. Just hope your next job flys along Digga ....!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 Yes I'm like you Front Row. Once quoted if it gets tough just got to suck it up and not compromise on your own standards. Otherwise even if you come out of it alright you will always look back at the job and think did I really do that. We had it the other way once quoted for standard length timber and ended needing 10' strainers and long stakes. What I have done in the past when I wasn't sure about the ground was give a minimum and maximum price it would be. Giving the minimum price as what you really think it's going to be then when client gets the bill and its towards the lower end of the scale they are happy but also you have the back up of the higher price should you need it. Or like Ajmoore says hourly rate. Fair for everyone. Usually if it gets really rocky and the client turns up I hand them our bar ( 6' long 2" high tensile ) and let them feel the ground conditions. They usually don't hang around and never moan about the bill funny that. Being doing it for over 25 years and still get caught out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy7840 Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 we have it all the time.i was lucky yesterday it wasnt priced and i charged the customer a very reasonable rate but if i had of priced it would of been a disaster!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Fork Fence Posted July 14, 2016 Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 I'm on one right now. Not hard ground, just lots of misleading by the customer prior to our arrival. Trim a few limbs he said. I pushed out trees for 11 hours today, and then hit the county water main on the second post. The water company was off by 3' on their locate. I always finish the job for the bid price. I hate when people raise the price on me, so I don't do it to my customers. I'll make a note of it, and adjust accordingly next time they call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digga Posted July 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 ive always just got on with it if its a bad job and hope the next one is better to make up for it .but thought i would ask to see what others do in similar situations as if you dont ask you dont know . allways willing to take advice and learn new things you can never know it all and willing to help when i can thanks for taking the time to reply guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
premnayloon Posted July 14, 2016 Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 I think without knowing for sure what lies beneath it is a case of taking the rough with the smooth, I give one price if it's plain sailing then great if not then just have forging and bear it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Fencin Posted July 15, 2016 Report Share Posted July 15, 2016 Rock Clause:If any ledge or heavy amounts of rock is encountered, additonal labor will be charged. Options will be discussed if encountered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goaty Posted July 16, 2016 Report Share Posted July 16, 2016 Rock Clause:If any ledge or heavy amounts of rock is encountered, additonal labor will be charged. Options will be discussed if encountered. Nice straight fair talking. It's the same when car goes to get fixed and other problems are fund. If the garage communicates you respect them more. If they leave it or fix it and send a surprise bill it damages relationships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PDRContracting Posted July 16, 2016 Report Share Posted July 16, 2016 My old boss always told me I should take a pinch bar with me when quoting to test the ground, of course being mid twenties I didn't want to bother with that and paid the price on a few occasions. I still don't take the pinch bar but do always ask clients about the ground and locations of any underground services and explain that the quote is based on their info and we aren't responsible for any damage to undeclared services (confirmed in writing on the bottom of every quote). Almost all are honest or happy to reimburse any extra time if you come across hard or rubbish ground or services they didn't forewarn you of. If you don't ask they would usually say "..oh well you didn't ask, I didn't think about it..". As Goaty says open and honest communication makes for happy clients, and contractors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete at Fences Ltd Posted July 16, 2016 Report Share Posted July 16, 2016 We always have on our terms and conditions subject to ground conditions, and let the client know if it is too hard. We also have a rock spike charge as you are putting in the posts twice. We have all had them learn from it and remember the area, have two farms either side of a road one clay one clay for 12 inches and then sandstone fot the next Xft. Never cut corners but make the client aware as they usually will help or even promote you as the man for the job in you area. Keep positive the next one will be easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Perry Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 It is quite usual to put into a quotation 'for digging in normal ground'. This then allows for an extra cost to be applied when you encounter the unforseen problems with digging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
premnayloon Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Problem is what is normal ground, If you are on a hillside the. the normal ground there s different to normal elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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