Having just gone into this field, I have done well to get on with 2 local estate agents to manage any property that they currently let.
I have devised my price list based on job prices, so X amount for a boiler swap, central heating fitting etc etc. I will only use hourly rate for leak finding or maybe issues finding problems.
Good for you LukeFR - be it commercial or domestic custom, most people are going to be more interested in the bottom-line price than the hourly rate. Agreeing to an hourly rate alone is to write a blank cheque, e.g. two hours at £50 an hour is a better deal than someone who charges £40 p.h., but takes an hour longer to do the job.
When quoting set prices in adverts, flyers, etc, you always need to protect yourself by including the words: "from", and: "subject to survey", but delivering what you promise as often as is possible is one of the best ways of building a good reputation.
A trend that seems to be emerging on this and other threads is that people new to the sector are often better prepared for the current competitive market than many of the more experienced people who are still thinking in terms of the market as it was during the 90's.
The skills shortage that was triggered by the Margaret Thatcher Government in 1989/90 when they closed the Manpower/Skills Training Centres (who trained up some really good tradesmen) has now run its course, the 'supply' shortage in gas and plumbing trades having peaked in the 90's.
The long-term effect of this market dynamic is now aggravated by the fall off in demand due to the current recession.
People who ignore the above will most likely be out of business within the next couple of years. It will be 'out with the old, and in with the new', in many cases. Which is what happened in the recession of the 70's.
When people talk about the benefits of the market place for making industries "fitter and better", it usually has me shouting "BS!" at the TV. Particularly when it comes from the mouths of college boys from millionaire families who don't know what a carton of milk costs, and couldn't run a bath, let alone a business. But unfortunately, they've persuaded the masses to let them run the country .... into the ground.
The next few years will see a substantial number of very good tradesmen go bust. Which will have a financial cost for the the economy, and also the collective skills base of the country - not to mention the sheer human misery that people and their families often incur when personal finances collapse.
Such a waste of human potential.
Luckily, I'm not one of those who might be so affected, but I do feel for those who will be.
But anyway, good luck to you Luke, you sound well prepared for the current market place - and I wish you every success.
