Seasonally Adjusted Quoting

[skyhuck]

I find this though with Agri fencing work, look at a job when it's bone dry and access across steep clay slopes (for example) is a doddle, but if the job then happens to land on bad weather it makes the whole job a complete nightmare requiring more speacialist access machinery potentially and time spent repairing damage to fields etc- the price doesn't change- just my stress and enjoyment levels- if can work vice veraasometimes.

Swings and roundabouts and all that- although I think a string of roundabouts sums up my work life pretty well lately

 

Yes, I've just had a biggish job removing loads of leylandii, the last few, which where huge, were best accessed via the field. But the job was priced in october, only got the go ahead in Jan. Field sodden, so took the little 4X4 forklift and brought the timber out down a path. added about a day to the job, but thats life, if all had gone hunky dory and I'd finished a day early I would not have reduced the price.

[Mark Bolam]

You're pissing in the wind with this one Kevin.

Surely you discuss timescales at quote stage?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[Johny Walker]

Just musing whilst walking the dog, looking at the early signs of life flushing back into the trees and thinking about tasks that are confirmed on price but not yet firmed up into the diary.

 

Does anyone have or use any calc's / formula for price adjusting according to leaf density, or do folks tend to just "cuff it", or just carry the potential additional cost / complexity when quotes are done in Winter season but the job carries forward to Spring / Summer?

 

Given that it is so much quicker and easier to work and move around in a barren tree, that timber is lighter and that a considerable additional volume by weight of chip may need to be taken away from a tree in full leaf, be interesting to hear how people approach this.

 

Not scientific but just for example:

 

 

 

A £1000 job quoted in Jan

 

1-30 April add 2% = £1020

1-31 May add 5% = £1071

1-30 Jun add 5% = £1124.55

1-31 Jul add 5% = £1180.78

1-31 Aug add 2% = £1204.39

 

Maybe those percentages are too low?

 

Any thoughts??

 

lifes too short to worry about crap like that

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Yes, I guess so, was just musing that's all....

 

The whole pricing thing is so subjective.

[Marc]

Yes, I guess so, was just musing that's all....

 

The whole pricing thing is so subjective.

 

Not really, I don't look at complexity of job other than factoring in potential risk of job running over, there is obviously extra reward/profit to be made if the job goes to plan or completed early, or enough in reserve to cover costs if it doesn't.

 

I cannot compare our price to others around us, i know our operating costs and what we have to earn each week (this includes depreciation) and the work is priced accordingly always hoping to achieve a profit to re invest and grow.

[jaime bray]

Quote valid for three months.

 

If ever asked why three months, I simply reply that this often allows for change of seasonal characteristics and/or weather and site conditions.

[Shane]

Its a bit like offering discounts for OAPs.

When there is no accurately measurable deliverable, then discounts, extras are totally subjective.

 

I suspect we all base the cost on the amount of effort required, disposal costs and required profit for the job. My brain can't cope with much more than that and I dont have the time for mathematical faffing.

 

Just my 'umble opinion guvnor.

[Marc]

Do our costs change with the season, other than site factors?

 

I have 3 big jobs on the books that are being left for dry weather, sometimes they cannot wait as long as the client understands the price rarely changes we just get wetter and muddier and potentially stuck you just have to roll with that and hope the price factored these in.

[Chris Day]

My quotes are valid for thirty days as per my terms and conditions, this is to try and work round the seasonal changes issue. However if a quote is accepted but not scheduled for three months say, I just roll with it.

[miker]

I find this though with Agri fencing work, look at a job when it's bone dry and access across steep clay slopes (for example) is a doddle, but if the job then happens to land on bad weather it makes the whole job a complete nightmare requiring more speacialist access machinery potentially and time spent repairing damage to fields etc- the price doesn't change- just my stress and enjoyment levels- if can work vice veraasometimes.

Swings and roundabouts and all that- although I think a string of roundabouts sums up my work life pretty well lately

 

Dont forget that timber /wire etc prices can go up a fair bit in a few months, i had this a while back, quoted the job in february,didnt hear back till june,in this time there was a 5% increase in the material costs, i now only hold quotes for 30 days