Tags
All to often we hear “I am really looking for for the lowest price.” So I ask you, “What does the lowest price mean and is the lowest price always the best value?” Let me explain, If you get a quote from companies A, B, & C do you really look at them to see if they are all including the same scope of work? If companies A & B look at your prints and quote the job as drawn and do not include any stain or urethane and they don’t have it reviewed by an engineer, but company C does include a coat of stain or urethane and their engineer sees that something is out of place and will not pass engineering and they change it so it will pass all codes and engineering of course their price will be higher. Now you have the three quotes in front of you and the one that will pass all codes and engineering is the highest, so, you automatically throw that one away because the cost is higher than the other two. You pick Company B and then decide to use that company. After you sign a contract and they start the shop drawing process they call and say “Oh, well, after reviewing you drawings again we see that they will not pass local codes so we will have to make some changes and issue a change order.” Of course you want the job done right so you agree and they send you change order #1 and now you have that added cost that you (most likely) did not budget for. As the process continues company B then calls and says ” Well, we did not notice this before but our engineer says some of these timber sizes do not work so we will have to use larger timbers.” You guessed it, change order #2 is now on it’s way. Now your frustrated and are wondering why you did not look at all of the proposals a little more closely. As things settle down and you realize you have time invested in this company and you might as well work it out instead of starting all over again. Time goes by and you make a call to company B to find out what color stain options you have for your new home. Company B says ” Oh, we did not include any finish in our proposal because you wanted the lowest price possible. We would be happy to add a coat of stain but we will have to send you another change order adding that cost.” Now your project is over budget and your frustrated. So, if you were to go back to the beginning and look at all of your proposals again and you add in all of the change orders you received from company B and you add them to your original proposal were they really the lowest price after all? In the end you have to ask yourself “Was the lowest price really the best value? Even if company C had been a couple of thousand dollars higher would the honesty in the beginning and not having the added frustration been worth it?” In short please take the time in the beginning to look at the scope of work each company is offering and then make the best decision for you and remember, the lowest price may NOT be the best value.”
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Particularly helpful information specifically the last part :I care for such information and facts significantly. I was seeking this certain information and facts for a quite lengthy time. Thank you and beneficial luck.
Very useful information.It helps me to see a broader picture.
Thanks for the comment! We all like the best value for our hard earned dollar.