The lowest bid can sometimes be a good deal, but most of the time it just means that the labor is cheap, and likely quality will be too. Skill is not cheap.
Its like cheap perfume, smells good when you first spray it, but doesn’t last long at all!
Lowest bid does not necessarily mean the best deal… Like the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. In order to provide a cheaper bid you would need to use at times cheaper material and cut corners in order to achieve that. In construction corners is the least thing you would want to do. Get a fair price and you will get a job well done…
Lowest bid does not necessarily mean the best deal… Like they saying goes, you get what you pay for. The price may be cheaper because they are using cheaper materials or the are cutting corners. Get a fair price and you will get a job well done…
One thing I always keep in mind cheap labor isn’t skilled and skilled labor isn’t cheap. A low bid is low for a reason most bids are within a couple of dollars of each other.Winning the bid comes down to product knowledge, compatibility, and references.That being said sometimes you can save money on material (no not builders choice, #2 grade, or utility grade materials) some high quality products are on clearance and are a good way to save money so ask your contractors bidding your project if any are available that will meet your needs you may be surprised.
There will always be an underdog trying to cut throat the pro’s… A lot of times that too good to be true money saving quote that wins the job!!? Will end up costing you double when you have to fire the fly by nighter and hire me to come and fix wat he started… When that happens? I’m not going to be at all cheap, with my install or material… But I guarantee a job well done! If you want a good contractor? Consider the quote but check the credentials of the contractor first
We all work hard for our money. But unfortunately cheap is not equal to good. Skilled professionals are a little more expensive than those who are not qualified to do the job. It is wise to ask your contractor for references and a site visit to one of his jobs if at all possible, that way you will have the chance to compare workmanship and price. Highest price not always means good quality either. Try to obtain at least three bids, and make sure your contractor is always licensed and insured.
It makes absolutely no sense to higher a contractor for price. You get what you pay for and the low ballers are going to rush, use cheaper material, or possibly not even finish. Seen and fixed too many low-baller contractors mistakes and have seen too many homeowners loose trust, for price.
I always said you pay for what you get, cheaper does not save you money in the long run when it comes to investing in your home, many times the lower bid isn’t certain to perform the work proposed. If a bid seems to good to be true normally it is. Low Bid equals low quality work , lots of unanswered questions.
In some cases it does make sense. Not every lowest bidder is just a low-baller, and not every high bidder is quality. Unfortunately, bids from different contractors are not apples to apples, even though they are bidding the same project. You will have to do some homework to look through bids to find if things are missing from someone’s bid. You may have to ask more follow-up questions from the contractors. Materials, components, schedule, quality, communication, and even personality will vary between two different outfits. A simple chat on the phone can help you understand if you will get along with your contractor; don’t overlook how the process will go once you hire a contractor based on compatible personalities and communication styles.
Consider the schedule. You might hire the lowest bidder because they can start and finish your project 6 months before another contractor can even start it. Some contractors will lower their bids because they are in between projects and they need to keep their guys busy and the bills paid.
Best advice is to communicate with those giving you bids. Ask questions… a lot of them. Then factor everything, including price, into your decision.
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It is always about a good fit between the Client and the Contractor. Price is not the only indicator of a good fit on either side of a contract. Trust, and a feeling of Partnership are needed for a successful outcome for the property. Working together for the best outcome of the property is really a two-way street. Client and Contractor have to be compatible and “in- sync” with cost vs. value benefits.
I would say its usually best to pick the most detailed bid with itemized expenses. On larger jobs you always want all bidding contractors to provide a very detailed schedule of values and you want to compare these lists such as AIA G703, you will find that the organized and experienced contractors will include many more items and expenses than not as experienced contractors not because they want a higher price but because they know from experience that expenses will occur and must be accounted for. This usually translates into hiring a competent contractor who has done his due diligence and planned out your project. In construction you want to do it once, as soon as mistakes start happening you will double, triple or quadruple your costs and timeline. Vet your contractors as best as you can, ask to see current jobs, ask to talk to past clients, research them, ask if they have any current or pending litigation, learn as much as you can about them and choose not based on price but on what they can deliver which past performance is usually the best indicator of.