How do you handle having your clients choose cabinet finishes, bathtubs, faucets, and so on? Do you usher them to the nearest showroom, or do you bring samples and catalogs to their house?
I used to work for people who had a showroom, so I’ve never seen it done any other way.
I’m looking for an apprenticeship right now, and I turned away two leads for bathroom remodels because I felt like I’d bitten off too much. But I’ve got other people who are interested in my services! While the grass grows the horse starves, ya know, and I’m starting to wonder if I should man up and take on a project or two.
Also, what do you do in terms of ordering stuff in, like bathtubs. How much of a deposit do you take? As project manager, I returned all kinds of stuff that clients decided they didn’t want, and then b1tched about being charged for a restocking fee.
Replies
We have them make an appointment at one of the local plumbing supply houses. They have salespeople accustomed to walking clients through the selection process. Selections get faxed or emailed directly to plumber, who them gives us a copy.
I usually offer to accompany clients there or to Lowes' for lower-end jobs but let them know they will have to pay for my time. No one's taken me up on it yet, event though a few should have.
I know you're considering hiring on as a plumber's apprentice, but do you have a good plumber you will be using on these jobs? Around here the supply houses only sell to licensed plumbers.
The rules seem to be different around here. The plumbing supply places will sell me almost anything. Certain *items* are restricted; I couldn't buy a Wirsbo tool, for example.And they don't have showrooms. Hmm.Also, I don't have a good plumber. I have connections with a few plumbers who are unreliable and have poor workmanship, though.Your method sounds solid. I'm going to have to see what showrooms might work with me. Edited 1/16/2008 7:28 pm ET by Biff_Loman
Edited 1/16/2008 7:30 pm ET by Biff_Loman
For years I have sent mine to a plumber who has a showroom as part of his business. I have the customer carefully get a prepared list from the showroom without ever mentioning my name.
Then , because this particular plumber screwed me many years ago out of several thousand dollars, I take the list to my favorite plumber( who has no showroom) and have him supply it.
I give them a spreadsheet with embedded links to various suggested fixtures and the number and locations of the fixtures and they take it to the show room and confirm that it is what they want or let the sales person show them different items in similar price range, prevents them from being shown directly to the gold plated stuff and steers them to stuff I've used before that worked well and looks good for the money.
M
------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Excellent work Shelternerd! Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Gotta keep those customers focussed! I also give them a decision making schedule with the understanding that they have up until a certain week to change their mind on an item or we put in what is in the default selection spreadsheet...------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Huh. This is good stuff.Even with a showroom, my employers ended up using a lot of familiar items over and over. I like it.
Awesome.
Cool article in the new FHB by the way. My wife stole the mag before I got a chance to read it but I got a good idea from the photos and thought it was really cool. Where did you end up getting your cable rail? I have a bunch of that coming up on a job we're pulling permits for right now.Michael------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Thanks!
We got the cable at Feeney. We chose them because they have an integrated powdercoated aluminum post and rail system.