Estate agent/ managing agent rates.

[polo1]

Hi guys, now I know no one likes talking hourly rates, but I'm looking for a reality check following discussions with some local agents about reactive maintenance rates (Glasgow area). They are balking at £17-20/hr with no guarantees over volume of work. They claim that they are paying £15/hr.
Yes, I've walked away, but is it me that is off the mark. I appreciate that every business will have its own break even hourly rate and that many won't touch these guys, but your thoughts & experience of this particular market would be very welcome!

 

[SPARTYKUS]

I could cut grass for that. Stuff 'em

 

[richy3333]

I could cut grass for that. Stuff 'em

Selling grass would be more profitable!

 

[richy3333]

P.S. Stuff em.

 

[Plonker 3]

£15 per hour, you can get that on the books here. How do they expect anyone to run a business for that rate?

 

[richy3333]

Estate agents do **** all for huge sums, so why not suggest that to the, as your rate too?

 

[ImpededLoop]

Best to walk away....

 

[polo1]

Thanks guys, kinda expected those responses. What would be even more helpful would be an idea of what sorts of hourly rates you are managing to get for this type of work.
I've always been willing to consider lowering my hourly rate for regular work, but these rates, as you say, are totally unrealistic, and I just don't believe they are getting insured, tax paying companies to work for them at that price.

 

[Pete999]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWUJGPBmiLE

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Ok. I'll be brave. We're in the arms

I start off with £26 an hour for anything. And that hasn't changed for years.

 

[davesparks]

For a Lettings agent in woking I charge £35 first hour then £25/hour thereafter. They have commented that I am cheap when compared to others they use.

 

[GB.Kayak]

Thanks guys, kinda expected those responses. What would be even more helpful would be an idea of what sorts of hourly rates you are managing to get for this type of work.
I've always been willing to consider lowering my hourly rate for regular work, but these rates, as you say, are totally unrealistic, and I just don't believe they are getting insured, tax paying companies to work for them at that price.

I am sorry to hear of your woes and am fed up with those who charge the earth for their services and appear to do very little for it ... Architects and the Legal 'Profession' are 2 that I currently dislike. As to your original post, I think that you are pricing yourself competitively in my limited experience from further North! See my next post on this thread.

 

[GB.Kayak]

For a Lettings agent in woking I charge £35 first hour then £25/hour thereafter. They have commented that I am cheap when compared to others they use.

... and so you probably are in Surrey. I would not be surprised if this is a race to the bottom to get work in Glasgow. The law of supply and demand is at work and there are almost certainly more 'electricians' of some sort or another plying their trade in Glasgow with much lower living costs than you probably have in Guildford. I have had someone repairing the roof of my property on a part time basis over the last year, he works as a 'handyman' and was charging himself out at £ 12.50 per hour, he raised this earlier in the year to £ 15.00. He comes from a plumbing background though is not currently Gas Safe registered which is a real pain because he is one of the few tradespeople that I would trust to do a job in a thorough manner! His breadth of building trade knowledge is impressive and so too is the quality of his work and his approach to the safety and security of my property. What am I saying ... build a business on your reputation, set your charges at a level which you can live on and develop a loyal following amongst those that can afford your rates in the location that you live.

 

[Octopus]

I won't work directly for letting agents they are generally scum.

The only time I set foot in an estate agent/letting agency is to pick up keys.

I work directly for the clients who need the work done properly and I charge more than davesparks!

 

[polo1]

I appreciate that geography dictates in a major way, what rates will be acceptable to various types of customer, that's why I stated a specific location.
Thanks too for those who have quoted specific figures - for one off small jobs I charge £45/hr for the first hr then £25/hr. I'll charge the lower rate from the get go for regular customers. I have to say that it's often the better off (new) customer who tries to barter down the rate.
Im trying to build a more regular/recurring type of workload, hence the discussions with Management Cos.

 

[DiscoDave]

We usually avoid this type of work, for many of the above reasons, however everything we do for them Is a fixed price minimum two hours charge at £70 increased if not local. Our standard hourly rate is £35 but this is reduced for repeat customers full days etc.

I always keep keep in regular contact with gas/heating chaps to keep intouch with what they are charging, I fail to see why a 20min gas cert can be £80 but a four hour EICR is balked at for £150 !!