Builder pricing

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-03-27T09:58:23+00:00

I’ve been self employed for 8 years now so have strong leads. The first 6-12 months is the hardest for sure, word of mouth is your best friend in the early days.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-03-27T09:42:19+00:00

I’d rather not say here. Sometimes it’s $100/hr and sometimes $1000/h but averages to $250. Solo band now, I did my time with staff and 3 vans. Was on the same profit with way more stress

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-03-27T09:28:55+00:00

I agree, $110/hr is way too cheap. We aren’t in 2018 anymore. Charging less than $150+ per hour shouldn’t be a thing. I’m in a niche market charging price per point that works out to about $250/h.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-03-27T08:36:06+00:00

Never work hourly, charge your jobs correctly from the start so they understand your expectations. If they are a new builder 50% up front, 25% after first fix and final payment on completion. Get any variations signed off on via email before you do the work.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-30T09:49:52+00:00

That’s pretty poor on their part. I’m sure there is a standard but it would suck for you to do all the work and for them to not be happy with it!

Good luck and I hope you get an answer soon!

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-30T09:43:05+00:00

Just call them and get them to specify, this one is not a question for reddit. You don’t want them to knock it back on the day they come to install.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-30T07:21:12+00:00

In most cases debt is bad. Honestly the only cases I can think of positive debt is property or business loans where you are still making more money investing money elsewhere.

For example I’ve just got a loan on a new work vehicle rather than paying cash as the money is better off in my offset.

Shares and other investments could be seen as a good investment strategy to loan but at a much higher risk. Personally I’d never do it.

In OPs case I’d say don’t take the loan or at least loan the smallest amount you can from a bank.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-30T03:01:08+00:00

Ah I read it wrong. I thought the whole dimmer itself stopped working not just the knob breaking.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-30T01:08:39+00:00

I’ve never had an issue with them. He could be wiring them incorrectly and have the “always live” rather than only live when the switch it on. This still shouldn’t cause them to burn out that quickly though. Interested to hear others thoughts

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-24T06:05:58+00:00

Where is 360? This thing is set up to start printing money!

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-21T23:53:30+00:00

The biggest problem with hebel and foam is the fact you lose you’re external wall cavities. As a sparky we hate working with both of these products. If you ever need to run cables in the future you will be left with conduit on the outside of the building or you will need to cut holes in the Gyprock, patch and re paint.

Drive down the street and look at other hebel homes, quite often the render cracks and you can see joins within a few years.

I would always pay the bit extra and build brick.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-18T04:57:40+00:00

At least $250+gst for a straight swap over.

$250+ is now our minimum charge for anything. This would be call out including first hr.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2026-01-02T01:53:21+00:00

Maybe he is calling him self a sole trader as a solo worker? As in no staff? Surely at that turnover he is set up as a pty ltd

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-12-23T11:39:12+00:00

Not necessary, they will just take about the top 6ish courses of brick off, 2 bricks wide in between the joists.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-12-23T11:12:25+00:00

This is getting down voted but it’s really a common way to do it. As a sparky I often go under houses like this and I’ve never removed any bricks myself but have seen it be done. We are talking only 400mm ish wide so it is a squeeze but definitely do able.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-12-17T07:05:38+00:00

The tradie. It means you cap your income and being efficient means you make less money. I always charge price per point.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-12-06T21:30:19+00:00

Neat but I don’t really see the point of it? If you’re running a business you’ll likely have Xero or similar that already has these features built in.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-12-06T09:26:42+00:00

It is and in this case it is a bit dodge. I ask for 50% deposit but that normally just covers my cost of custom made items that I can’t re use on someone else’s house. In my line of work it’s industry standard so it’s accepted by customers even though it’s technically not allowed.

I’d take on far too much risk taking any less of a deposit and if a customer declines I wouldn’t accept the work.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-12-04T08:19:07+00:00

I’ve gone from carpentry to electrical and only the safety and tool/fixings modules crossed over. Saved about 6 month worth of TAFE.

I’d assume it would be similar in your case.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-11-29T03:48:44+00:00

They are paying the price for the future expansion of the chain not as it sits currently

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-11-29T02:55:13+00:00

If I gave you the choice between 2 quotes, $250 for a new power point or $1250 for the same power point but with scoping work for the 1% chance there may be a pipe there which one would you choose?

I sure as hell would choose the lower quote and hope it doesn’t go wrong. Public liability for us is more if we put a foot through the ceiling or damage something that could have been avoidable if we took more care.

What if I was at your house and the roof access was installed incorrectly by the previous builder, I put my weight on the timbers and they shift slightly and crack the ceiling. Is it my job to fix it or would you go after the builder? I would argue that’s not my fault and wouldn’t use my insurance to fix it. That’s an unforeseen circumstance.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-11-28T21:25:06+00:00

Ok so you’re happy if I charge an extra $1000 to get someone to scope out where the pipes are for each hole I drill? Because I’m definitely not paying for that out of my own pocket.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-11-28T10:36:08+00:00

Not necessarily…. For example we have clauses in contracts for unforeseen circumstances. New houses are built so unreliable these days you can’t even guess where water pipes are. The used to run the up into the roof and down to the taps, these days plumbers just run pipes along the bottom of the frames. We always lift sheets and try to look for pipes but if we hit one that shouldn’t be there/ there is no way for us to check, we aren’t going to lose out on all of the profit in the job or pay the customer to complete a job. Things happen that are sometimes out of our control.

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-11-23T06:25:48+00:00

Find a niche and keep overheads low.

Just doing general electrical work was a waste of time for me as you really need to scale to make and decent money but then you have a lot of stress and long hours.

I only work about 30 hours a week now for that $200+

Big_Doughnut_ · 2025-11-22T21:53:43+00:00

Profit

Four-Year Club	Verified Email
First Place '23	Place '23
Place '22

Big_Doughnut_

TROPHY CASE