Today we had our solar guy/electrician visit to replace the glass hob on the stove and has become more of a handyman these days. His work is impeccable and if he does not know how to do something he knows some one who does.
He was inquiring about the solar installation for our Johannesburg house which still needs to have a few additions to take us off the grid. I mentioned the Durban house explaining the work that needs to be done and that we had a ridiculous quote which once completed and sold will pay for the Johannesburg house solar and all the other work required.
I had never even contemplated asking him if he was interested as this is not electrical related work. He mentioned he is going through a lean patch with work lately and would love to be able to do this work and to please let him quote for the job.
He will take a team down with him to complete the work and has already quoted on the materials that are required coming in far cheaper. The labour price is what concerned me and knowing him it will come in less than half the original quote which is more realistic. This would also be doing him a favor whilst helping me out at the same time.
His work would account for 90% of what is required besides tree fellers and gardening which will be done once he has finished or is still busy, The more I think about this the more I will have to take a trip down if I want to have this house on the market for the beginning of September. The timings are so important and having the property on the market for the beginning of spring is ideal. Apparently buyer appeal and sales peak in September to November so hitting this time frame is essential to the final outcome.
This has never been about the money because the returns will be there and the work needs to be done, but more about not being taken for a ride. The problem is never about paying for services as long as the pricing is realistic and from the quote I received I just did not see how they managed to get to those numbers. The labour price was more than double what I expected now with my guy going down with his own hand picked team they will get the job done in half the time and at half the price.
The materials I can buy in Johannesburg and they can take it down so I am not paying a premium on those items which I was on the original quote. The other plus side of things is now I know he does this type of work then he can get stuck into the Johannesburg house using his contacts once this project has been completed and sold. These days it is so hard to find trustworthy people who are reliable and are good at what they do so this is a no brainier to go with this.
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