Service work rate?

[Rotor-Man]

Anyone care to say what they are charging for service and repair work on existing systems in their neck of the woods? Hourly rate plus travel fee and parts costs?

[HBFOXJr]

$30 to come to the door plus
$60/hr with a .5 hr min, 15 minute increments after that, for any part of the 15minutes its all rounded up to the full 1/4 hr

parts vary from list to double my cost depending
some stuff that people shop for like a pvb or controller I sell for less than list as it tends to bring new clients in the door. Since they are a big ticket item so to speak you still make good $$$ of a single unit.

[SprinklerGuy]

$60 to show up, which includes the 1st half hour of labor.

$60 per hour after that.....billed in 15 min. increments.

therefore if there for 45 minutes it will cost $60 + $15 or $75

Parts, much like HB.....1/2 inch pvc fittings are $1.00

Other big ticket items not as much.

Also, everybody that we do work for and use glue or teflon gets charged a supplies charge of $5

If we have to break out the torch and solder.....supplies charge of $7.50

Valve locates...$75 for 1st valve.......regular labor rate for rest

[HBFOXJr]

oh yeah $3 misc supplies

valves located by the reg hr rate

[Wick]

Wow, I wish the market would bear those prices around here.

$45.00/ hr with a 1 hr min. charge. Time rounded to the nearest 1/2 hr.

Parts simular to the other guys.

[Mark B]

I have been thinking about what some of these other guys are doing. I like the idea of having a min payment for 1/2hr maybe $55.00 for that then after every hour it is $50.00 per hr. My question is do most companies have a 1 man crew or 2 man crew? I like to have a 2 man crew myself. I do charge real close to retail on my parts that was a big mistake when I first started up. But you learn as ya go.

[SprinklerGuy]

One man crew for service work

If needed a second man can join up at twice the rate.

I also have a 2 man install crew for the larger repairs and installations.

[HBFOXJr]

You don't get it because you don't ask for it. I find it difficult to believe in high priced New England that rates are not equal to our NJ rates or higher.

I have new people call all the time for service. We tell them up front even if they don't ask, how and how much we charge for labor. And rarely does anyone balk. It's when can you come?

People LOVE their lawns and landscapes. They are upset when they can't water. Peace of mind and satisfaction are worth a lot aren't they?

Here the avg good tech with years of experience makes in the upper teens of dollars plus benefits. Stack the other wage taxes and insurances on that, plus overhead, plus equip like a truck and diagnostic tools and maintaining inventory the cost to keep a good man is in the $40's/hr before you add any profit. And you gotta try and make at least $10+ per hr profit before any money made on parts.

Even working by yourself you should charge that much. Why not make a bundle on what people want. They drive big cars, big vacations, big houses etc. Help yourself. It's there for the asking. And if yopu grow your gonna need that amount anyhow so yiou might as well condition them now.

[Ground Master]

good points Harold........

you also have to consider irrigation is a seasonal business.....your trying to live for 12 months off of 8 or 9 months of income......

[turfman59]

Are you guys writing off all of this free advise? Harold and Tony if you guys added up all of your responses to my posts I would owe you big.

[HBFOXJr]

I need a lot of stuff done around my house. You could start with that. No money need change hands. :D

[HBFOXJr]

I'd have to do a bunch of stuff to change their size. Send me your email address and I'll do them that way. It'll take 2 or 3 emails.

[Wick]

Harold,

Believe me when I tell you I try to get more. somtimes I do, sometimes I don't. I know from my own experiences that I am one of the highest bidders on almost every project I look at. Reputation is the only thing that keeps the work coming in. Most of my clients are well educated on the subject before they make a final decision and they are willing to pay for quality. Word of mouth is how I get 95% of all my new installations and those installations make up between 80-90% of my total business. When people call from the phone book looking for service, there is so much competition in this area that if they are not already a customer they usually find someone cheaper than myself. Usually one of the many local "hacks". I appreciate your input and I am looking in to raising my rates as we speak.

Thanks.

[HBFOXJr]

There is a difference between service rates and install rates here. I have to sell installs at almost loss leader rates. So I sell enough just to keep the schedule full. The fact you tell us that such a high percentage of your installs comes from word of mouth and installs are such a high percentage of your business tell me you are tooooo cheeeap.

The guys in our area selling the house down with a ton of referalls are referred because their work is undervalued and the client knows it.

Nobody should be selling that high of a percentage from advertising or even referalls. I find here even the referalls shop around and a percentage don't buy. Although I've had numerous grapevine feedback over the years of buyers remorse on their decisions.

Experience tells us that if youare selling on the average of 1 of 3 to 1 of 5 estimates that is about right. Anything higher than 1 of 3 and there is a reason that you are too successful closing that is not in your best interest.

[SWD]

Service rates are:
$50.00 pr/hr from when I actually depart for the job location.
Supplies are charged in $2.50 increments.
Valve location is the same hourly rate.
Due to the distances in my area, I do not have to charge a minimum just to show up.
I made the mistake early on of trying to be appreciative of the work and cutting people a break on their bill. Yes, I know, stupid.
Now, the bill is the bill - and I have much less pita customers.
Installs are a bit different, I still have a hourly rate for profit potential, however, again where I am located, literally each install is different due to the type of soil conditions I deal with (mostly rock). That is impossible to estimate properly.
On some of the larger expense items, I might move a bit off of the suggested retail, but if I do, I will make it up elsewhere.

[greenworldh20]

$70 for all service calls. this includes the 1st 1/2 hour of labor. parts are additional. $60/hr after that.


everything is based on time.
now, what do i usually go through?

i went to the supply house on MY time and stocked up MY vehicle with EVERYTHING i could possibly need to service your system right the FIRST time. I was ON TIME and MY ACCOUNT MANAGER called the day before to CONFIRM our appointment.


and you are arguing over the bill???:angry: :blob3: :blob4: :blob1:

[Ric]

Here in Gods waiting room we get $ 45.00 per hr-- rest same as above.

I don't do new construction because there are Three Idiots in my area that cut each other throat's. New installs city water 80 x 120 lot are going for $ 1000.00. That includes back flow preventer. When we are called out to repair these systems we flat tell the customer we can't even begin to fix it. I have seen 20 or more heads on a 1" line with both rotors and pop ups. Be happy to install complete new system at repair hourly rates. One of these guys lost his city license but still has his county license. His Trick was to come back the day after final inspection and pull the back flow preventer out of the ground, never was hooked up. Welcome to God's waiting room the land of scam.

BTW-- FYI there are only 10 licensed irrigation companies in the county. At our present growth rate we could support 10 more. However don't pack up the moving van yet. we have at least a 100 guys doing irrigation repair illegal. Most mowing guys are doing minor repair work. They are happy to get $ 10.00 per hour.

I guess the above is why you never see me post in this forum.

[SWD]

Ric, where is SW Fla are u at? My old stomping grounds was broward co @ coral springs and ft lauderdale.
I never heard about god's waiting room - I used to say I went deaf listening to the arteries hardening - oh yeah and BINGO!

[Ric]

SWD

I am due west of Palm Beach and due east of Brownsville Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. The towns are named in español . inglés I live in Fat ***** my Driver License says I live in Big Mouth. Ok Ok don't laugh to hard. Incorporated in 1892 the Spanish fishermen misspelled the towns name. Leaving the "N" out changed Fat Point to Fat *****. Big Mouth is world famous for Tarpon fishing.

BTW don't forget shuff board

[JimLewis]

$50 service call (fee just to show up). From there, $48 per man hour + Materials. And I mark up the materials to retail cost (which is generally 30%-50% mark-up).

[CMKC]

$65 for the first hr and billed by the 1/2hr after that. Parts rate is exactly the same as Jim.
Backflow Inspections are based on the size of the backflow and are a set fee per backflow. Prices start at per hour rate and go up from there.