That's why you are always busy. We get 90% of the work we bid on unless its over their price range. Its that simple, most of the trade guys are not very good business people, but good at doing and not good at talking. Paper work? What's that? E mail??? I tell these young guys to try and return ph call within a day and you will busy for a long time. All contractor run late. they shouldn't, but do. all my subs are always an hour late. they don't have people picking up after them when they are out like in an office. THey are not on the same road everyday, there's traffic. If they get hung up on a job, stuck under the house somewhere, you think they are thinking about a bid. A bid doesn't mean work. It just mean they get their wheel spin and hope for the best. If a client really want that plumber they will call back. If someone looked in the phone book and call for bids, more then likely they will not hire them. I talk to lots of my sub contractors. They all say the same thing.

By the way, the going rate 800 bucks per drop. 5k for a repipe is not out of line.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but what's huge? A bath remodel starts at 20k. 100k might not be a lot of money to them. They may keep 20k if they are lucky. You should always ask your arch. for a good contractor. Ask the arch. what the base line is for a general additional cost in your area. Then add on the custom work.

I started out when I was in college working as a young contractor. I would bid on these jobs that would take weeks of phone calls with the vender and many many meetings with the arch, subs and the owner. after many trys I wouldn't never get any work out of them. All they wanted was a bid in writting so they can have a base line to go by. Everybody wants a free bid in writting. It all cost money and time. A lots of freaking time and answering questions. You learn real quick if they are just puling your legs. If they really want you, then they will call back. If not, don't waste your time.

why do you feel that you are baeing gouge by the tradesmen?

The plummer I used to have do all of our work. We get into some nutty custom work that require pulling hair out of ones head. He made lots and lots money from us. One day he decides to only install water heaters, not tankless, at $250-300 a pop plus whatever was necessary that got tack onto the bill. At times he would do 4 a day. 2 guys will get in and out of there in hour. He was busy all the time. Beats crawing in and out of the house and making sure my finish plumbing is dead on straight. I ask him to bid on a 50K plumbing job Greene and Greene proj last year. He smile and said we don't craw no more.

Flatbutt, did you efinally get someone to do the job?