A. You can rely on someone for better prices, but be aware of what you¹re getting. Are you willing to sacrifice building performance to get a roof over your family¹s head? I can¹t think of a product or service that isn¹t impacted by consumer confidence, and what I¹m seeing is that things are slowing down and companies and individuals still have expenses and less places to get money from, so they raise their rates to keep pace.
A client asked me about buying materials from a big-box store. I warned him to examine what he was getting, since chain stores have a way of beating up the manufacturer for better prices. That should be good news for you, but the manufacturer turns around and cuts back on material or product quality, which can lead to premature material failure and frustration years down the road when there¹s no warranty. Some companies even offer cheaper products with unbeatable prices backed by ³lifetime² warranties, knowing that people lose their receipts and paperwork, or just forget. Then they¹re stuck.
Prices have gone up. Quality, in some cases, is going down as a result. People who don¹t know the difference in quality are taken in by the solution to an immediate need, creating short-term gain and long-term loss. And what is quality, anyway? Is it only materials, or installation as well? And isn¹t it also performance?
A plumber can use quality piping and connections, pitch pipes so waste flows well, but may take a shortcut, literally, through your adjacent floor beams and joists, cutting big holes and notches that weaken the building. A sharp-eyed person sees this and says something right away. If not, on goes the plywood floor, the tiling over it, and by the time you see the resulting tile-cracking, you either live with the problem or search for answers. The first person your attorney would suggest is the architect, since the problem appears structural ‹ not thinking, in most cases (from my experience) to examine the installer.
Remember, the electrician and plumber make the highest profit on the project, based on the least amount of time spent compared with the highest cost per item or square foot of material. If they can spend even less time by taking a shortcut through structure, who will know? Your contractor has to juggle getting cheaper, less-skilled labor to keep pace, as well. Price increases are based on what people are willing to pay, and what it costs to produce and bring the product to market, plus profit tacked on each step of the way. But it is also based on value and perception. I am always concerned about cost, but as you grapple with how to pay for the work, be careful, or you may not get what you pay for.
Readers are encouraged to send
questions to: HERALD Homes,
379 Central Avenue, P.O. Box 220, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559-0220
Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
