Digger work advice

[Andym]

Hi guys I have been asked to do some ditching work on a 500 Acre farm they want me to quote for the whole job I normally do it per hour or chain run any advice would be appreciated I am using a 5 ton digger many thanks

 

[Vinpetrol]

Hi Andy
Welcome to the forum .
Take your day work rate , multiply it by how many days you think it will take to do the job . Now think about all the issues that might happen that will make it take more time and multiply this time by your day work rate . Add all transportation costs and fuel then add a percentage of profit that you think is reasonable .
Remember that you will need to complete this job even if it runs well over allocated time and eats into your profit .

 

[6feetdown]

Welcome

 

[doobin]

Day rate only. No agri contractors would price for the whole job- it's a slow and steady job where the only variable/cost cutting measure is how neat they want it left.

 

[V8Druid]

" I can quote you for it, but I WILL cover my arse, or you can take my day rate " (in my case on an estimated time, plus materials, basis), would have been my reply, back in the day. All my regulars took the second option ... and always came out on top ... I always 'won' on a quoted price

 

[doobin]

" I can quote you for it, but I WILL cover my arse, or you can take my day rate " (in my case on an estimated time, plus materials, basis), would have been my reply, back in the day. All my regulars took the second option ... and always came out on top ... I always 'won' on a quoted price

Yup, fully agree.

A days ditching even at NAAC rates is looking atractive with my new 86c! sit back and relax, no pressures. Rather than up at 5am today for a roadside tree take down.

 

[JD450A]

Price for the whole job no problem, but you need to basically set your chain rate, measure the distances and come to a meterage figure and then include that on the quote, with fixed stipulations and costs for what state you expect to encounter the ditches, how they are going to be left etc etc.

 

[V8Druid]

Price for the whole job no problem, but you need to basically set your chain rate, measure the distances and come to a meterage figure and then include that on the quote, with fixed stipulations and costs for what state you expect to encounter the ditches, how they are going to be left etc etc.

don't forget stage or weekly/fortnightly payments either ... no good getting to the end then getting ****ed about for months on the money

 

[JD450A]

don't forget stage or weekly/fortnightly payments either ... no good getting to the end then getting ****ed about for months on the money

I'd be looking for mobilization fee and 200mts up front with invoices due every 1000mts after that.

 

[Storrsy]

" I can quote you for it, but I WILL cover my arse, or you can take my day rate " (in my case on an estimated time, plus materials, basis), would have been my reply, back in the day. All my regulars took the second option ... and always came out on top ... I always 'won' on a quoted price

As long as you don't give them both prices! Otherwise you get them saying you quoted X to do the job but it's only taken you 10 days at Y!

 

[DaveDCB]

I'd be looking for mobilization fee and 200mts up front with invoices due every 1000mts after that.

Has any farmer ever paid upfront for anything…..? Because that ain’t gonna happen nor are they going to pay every week!

 

[Storrsy]

Yup, fully agree.

A days ditching even at NAAC rates is looking atractive with my new 86c! sit back and relax, no pressures. Rather than up at 5am today for a roadside tree take down.

I love ditching- I genuinely think it's probably my favourite work- sit there all day, radio on, work in some lovely spots, no stress on the body and satisfying to make a nice job out of it.

 

[JD450A]

Has any farmer ever paid upfront for anything…..? Because that ain’t gonna happen nor are they going to pay every week!

Depends on your level of customer I suppose.

If they want price work they pay, and you'll find it they want you to do the work they will comply with a sensible payment regime. I've a few farmers on the sheets that have similar terms and not one has given issues.

 

[V8Druid]

Has any farmer ever paid upfront for anything…..? Because that ain’t gonna happen nor are they going to pay every week!

then they ain't worth the grief of working for them ... had a few that I would not work for or even have across the threshold .. their reputation preceded them and I told them so - go forth and multiply .... and never darken my doorway .. I didn't GAF with them .. no point in creating sh1t for yourself

 

[Storrsy]

To be fair to farmers when I used to do alot of agri fencing- the majority had the chequebook out before I'd even finished the job. Alot of it is grant funded, there's no getting around not paying. Even doing walling jobs many will ask me part way through job if I want any money yet.. I think it comes down to knowing your customer and them knowing you.

 

[DaveDCB]

I just wouldn’t expect someone to pay upfront for ditching.. your not out laying any materials so why ask for upfront payment?

Figure out what you can do on a steady day add 20% or so for Sod’s Law and bother of figuring it out.. and invoice as you see fit.

 

[JD450A]

I just wouldn’t expect someone to pay upfront for ditching.. your not out laying any materials so why ask for upfront payment?

Figure out what you can do on a steady day add 20% or so for Sod’s Law and bother of figuring it out.. and invoice as you see fit.

Suppose it's different when you shift your digger with a tractor and trailer, but some of us do need to pay for transport of the machine to site.... Plus there's your time.... 200m could be a day if your cropping branches back or running a deep ditch. It's not going to be a bank breaking amount but will be a good sign if the customer is a wazzok or not depending on how much a fuss is made of paying a few hundred quid.

 

[DaveDCB]

To clarify I only transport my kit on my own farms for my own jobs..so no rules being broken there if that’s what your insinuating.

Id not cry over transport costs, fair enough ask the question about abit upfront if you don’t get a good vibe but then again I’d not be doing the work for them anyway.

 

[V8Druid]

As long as you don't give them both prices! Otherwise you get them saying you quoted X to do the job but it's only taken you 10 days at Y!

to which my response would be --
" you wanted me to quote a fixed price - you had the opportunity to take a day rate and estimate based on my experience ... would you pay the extra, if I had run over by ten days ? .. no I doubt it, very much .. now pay up "

 

[V8Druid]

To be fair to farmers when I used to do alot of agri fencing- the majority had the chequebook out before I'd even finished the job. Alot of it is grant funded, there's no getting around not paying. Even doing walling jobs many will ask me part way through job if I want any money yet.. I think it comes down to knowing your customer and them knowing you.

to be fair I had a lot of good paying hedge carpenters ... and some that only got the one chance to p*ss me off ... there were a few used to come in and the first Q was
" how much is ..... ? ",
followed by --
" I haven't got any money on me "
to which my immediate reply was always
" pop up the Spar whilst we have a quick look and get a couple of pints of milk and I'll make you a tea " ...
" but they won't let me have any milk if I can't pay for it "
" EXACTLY!! ... come back when you can pay for what you want "
NFG !!