In any field of contract work, you’re going to run into clients who want to save time and money by pushing their freelancers to cut corners. They pit multiple contractors against one another in a bidding war or they get you invested in the project before telling you that their budget is only half of what you need to do the job correctly. Maybe you can pull a job off in less time and for less money than the next guy, maybe you’re just that efficient, but when you try to finish the job in less time and on a smaller budget than you’re comfortable with, you run into a whole host of problems.
- You can’t do your best work. One of the most rewarding parts of the job is driving through town with a friend and saying “See that roof there? My team tiled it.” or “We installed the windows on that drug store across the street.” Good work is a source of pride, and a source of new clients. You don’t want a rushed job to your name.
- An under-budgeted, time-crunch job usually winds up being more expensive and taking way too long because people wind up being injured, tasks need to be redone and everyone has to put in a whole lot of overtime in order to try and get the project finished under unreasonable restrictions. You’re not actually doing your client a favor by agreeing to a job that you know you won’t be able to finish with the time and money allotted.
You do have some bargaining chips in your pocket when a client is asking you to complete a job under unrealistic conditions.
- They might just not realize how extensive a project is and might well be eager for your input. If they do worry that you’re overcharging, ask them to call some of your competitors and compare quotes.
- You can always walk away from a job when you’re not confident that you can complete it safely, under budget, and within the projected timeframe. No matter how badly your crew needs the work, they don’t need the injuries or the stress.
- Talk them down on the scale of the job. Maybe you can’t rebuild the entire kitchen for that price, but you can install a new floor and cabinets.
Even if it means passing on a job, you don’t want to go into a project without the time and resources that you need to do it properly. It’s not just your reputation on the line, it’s the safety of yourself and your crew, as well.
