Installed a customer-supplied kitchen faucet

She calls us from Lowes, while waiting in line to purchase a cheapo Moen kitchen faucet. That wasn't the problem, though.

The problem was what a local plumbing company did to her before she found Ball Plumbing. They quoted pre-tax $479.00 installed for a similar faucet or $279.00, if she bought the faucet. When she balked, they charged her $49.00 call out charge.

I installed her kitchen faucet for the one hour minimum of $132.00, pre-tax. Took 40 minutes.

So, her cost was roughly $250.00 using our plumbing service and buying her own cheapo faucet. She saved $229.00 off the top. Well, add in the $49.00 service charge and it's lowered to $180.00, but that's still a savings.

If she would have bought our really nice stock model Delta kitchen faucet, her cost would have been pre-tax $375.00 for a really nice kitchen faucet. But, that's still $125.00 more than she wanted to spend in her Roosevelt neighborhood home.

Ball Plumbing charges $132.00 for the first hour, which includes travel and one hour of labor.

For each additional 15 minutes, it costs $22.00.

Really, it's cheap at half the price.......yuck yuck.

New Pricing

Actually, not new pricing, but different wording. The prices will stay the same this year.

This is how we charge:

First hour (includes travel, truck charge, etc): $132.00/ first hour.
Additional time will be charged every 15 minutes: $22.00/ per 15 minutes.

Helpers: $44.00/ first hour and $11.00/15 minutes thereafter.

Equipment and  parts will be marked up above our cost (not yours---yuck yuck). I did a price check and we're below Lowes prices on most things with far better quality.

Here's to a New Year in the U.S.A.!

Go 'Hawks Go.......................

Bellingham Rental

This job....well, look at the before and after pics to see the scope of the plumbing repair work.

Ball Plumbing works closely with rental owners and sometimes even property managers. With our plumbing hourly rate of $88.00 per hour plus parts, equipment and tax, we're a favorite with customers who have problem properties.

No, we didn't wash the dishes. They're stacked to the right, but if the owner requested we wash them, no problem here!

Before:

After:

Ball Plumbing Hourly Rates and Flat Rates

Ball Plumbing offers two ways to purchase our services and materials. The following is a general outline and doesn't include all the prices.  Prices are subject to change without notice.

For more information and a complete list, go here:  http://ballplumbing.net/services.html

The first is commonly referred to as "Time and Material" (TM), which means being charged for the time actually spent working on your job. There are some things to remember about T&M:

1. At Ball Plumbing, we can show you the ballpark price using out Flat Rate book, so you won't get Invoice Shock. 
2. Service Charge: Instead of a Travel Charge, we charge $45.00 (per day) to cover travel. This charge started in 2010 to cover the high cost of fuel and oil. If the prices go down, this charge will be gone.
3. Hourly Rates: We round off to the nearest 1/4 hour. Time begins when we knock on the door and ends when we hand you the invoice. We currently charge $88.00 an hour.
4. 4. Estimates: Ball Plumbing charges for estimates. Simple estimates start at $55.00.
5. Material Collection: If we have to get parts for your job, it's usually on the clock. Exceptions are made for parts we usually have on the truck. 
6. Equipment Charges: We charge an usage rate for all equipment. Range is $5.00-$45.00.
7. Materials: We mark-up all parts on a sliding scale. Right now, it's approximately 50%-100% over our cost and our cost is very close to what you can get it at Wal-Mart.
8. Tax: Everything is taxable and adds a lot to the bill.
9. +Labor Rate: $88.00 per hour (charged to the closest 15 minutes); 
   +Service Charge: $45.00 Service Charge (local travel and truck charge);
   +$45.00 per hour per additional worker (charged to the closest 15 minutes);
   +Parts, equipment, and tax are extra.
   
   Minimum: 1 hour plus Service Charge: $133.00 ($88.00 per hour plus $45.00 Service Charge)

The second way to be charged is "Contract" or "Flat Rate". Flat Rate is the set price for the job, barring unseen problems that may increase the price. We have a price book that we can quote from for most jobs. We haven't raised prices since 2010.

1. Prices reflect the service charge, hourly rates, material collection, and equipment charges.
2. Taxes are not included.

Which is best for you? It all depends on how comfortable you feel with the plumbers' skills. If I were to hire me, I'd go hourly. If I hired someone not as honest or dependable as me, I'd go Flat Rate.

Plumber Hourly Rates

Ball Plumbing has totally transparent prices and they can be found on the website: Ball Plumbing Prices

We're 30% cheaper than our closest competitor (licensed and insured companies---not your 2nd cousin). Most plumbing companies in Whatcom are charging 300% more than us.

Here is the breakdown for hiring a plumber from Ball Plumbing:

Hourly: $88.00
  Charged to the quarter hour.
  Extra labor, if needed: $44.00 per hour.

Service Charge: $45.00
  This is the travel/truck charge.

Parts: 50% mark-up over our cost.

Equipment: Starting at $35.00
  If used, this charge covers the cost of purchasing/maintaining.

Estimates: $55.00

Tax: Varied
  Starts at 8.1% of entire bill.

Other charges: Please visit the website and scroll down to near bottom: Ball Plumbing Prices

Ball Plumbing offers Contract Prices that includes labor, parts, and equipment charges. Tax is separate.

We have a price book that covers most jobs.