Do you negotiate the cost of installation?

[KDENISE977]

I'm new at this home improvement thing, we are purchasing hard wood floors and having them installed... are these prices and fee's negotiable, or "it is what it is?" We went to Floormax in St. Mary and they seemed reasonable, but not knowing enough about the subject, we could totally be getting ripped off and not know it? any suggestions ??

 

[TedJ123]

We used Paul's carpeting and flooring in Mechanicsville and were very happy with the outcome and we did negotiate on the cost. 240-375-1027

 

[playerhater]

I'm new at this home improvement thing, we are purchasing hard wood floors and having them installed... are these prices and fee's negotiable, or "it is what it is?" We went to Floormax in St. Mary and they seemed reasonable, but not knowing enough about the subject, we could totally be getting ripped off and not know it? any suggestions ??

Suggest you get three estimates and compare.

 

[luvscats]

are your floors going to be wood or the laminate?

We bought hardwood flooring from a company up in Annapolis. They did a superb job installing the floors. After a few weeks a couple of the boards cracked down the grain of the wood and a few developed some spotting. When they came to the house to assess the problem they said the cracking and discoloring were caused by the drying and prep procedures at the plant. So they ordered the wood from the plant about 2 mos ago and we are still waiting. Supposedly the replacement wood is to arrive within the next few days and we have a date of Apr 9 for them to come here and install the new pieces. We've had trouble with them not returning our phone calls on this repair issue and in getting them here to make the replacement installation.

 

[luvscats]

oh, I forgot to add....definitely get 3 estimates.

 

[deino2002]

oh, I forgot to add....definitely get 3 estimates.

And if they choose to go with the cheaper estimate they may not be happy with the outcome. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I'd much rather pay more to get quality flooring and installation then crap product and crappy installation.....JMHO....

 

[KDENISE977]

I think we will def. get more estimates now, and yes we are doing real hard wood not a laminate or engineered.

 

[luvscats]

I think we will def. get more estimates now, and yes we are doing real hard wood not a laminate or engineered.

be sure to tell them about the problems I had and ask them about the floor warranty, how long to replace any pieces that shows signs of defects (and defects are normal in a natural product). Will you have to haggle with them or with the manufacturer? Do they have references they can provide and then you really call the references.

 

[alexander-42]

Always get a few estimates, however like the other person said "You get what you pay for!" Being in a family home improvement business, I can not tell you the amount of people who call us, get an estimate, and then go with the cheapest guy who came to their house. However, a few years later we get a return phone call and we end up going out there and replacing the other person's work, and then those poor people have paid twice what they should have or would have if they would've went with out price in the first place. As I tell everyone - "Everything is always negotiable!" especially in this economy! If you are willing to be upfront with the contractors you use about the other peoples prices - most will compare apples to apples, and get you at a price you like (but every successful business has to make some money!)

Also - If you have a bad taste left in your mouth after speaking to someone, you shouldn't stick with them simly because of pricing, after all this will be your main point of contact and you should feel comfortable with the people you have coming in your home!

 

[KDENISE977]

Always get a few estimates, however like the other person said "You get what you pay for!" Being in a family home improvement business, I can not tell you the amount of people who call us, get an estimate, and then go with the cheapest guy who came to their house. However, a few years later we get a return phone call and we end up going out there and replacing the other person's work, and then those poor people have paid twice what they should have or would have if they would've went with out price in the first place. As I tell everyone - "Everything is always negotiable!" especially in this economy! If you are willing to be upfront with the contractors you use about the other peoples prices - most will compare apples to apples, and get you at a price you like (but every successful business has to make some money!)

Also - If you have a bad taste left in your mouth after speaking to someone, you shouldn't stick with them simly because of pricing, after all this will be your main point of contact and you should feel comfortable with the people you have coming in your home!

I agree with everything you've said, we are not going to determine who to go with just by price, we had met with the owner of one company who totally had us talked into real solid wood...then his guy comes out to estimate and is telling us something totally opposite, to go with engineered, got the feeling they are gonna push what they will make the most profit on??

 

[alexander-42]

I agree with everything you've said, we are not going to determine who to go with just by price, we had met with the owner of one company who totally had us talked into real solid wood...then his guy comes out to estimate and is telling us something totally opposite, to go with engineered, got the feeling they are gonna push what they will make the most profit on??

Check out this site - it has a lot of helpful information!

Engineered Hardwood Flooring F.A.Q. - Information on Wood Floors

 

[BOP]

I'm new at this home improvement thing, we are purchasing hard wood floors and having them installed... are these prices and fee's negotiable, or "it is what it is?" We went to Floormax in St. Mary and they seemed reasonable, but not knowing enough about the subject, we could totally be getting ripped off and not know it? any suggestions ??

Being ripped off means paying for something and not getting what you paid for.

Paying too much is not being ripped off. People and companies set their prices, whether you negotiate the final price or you pay the asking price. If you find out you could have gotten the same product somewhere else for a lower price, then that's on you. Claiming you were ripped off because you paid more than you think you should have is a cop-out.

 

[glitch]

Being ripped off means paying for something and not getting what you paid for.

Paying too much is not being ripped off. People and companies set their prices, whether you negotiate the final price or you pay the asking price. If you find out you could have gotten the same product somewhere else for a lower price, then that's on you. Claiming you were ripped off because you paid more than you think you should have is a cop-out.

Main Entry: rip–off
Pronunciation: \ˈrip-ˌȯf\
Function: noun
Date: 1969

1 : an act or instance of stealing : theft; also : a financial exploitation
2 : a usually cheap exploitive imitation

Seems to me, that paying too much for the same product would fall under "financial exploitation". In my experience, companies that have the 'buyer beware' attitude, don't tend to stick around for long periods of time. Unless of course, they're offering a unique, highly-desirable, product. Just for clarification, wooden floors do not qualify as unique or highly-desirable.

 

[SA475]

ALWAYS negotiate... Or get another company.

 

[BOP]

Main Entry: rip–off
Pronunciation: \ˈrip-ˌȯf\
Function: noun
Date: 1969

1 : an act or instance of stealing : theft; also : a financial exploitation
2 : a usually cheap exploitive imitation

Seems to me, that paying too much for the same product would fall under "financial exploitation". In my experience, companies that have the 'buyer beware' attitude, don't tend to stick around for long periods of time. Unless of course, they're offering a unique, highly-desirable, product. Just for clarification, wooden floors do not qualify as unique or highly-desirable.

Aw, poor snookums couldn't be bothered to do some basic research or negotiate price and he feels taken advantage of by the mean ol' companies! Quick, call Obama's team and tell them you've been "ripped off" so they can put those meanies out of business, just for you.

Look, I went to Bell over in Leonardtown, before they went out of business. I'd done my research on the cars I was interested in, and the prices. Bell really thought a lot of their cars, because their prices where significantly higher than other dealers outside of SMIB Land. If I were you, I'd have bought a car, paid more than I should have, could have elsewhere, then whined and moaned about Bell "ripping me off."

But I'm not you. I took my happy azz about 2 hours north, and bought what I wanted for about 20% less than what a similar model would have cost me at Bell. Then I went by Bell and told them why I did what I did. As I expected, they could have cared less. Gee, wonder why they went out of business?

 

[KDENISE977]

We used Paul's carpeting and flooring in Mechanicsville and were very happy with the outcome and we did negotiate on the cost. 240-375-1027

I just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation, we checked out Floormax and then when I saw your post we called Paul...we are in the middle of our wood floor renovation and we are SO pleased with him and his crew. THANKS AGAIN !