Fair quote for complete reno?!

[Dianavo06]

I originally purchased my 1964 23 ft airstream in hopes of working on it with my dad but he is so busy and I want to go on a trip this November. So I found someone who has years of RV experience to finish the job. JUst trying to figure out if the labor cost is fair. Here is a list of what he is finishing:

*Set Tub on pedestal and set drain with vent.
*Build Lav cabinet and set sink,drain, and vent.
*Build new lower kitchen cabinets set kitchen sink,and vent.
*Build small storage shelf next to kitchen
*install new fresh water tank.
*set 2 burner gas stove top.
*build bench seating with dining table.
*Install gray holding tank and box out wheel wells.
*Install electric instant hot water heater.
*Install 15,000 BTU roof AC unit with ceiling control.
*Install all NEW plumbing throughout
*Set drain lines and dump valves for both holding tanks.
*install new toilet.
Yes alot of work! my airstream in basically completely gutted right now.
The price he quoted me was $4,000 in labor. And around $2,000 in parts. I already have the stove/sink. Just want to get an idea if this is a fair price.

[markdoane]

I would double the labor and add 50% to the parts bill.

[AWCHIEF]

I would be very surprised if quote is anywhere close to the finished cost. Parts along will be double the quite. I would seek out another shop and get a comparison estimate.

[Wingeezer]

Although I have not undertaken such work, in going over the list of things to be done, the price seems very low. I agree with what others have said!

On or last trailer, I had to pay over $12k for much less work.

If you can get it for that, great, but my feeling is he'll be after you for more $$ once he gets into the job! Then what do you do?

Brian.

[Hittenstiehl]

Get the work and price and a time frame in writing and go for it.

Would that work.

[mimiandrews]

Check references for the repairman carefully. There are cases where repairs are started and not completed until months or years later.

[mayco]

You get what you pay for

[Melody Ranch]

This could be the trailer for a new Horror Show. Please pay attention to the advise you got here.

[Becky B.]

I agree with everyone here. Just got a quote on a 15,000 BTU a/c from an RV Surplus store for $550, toilet $125, stove top $100, water tank at least $200....that's 4 items that would be about half of his quote...it's not realistic.

[PKI]

There is a possibility that you have found an honest and capable resource. The cost is quite reasonable and may well be appropriate for your area. The cost of labor does vary and some workers are considerably more efficient than others.

If you have seen his work and find it acceptable, the worst that can happen is you lose $6K and have new holes in the trailer. That's about what some folks end up with after trying to do a resto themselves.

Since complete SOB trailers are built and sold for less than $20K it is not unbelievable that your work can be done for the quoted price. It's just that most would end up paying 2-3 times that amount. Do not be surprised if there are added costs and be reasonable about the process. Get agreement as to how long the job will take and what it will look like when completed. Do not be upset if it takes an extra couple of weeks, and stay involved through the process.

Good luck with your project. Pat

[DanB]

Let's be extremely generous and say he is billing at $25 per hour. That gives him 4 weeks.

Also, I don't see anything about floor replacement or frame repair to hold the new tanks? It's perfectly fine, right?

Maybe he is doing this out of 1/4" painted luan and drywall screws.

[kdickinson]

My personal input and - take it for what it's worth - find someone that actually knows what he / she is talking about and get a real price quote. Real experts get paid real money and you get the advantage of their expertise in a finished quality product. This person sounds like one of those that is constantly asking for more money because it "is just taking a lot longer than they expected it to" and they thought you would be okay using used parts? I'm no expert on repairs and I pay someone to do all the work on my A/S. This person is trained as an A/S restorer and has many projects he can point to as references and he has attended conventions in which teams shell off restore A/S on the floor of the convention center. He knows his stuff and it costs me to have him do the work but it's worth every penny. He's less than taking it up to Denver to a dealer and more than the guy I would hire to build a tool shed or a fence at my house.

[AtomicNo13]

A replacement AC unit is about $1000 thats half of.your.materials budget right there!
I would lay out a complete bill of.materials and see exactly what youre getting!

[Dianavo06]

Floors are done. It is currently cleared out so no demo needed. He is a mobile service so I expect him to be less than a dealership I have seen the list of materials and it looks more like 2500. I did get several other quotes one from a dealership. To install a new kitchen and plumbing they quoted 3000. I am getting some items used so saving some money there. I will check references and post progress here hope all goes well!

[Bev1940]

Make sure this person has worked on Airstreams, I paid $4500.00 to a big RV place that sols SOB's and it was a disaster ! Had to have most of the work redone at CanAm RV be careful and good luck!!

[Wolfe]

Do NOT give him all the money to start,some now and progress payments along the way.
This seems to god to be true !!!.

[BigButtUgly]

References first. Contract second. notarized. $6,000 payment made at completion. Set a maximum time to finish and if contract not 100% fulfilled , no payment is due and parts installed must remain. Monitor progress weekly. No contingency for hidden problems, either in money or time. Complete one project at a time i.e. do not permit total tear apart first. He'd be nuts to sign such a contract. Get a list of parts sources and quality of parts and his cost and nothing used. Demand a warranty, perhaps 100 operating (use) hours.

[InOvrHisHead]

I'm new, but wanted to give my 2 cents... I have a completely gutted 62 Tradewind and plan on contracting out the rewiring. That alone I have been quoted $2200-$3000 by a few places. I realize that's not on your list of work to be done, but thought I would chime in with what little info I do have. Good luck!

[HiHoAgRV]

Based on my experience, you found a shop that has a $5.00/hr rate and can get materials at a 66% discount off of retail.