If you don't want to travel to Germany, there are opportunities here at home if you dare! I wanted to buy facade lighting. Recessed in the eaves, 8 white ones with grills, a common model. The electric store wanted 545 kr, but I thought it was a bit too expensive for a metal box, so I took a chance and told the clerk (the owner) that I had seen the same fixture in a catalog for 389 kr. Hmm, he said and disappeared, after 2 minutes in the office he came out and asked if it was 8 I wanted?! In 5 minutes, I had earned 8x156=1250 kr. But I don't think he sold them at a loss since he didn't have them in stock and had to order them. Nor was I a customer there previously. What kind of markups do they have??
Sure, why shouldn't you be able to haggle over building materials?
Everyone who buys a car tries to haggle, don't they? And often it works out! I mean, what can happen? It's not prohibited in any way. Oftentimes, as you write Ekke, it's our own fear that rules us.
But at the same time, you should be prepared that if you can't get the price down to an acceptable level, you should be ready to walk away without making a purchase. If you don't do that, then you have lost and the seller has even less reason to adjust the price.
Everyone who buys a car tries to haggle, don't they? And often it works out! I mean, what can happen? It's not prohibited in any way. Oftentimes, as you write Ekke, it's our own fear that rules us.
But at the same time, you should be prepared that if you can't get the price down to an acceptable level, you should be ready to walk away without making a purchase. If you don't do that, then you have lost and the seller has even less reason to adjust the price.
Being shrewd is apparently crucial when building a house and wanting to keep costs relatively low!
Take underfloor heating, for example -
We chose Wirsbo and received a specification on how much is expected to be needed. From plumber A, we got a price of 58,500 SEK for the materials (we will install it ourselves), whereas plumber B offered us their purchase price for the items = about 30,000 SEK! All it took was a phone call....
Another example - geothermal heating -
All the quotes we've received are around just over 100,000 SEK for drilling, pump, and installation. Just the pump costs around 40,000 SEK (at list price), and for the drilling, we've received a quote of 25,000 SEK (100 m). So, they're charging an additional 35,000 SEK for the installation! My partner called two companies and asked how they can justify this installation cost. Neither of them could answer the question and were completely taken aback!
So, talk about there being margins on the items!
Take underfloor heating, for example -
We chose Wirsbo and received a specification on how much is expected to be needed. From plumber A, we got a price of 58,500 SEK for the materials (we will install it ourselves), whereas plumber B offered us their purchase price for the items = about 30,000 SEK! All it took was a phone call....
Another example - geothermal heating -
All the quotes we've received are around just over 100,000 SEK for drilling, pump, and installation. Just the pump costs around 40,000 SEK (at list price), and for the drilling, we've received a quote of 25,000 SEK (100 m). So, they're charging an additional 35,000 SEK for the installation! My partner called two companies and asked how they can justify this installation cost. Neither of them could answer the question and were completely taken aback!
So, talk about there being margins on the items!
Marge, have you found an installer?
We have the same problem as you. We have received the same price for drilling. The pump is the same price. Now we want to find an installer!
From what I understand, the installation should cost 15000 including materials. But how do you find an installer who will do it for that price?
We have the same problem as you. We have received the same price for drilling. The pump is the same price. Now we want to find an installer!
From what I understand, the installation should cost 15000 including materials. But how do you find an installer who will do it for that price?
We don't have a 100% clear plan on who will install it yet since it will be a while before it's time. However, I have talked a bit with our plumber and he said he can probably handle it. We'll likely buy the pump from the same guy we get the underfloor heating from (=better price) so we'll ask if he can install it. Even if you pay 15,000 SEK for the installation, you've still saved at least 20,000 SEK!
thanks for the tipThe plumber who is going to do all the other pipe work for us said he had never installed such a pump before but was sure he could fix it anyway. Of course, it feels a bit safer with someone who has done such an installation before, so that's why we're going to check with another one. But as I said, yes, an ordinary plumber should probably have the qualifications to install! (if I'm not completely wrong...)
Do you mean the underfloor heating?
In that case, it's a complete Wirsbo underfloor heating system for a 170 sqm house (all Wirsbo materials).
However, this is the price if we choose underfloor heating plates in sparse panels (and the sparse panel is additional in this case). However, we are considering choosing the cassettes instead; they are a bit more expensive, but on the other hand, the installation becomes easier and faster.
In that case, it's a complete Wirsbo underfloor heating system for a 170 sqm house (all Wirsbo materials).
However, this is the price if we choose underfloor heating plates in sparse panels (and the sparse panel is additional in this case). However, we are considering choosing the cassettes instead; they are a bit more expensive, but on the other hand, the installation becomes easier and faster.
Honestly, the prices you're talking about here are fantasy... for the installation, that is.
It doesn't take more than ten hours to install a heat pump with all the piping and pressure vessel. Take the plumber's hourly rate and multiply it, and you'll see where you end up. Materials - pipes, fittings, insulation, and pressure vessel shouldn't cost more than a couple of thousand, at most.
This assumes that the underfloor heating distributor is in place and the other water pipes are already laid out, but they usually are, especially if it's a concrete slab.
It doesn't take more than ten hours to install a heat pump with all the piping and pressure vessel. Take the plumber's hourly rate and multiply it, and you'll see where you end up. Materials - pipes, fittings, insulation, and pressure vessel shouldn't cost more than a couple of thousand, at most.
This assumes that the underfloor heating distributor is in place and the other water pipes are already laid out, but they usually are, especially if it's a concrete slab.
KarlXII --> Yes, the prices are indeed outrageous - but that's exactly what they charge!! They also can’t justify why they add so much when you confront them!
I guess it's because geothermal heating is "trendy" today and many just get quotes for the whole package without questioning what each part actually costs. It must be that way since the salespeople were so shocked when we questioned them!
I guess it's because geothermal heating is "trendy" today and many just get quotes for the whole package without questioning what each part actually costs. It must be that way since the salespeople were so shocked when we questioned them!