Have you ever wanted just one phrase that you could say at the right time, and it save you hundreds, or thousands of dollars?
When it comes to getting the best price from contractors, plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, you name it, there is a simple phrase that often works like magic in reducing your costs.
These specialties are always competing for work. However, if you ask any of them they will likely tell you that they are extremely busy!
They might be. They might not.
There’s a game going on here. They need to appear very busy so their services are in demand and support the prices they will ask for. At the same time, you need to appear to be willing and able to get prices from many sources. (Don’t just make it appear that way, get multiple bids whenever it’s practical!) It’s a balance that must be struck.
The good part is that now you know the game…so play both sides since you know what the other side’s play.
How to turn the tables
* Have an idea of what the job will cost. Just a ball park idea will do.
* If you are told something that you think it high, ask why so high. There might be more to it than you know. The reason for the high price might be reasonable. Discuss alternatives.
(For example, if you electrician points out that the breakers you need are especially expensive, ask if he’s got any used breakers that are still in good shape.)
* Then use the magic phrase…
Here it is…
“Is that your final and best price?”
Very often the person you are talking to will squirm a bit at this point. They are having to think…
“Is my price fair?”
“Am I over pricing something here?”
“Can I save this customer some money?”
“Does the customer know something I don’t?”
While your contractor/laborer thinks about this, don’t say a word.
I’ve experienced many reactions from “That’s the best I can do” to “If you give me the job, I’ll knock it down to…”
Often I’ve gotten a range of options that could save me money. More often than not, it saves my money!
It works like magic if:
* They understand that they aren’t your sole source of the service they provide
* They know you are willing to wait for the best price
* They know you aren’t a push over
* They know you might be a source of future income
But, it WILL work like magic when properly applied. In my own experience, I can point to many thousands of dollars of savings using this simple question.
We like to save money by keeping prices for services reasonable, true enough. At the same time, I advocate and approach of “don’t let anyone get hurt.” If you award a job to someone and it winds up costing them more than expected, I help that person out. I don’t want someone to lose money on a job and leave with a bad taste in their mouth and never want to do work for me again. Be aware of when someone gets hurt. That said, watch out for those that claim to get hurt with each job.
Wisconsin Real Estate Making The Dairy Land Look Good
It might surprise you, but Wisconsin is home to one of the highest rated and most in demand towns in the United States. More and more people are starting to realize the Dairy Land is a good place to live.
Wisconsin Real Estate Making The Dairy Land Look Good
Wisconsin likes to promote itself as America’s Dairy Land and it isn’t far off. The state has a strong rural, farming influence. This leads to friendly people and communities living at a pace of life you will not find in more stressful states such as New York and California. Wisconsin, however, does hold a gem of a small city within its borders.
Madison is the capital of Wisconsin and home to the University of Wisconsin. A sleepy college town for years, Madison has long offered a great way of life. National publications started noticing it a few years back and it is regularly listed in top 10 rankings for desirable places to live in the United States. The reputation is well earned as Madison manages to have all the amenities of a large city while maintaining a small college town field. Madison gets a big thumbs up from us.
If you prefer living in larger cities, Milwaukee is as big as it gets in Wisconsin. It is located on the shores of Lake Michigan and is roughly 90 miles from Chicago, a city with which it maintain a natural rivalry and love-hate relationship. Over the last few years, the city has undergone major redevelopment and upgrades which is making it an attractive place to live after long periods of stagnation and decline.
The Wisconsin real estate market is vibrant and compares with any in the country. A single-family home in Madison will set you back roughly $160,000 while the same home in Milwaukee will run you roughly $110,000. Appreciation rates are a steady six to seven percent across the state.
All and all, Wisconsin offers a both a good place to raise a family and real estate market you can afford. The Dairy Land has never looked so good!