Question
On the past couple of kitchens that I have done, the general and the homeowner have been trying to get me to install their appliance panels, which I supply for them. In the past this has not been a problem, as the appliance technicians have always taken care of this (for a fee). Whose job is this, and if it's mine, how much should I charge per panel?
Also on the same two jobs, they are trying to get me to provide and install quarter round molding around all of the cabs. Note that the cabs went in first, floors after, so it is the poor workmanship of the floor installers that have caused the gaps that need to be covered by the quarter round. Again, whose job is it? I feel like if I keep running around trying to provide all of these extras, I'm going to lose my profits very fast.
Forum Responses
(Business and Management Forum)
From contributor D:
The quarter round is the flooring or the trim guy's job, not yours. I'm not sure of the appliance panels. My guess would be either the appliance people or the cabinet installers. If you do your own installs, then it's your job.
When we've done appliance panels, we've usually left it for the appliance installers, but haven't had to do a lot of those (I think we've only done them for dishwashers).
The important part is to bring this stuff up at the beginning. Give them an option up front - you can come back and install quarter round after the floor guy, or come back to install the appliance panels, for $X amount. The amount needs to cover your time and travel expenses. It should sound just a little steep if you have to make a special trip - then maybe they'll utilize the floor guy or appliance guy instead, when they're already on the job site. But the important part is to not assume that someone else has already thought about these little details. Chances are you're the only one who has thought about it ahead of time.
For me, appliance panels are part of the install. Whoever does the kitchen install does the panels (me). The floor molding is the responsibility of the flooring guys. If they want you to do it, fine, but give them an invoice before you do anything so you're on the same page.
The exception for me is if the homeowner asks me to do it and I know the people who should be doing it are long gone. In a case like that, I'll usually do it as a little good will work. But I still make sure they know it's not my responsibility, I'm just helping them out.
Mainly, these are just things that the other guys don't want to deal with. If everyone knows up front that it's cheaper to have someone else do it, then they will.
I had a job bid for a non-profit I work with and do work for. They wanted us to refinish all the old and new doors in their newly renovated 3rd floor. I gave them a price if we re-installed them and a price if their maintenance guys installed them. They paid to have us do it. I made sure up front they knew, and they had the choice of which way to go.
As far as general contractors go, of course they're going to want you to do it for free - part of their job is to keep the costs down. Doesn't mean you have to do it for free, though.
