I have a habit of over-estimating my time. In another life I was a computer programmer. When I moved into computer consulting the client would ask "how long?". The rule of thumb is typically to take my number and triple it. I guess I never got out of that habit because I find I'm either right on the money with my time estimates or I'm over. Rarely am I under.
I also have my own rule of thumb: be nice to myself. If I'm going to estimate it is going to be in my favor. Sure, you win some and lose some but then again if you're winning them all then your prices are too low.
This particular job has a five other signs that are not vinyl which I'm quoting on. When that happens, by default the risk is spread out mathematically so although its great to be precise sometimes, in this case it is unnecessary. The thread sort of took on a life of its own when I mentioned my first guess at time to remove a letter but what I really was trying to figure out if its advisable to heat glass to soften the adhesive on vinyl prior to removing it. In the past, I've always used heat and then I remembered reading somewhere that glass and heat don't get along. Another fella I know has told me that his $200 job turned into a $2000 job when the glass he was working on cracked.
After asking around I find that some do and some don't. Some will and some won't. What I've found really interesting is more than one person mentioned a torch. From what I've learned that would direct heat to a specific area of the glass and increase the odds of the glass cracking.
This industry of ours never ceases to amaze me because there's no set pricing, no set methodologies; just a catch as catch can. When it comes to pricing, I sometimes wonder how many of us work from gross profit margins and how many 'wing it'.
Stay well.
- denis
