Material Versus Task Pricing - Wisler Plumbing & Air

We decided at Wisler Plumbing that we were going to charge by the task instead of based on materials and time. We feel that this is simply the superior option for our clients. One really important aspect of task pricing is the ability to provide a clear price to clients in advance, before any work has been done.

The problem with time and material pricing is the anxiety that builds up once the plumber shows up to the home. For each hour that the technician is there, anxiety will continue to increase for the homeowner. They would be uncertain of the job’s total cost until it is done, since it is calculated based upon the amount of time the job took. With task pricing, we look at the situation and provide the total price in practically no time. At most, it typically takes around half an hour for us to determine the scope of work that must be completed. From then on, the homeowner’s anxiety is greatly reduced in almost every case.

This is especially true because clients are not penalized if the technician were to take more time to complete the job. Once we determine the task’s price, you wouldn’t have to be concerned if the technician needed to make a trip to the vendor and pick up a part. It is the responsibility of the company and the technician to make sure they are prepared to do the job you hired them for. With time and material charges, technicians driving a small truck that needed to pick up a part would ultimately increase their time on the job (and thus increase the amount they are paid).

We feel it is simply inexcusable to take advantage of clients by charging them more for an extra trip to the vendor for parts. (Heaven forbid if the technician had to make more than one trip.) The homeowner should not have to be preoccupied with how long it is taking the technician to get the job done. Instead, they can sit back and relax—at the same time, the technician is not pressured to take any shortcuts in order to get the job completed in less time. They can focus on doing the best job they can without being preoccupied with how long it is taking. The end result is a superior experience for the client, who is less likely to call for support. The technician can take as much time as needed to make sure they did an outstanding job.

If you have any questions about how task pricing is the best option for you, give us a call today at (540) 352-4262 or contact us here.