When preparing estimates,
contractors generally use a costallowance
figure for plumbing fixtures.
Fixture allowances provide budget
figures that "keep things moving"
during the initial pricing stage,
without the mind-numbing details
(and hours of work) required to pin
down the costs of every single item.
But after the bid has been accepted,
the real work begins. That lump-sum
figure that was so easy to pop in the
estimate will now be itemized,
scrutinized, and finalized.
As co-owners of a busy kitchen and
bath showroom, we've had plenty of
opportunity to observe the problems
that can occur when fixture allowances
are handled improperly. To help contractors
cope with the sometimes
tedious process of fixture selection,
we've worked up the five-step process
outlined below.
Step One: