Business

How are you pricing Ipe this season? Material volatility is killing my quotes

E
Erica Lindstrom

Ipe pricing from my two suppliers has moved 11% since February. I quote jobs 4-8 weeks out and I've eaten the difference twice this spring. Options I'm weighing: (1) 15-day price validity on quotes, (2) material cost-plus with client buying direct, (3) padding 8% and refunding if it comes in lower. What's working for you all without scaring off clients?

3 Replies

R
Robert Chen

From the GC side: I much prefer option 2. Give me a labor number that holds and let material float at cost-plus-10. Everybody can see the supplier invoice, nobody argues.

C
Chloe Barnett

15-day validity plus a materials escalation clause. Mine reads: if supplier cost moves >5% between signing and order date, the delta passes through with documentation. Zero pushback in 14 months of using it.

J
Jordan Hayes

I lock the price when the deposit clears and buy the wood that week. Storage is cheaper than eating 11%.

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