Installer Ratings Graph

Installers are unique. A good installer must posses the brawn of a bear and the delicacy of a seamstress. Installation is such physically demanding work that few people get into the trade. But it is an easy trade to get into. All you need is a knee kicker and an electric stapler - both readily available at any pawn shop. But most of these guys aren't taught proper skill nor how to save their bodies. They end up crippled before their time

Retailers advertise endlessly for good installers yet still end up with the lowest low-wage transients; it's all they can attract because most retailers refuse to recruit, train, and pay higher quality people.

So most installers start out at the low-wage level working as helpers on Retailers’ crews. They have little or no skill. These installers were bumming quarters on a street corner yesterday but today they're crawling around in your closet. It's up to you to sniff for booze, drugs, and criminal records.

It's a big step on a crew of retailers installers, but they give it heck because it’s the first job they’ve had in years. Most don’t last long. Retailers withhold their pay if they screw-up, so they just hop to another retailer. Working as retailers' installers, they'll acquire the 'lazy' skills that trap them at the low wage status until they damage their bodies and go back to the street to drown their pain in more drugs & alcohol. Only a few are serious. One in 30 becomes the retailer's go-to-guy. But eventually he gets fed-up fixing all the other installers' mistakes and realizes he is a rare commodity. Next thing you know, the retailer is placing another ad because their go-to-guy has joined the ranks of average independent installers.

Average independent installers are as common as average carpet cleaners. They're everywhere. Generally, they're too proud to go back to the retailer but not diligent enough to establish a good reputation. Consistently good performance is the only thing that separates the average installer from the top installer. Many average installers try to grow a staff instead of perfecting their own skill. All their trainees display the same lazy skills of the owner. The guy who perfects his skill and stays small and efficient can raise his price commensurate with his skill. The small, owner operated company – where the owner is still directly involved with every job – is what you want for installation. I call these guys Top installers all through this site.

High-end Installers are nothing more than top installers who have found a niche with high-end retailers, developers, contractors, decorators and/or designers. From the graph below, you can see that the only thing that distinguishes them is their price. They've all but priced themselves out of the market. Their performance is consistently good, but so is that of top installers. The difference is in perception. People who think that money buys quality labor don't understand the service industry. There's a point at which fees for service become too high. You want the expensive guy but not the exorbitantly expensive guy. Installer rates are one of the criteria I use to screen installers. It keeps me from recommending the high-end installers.

This following graph was designed to help you see the relation between quality of workmanship and the relative price of service. The absolute price scale is irrelevant. It's the relationship between quality and price that endures all across the nation. The graph shows that with a little research you can avoid the low wage and retailer installers (the guys with F's on their report cards). You can also avoid the high-end installers (the guys who are too expensive). We're all looking for the few top installers – the ones who do their own work, who do it correctly, and who don't charge too much. It's so beautiful when you find one of these guys. Everything just works so smoothly when this individual is in charge.

High-End Independent Installers: consistently good work. Everybody wants them; few get them. Overpriced.

Top Independent Installers: consistently good work. They're busy but will make time for patient people. Best value.

Average Independent Installers: potentially good workmanship but usually just average.

Retailers' Installers: usually poor work unless they're on good behavior. Most are low wage installers who end up back on the street if they're unwilling to do detail work for free. Watch the helpers closely.

Low Wage Installers: Few have the skill necessary to do quality work. Laziness pervades this lowest ranking.

Bottom line: Insist on a quality installation and be prepared to pay for it. The alternative is ugliness. The most you should pay is what top installers charge. Ask the tough questions then use this graph to help find you find the top installers in your area. You can do it. Or hire me, and I'll do it for you. Just don’t get lazy and hire a retailer or you might end up in my photo gallery of people who got caught holding the bag.