Secrets of Pricing
Total Comfort is an award-winning heating and cooling systems company serving the Twin Cities metro area.
Everything I've talked about thus far has a bearing on the price you'll pay for your heating and cooling system - size, efficiency, accessories, permits, installation, quality, overhead, warranties and guarantees. When you call for an estimate, do you think someone is going to say, "We're the cheapest in town because we cut corners"? No, they're not. They never have to justify why they're the cheapest, because most people think cheap is good. Nobody asks, "Why?"
From the lowest priced HVAC manufacturer to the highest, the range in cost to the contractor is no more than $200 - $500. Then why are estimates from different companies all over the place?
Lets look at an analogy. Imagine you are putting a home theater in your home. You go out and research the brands and purchase an expensive flat screen, high definition plasma TV. If you bring it home and hook it up to some rabbit ears and a boom box - you're not going to get the experience you had expected. In reality, you weren't shopping for the TV - you were shopping for the home theater experience – which is why they bundle high-end TV's with the appropriate accessories (HD cable or satellite, DVD, 5.1 surround sound, and don't forget the expensive cables to connect everything).
Or how about a computer. If you shopped based solely on the speed of the chip but surrounded it with inferior components - you would not get the powerful, speedy computer you thought you were getting.
Lets take that awareness back to the topic of HVAC components.
There are three ways for an HVAC contractor to lower their cost
- Spend less time
- Do less work
- Use less materials/Use lower-grade materials
Prices vary due to installation, installation materials/supplies (or the lack thereof), guarantees, and warranties.
All HVAC contractors pay pretty much the same thing so difference from manufacturer to manufacturer is not that great. It's the variables that make up the difference in the HVAC installation pricing and you need to decide how important it is to you that those variables are done right.
That's why, even if you narrow your choice down to 2 or 3 models, you still can't compare Minnesota HVAC companies by cost alone. You've got to dig deeper and find out everything you can about those companies.
Am I saying then that the highest price is the better bargain? Not necessarily. Make sure you know what you'll be getting for your money and follow the guidelines in CHOOSING THE RIGHT COMPANY to find a company you can trust.
If you have any additional questions about heating and cooling system repair or replacement, feel free to contact us. Total Comfort is an award-winning heating and cooling systems company serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.