Dropped $700 on a laser level and it paid for itself in one day

I was on a kitchen reno in Columbus and the client kept moving the island measurements around. I finally caved and bought a self leveling rotary laser for $700. Set it up once and laid out every wall and cabinet line in about 40 minutes. Took a full day off the schedule and I've used it on three jobs since then. Anyone else get their money back that fast on a big tool or did I just get lucky?

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the_mila4d ago

How off were those island measurements before you brought the laser in? I've had clients change their mind mid layout too and it usually means redoing snaps and chalk lines by hand, which eats hours. Were you checking the whole room with the laser or just the island area? And did you bill the client for the tool or just eat the cost and count the saved day as your win?

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robinson.hannah4d ago

Man, $700 is a lot to drop on a laser for one annoying client, but I get it. @the_mila asked how off those island measurements were, and honestly that's the real question here. If the client moved the island by 6 inches three times, sure, the laser saves you. But a chalk line and a tape measure don't cost $700 and they work fine on most kitchens. Sounds less like "the tool paid for itself" and more like "the client was a nightmare and I panicked." Still, if it saved you a full day on that job and you've used it three more times, fine, whatever, it earned its keep.

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