Commercial Property Management?? - Itemized

RLRepairs

We do some work for a commercial property management company. Mainly just graffitti cover up, replacing locks, monthly cleanings and light bulb replacement.

Well apparently they're having issues with our cost? We're the lowest around and now they're asking for itemized invoices. They want to know our hourly rate and how long it takes us to do these things they request.

I have no problem doing this, but our rates depend on what the job is, the condition of the job (many jobs require dreading through human waste) and the size of the job. I don't want to give them an hourly rate and it doubles and have them question it.

We ONLY charge $75 minimum and $50 each hour after that for minor work, this is just for service calls. This does not include what we call "Hazard Rate" for dreading through the waste to paint over these HUGE murals of graffitti.

What should we do? They only have about $500.00 a month worth of work, I'm just thinking of cutting them out?

I have reminded them time and time again that we are licensed, insured and bonded. Maybe they want some homeless guy to do it.

Michaeljp86

I get crap like this alot working on rentals. Just tell them what you charge, why you charge what you do and if they bitch about it cut them loose. You have to let them know thats your price for a reason. For example if you charge $60hr and they complain and you you agree to work for $55hr then they think maybe I can get him down to 50 or 45hr. Just let them know theres a reason why your price is like it is, at that rate you not getting screwed and they're not getting screwed.

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Brickie

I agree



Didn't these goofs ask any of this stuff BEFORE they hired you????

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AtlanticWBConst

They are going to look at any hourly rate you give them and assume that it is all profit.

Then they are going to take your figures, and shop around for another guy, that works out of his station wagon, with virtually no insurance, to do the job for them cheap.

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Brickie

Yup, price shopping

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“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country.” – Ronald Reagan

Michaeljp86

Happens all to often and really burn my ass. You play by the rules and are the one getting screwed over.

My dad bought a apartment building from a guy who hired all these Mr. Handyman to do the work. The roof is almost flat and the guy who did the rubber roof overlapped the seams by about 2in.

__________________
I am just a vessel from which genius flows -Homer Simpson

Global warming is a myth, like evolution and the metric system.

Floordude

If your going to cut them loose, give them the break down, on an invoice.

I would itemize it out per service call, Change two light bulbs....$XX.xx Replace 3 exterior door locks...$***.xx and leave it at that. They don't need to know your business. If they press the issue, just say our computer program is not set up to itemize it, for an extra $30 service fee, I can pay the secretary to sit down and itemize invoices just for you.

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RLRepairs

Thanks, we were thinking along the same lines. At $500.00 a month it's not worth it - it's not even guaranteed. When they bring it up again, we'll discuss it. They always need to know that this is the price the pay for having "on call" service. We almost always get to the job they need within 48 business hours. Hard to do when you're booked solid. Won't make that effort, let it go two weeks and charge them the same, see how they like it