How Do You Charge For BS Handyman Work?

Tom F.

I generally build high-end Spec houses. But, things being what they are, (got three sitting) I am doing some oddball work, mostly for previous customers. I just did a granite countertop replacement for a lady I bank with. Subbed the granite to my regular guy, took my 15% on that cost. Then charged $35/hr for prep and post installation work. The problem is that I end up working like a handyman and don't make much at all for my time and trouble. This morning, in 1:15, I removed an old kitchen faucet assy, installed the new one, caulked around all the new backsplash in the kitchen and bathroom, adjusted the height of her stove, adjusted her dishwasher, prepped some DW for painting, cleaned up, and all the while listened to her crazy BS while she critiqued my work. Took me 30 minutes each way as well as my fixed costs of insurance, licensing, and equipment. This is about the 5th trip to her house in total for the job. And I have to go back once more next week. Now she has decided she is so happy with the work, she would like to get the second bath top done in Granite, and oh, by the way, could you caulk the cracks in the crown molding and touch up some paint here and there? (I didn't build the house.)

WTF!?!!

Stuff like this is exactly why I don't like to do custom work. Did I mention that she insists on being present anytime I am there? She knows my personal finances to the penny, hired me basically because of my reputation for quality and honesty, but I cannot be trusted to be in the house unattended? Is this the normal deal with these customers? How do you stand it?

My wife says just be glad for the work. F that, is what I feel like.

Tom

L. B. Condulet

You normally work as a manager and now find yourself doing handyman type jobs which is a misapplication of your skills. This really, really sucks and hopefully this is a temporary situation.

My advice would be to adopt a Flat Rate Pricing strategy and stop charging T&M.

Ahren

I tell HO's on T&M jobs that my rate doubles if they watch, and triples if they help. They usually get the message.

Chris G

Nothing turns crappy jobs in great jobs like money! Charge a hell of a lot more. At the very least $50/hr. You've already set a rate for this client, but next time charge more. And just spit it out of your mouth like it's a matter of fact. "I'll just charge you $50/hr for this..." It's important to include the word 'just'. It makes it sound like you're giving them a break. Seriously. And then next job say, "I'm just going to charge you $60/hr for this". Try it, you'll like it.

kevjob

35 is way too low did u add your PITA multiplier?

__________________
Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

True North

I like it!

boman47k

Whatever happened to the minimum 2 hrs? 3hrs, etc?

arturjhawk

gregj

$35 per hour; gee Tom could you come over to my house for a couple hours every week and do all those things on my "honey do" list that I keep putting off. The wife would be glad to watch and offer helpful advice.

Tom F.

Yeah, I knew it was way low. And the PITA multiplier definitely needed to included. The only good news is that I talked this woman out of doing a big bonus room addition. I would have died with that job.

She did actually make brownies with ice cream, one day, so it wasn't all loss!

The real problem is that with the current economy, there isn't much project manager-type work to be had. I'm counting on these types of odd jobs and infrequent residential elevator installations to keep the lights on until things come around.

I have a potential interior trim job coming up next week. They want to pay me by the hour, and I am inclined to agree. It is a big historic restoration-type job. Probably 2 months worth of work, depending on whether I bring a crew or do it myself. Any ideas on what hourly rates apply here? I'm thinking its a minimum $45/hr job. Keep in mind that this is East Tennessee, not the high rent district.

Tom

Stone Mountain

How much does a highly skilled union carpenter make? Take that rate, add your insurance, worker's comp, travel time, cel phone bill, etc, and there you are. I'd say $50-60/hr.

I have a friend who was laid off from his computer job, couldn't find another, and started a handyman service about 5 years ago. He began at a striaght $30/hr. He now charges $55 striaght, plus 1 hour travel, plus all his time running to Home Depot for materials, and charges a $50 "appearance fee. In other words, it's $50 to get him to the door even if you don't hire him. And it's non refundable even if you do. He is so busy every day that he now limits himself to 5 days a week and Saturday mornings.

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wizendwizard

Geez.. I'm in rural S.C and charge $65 ph for any skilled work. Tile, trim, cabinets, countertops. You guys are behind times on this kinda thing. For crappy small jobs you have to charge more, just to make up for the B/S.

As for the HO watching, I don't get that. i have keys to 5 homes right now.... "Here's a spare key...come and go as you need to."

Celtic

You'll know your price plateau when they say "....umm....lemme get back to you ..."

Keep upping the price until you here the ummm'ing.

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macmikeman

I hate giving a minimum hours figure out. Cause if I did then the customer expects me to be on the site that long working. I much prefer quoting the job in front, while figuring I might be on the job 2 or 3 hours, and then completing the work and bagging out with my payment after 1 hour. (or less). While it may sound the same, its not, cause you have removed all the expectation of a time frame from the work, and yet you are compensated at the same figure.

wizendwizard

In most circumstances we should all be able to think in our heads how long a simple job is going to take. Figure that time plus your materials plus extras now add 2 hours to your figure.Do all of this in your head. get a rough guesstimate of how much it will be. Convert that to flat rate on paper now you have your estimate for a small job.

VANITY Installation
Say it's 3 hours to rip out an old vanity and install new one without changing any plumbing other than to install a shut off valve. Now add your materials. Travel time+ time in store= 2 hrs round driving to home and store and back.Thats now 5 hr's. $65x5+$950. now add the extra 2 hours. 2x$65.
TOTAL= $1405.....DOES THIS SOUND HIGH? hmmmm customer paid it last week. And this is how i do on the spot estmates. If a customer has a water leak they aren't going to wait 3 days for me to write up a proposal.

mahlere

$950 + $130 =$1405?

L. B. Condulet

Don't forget the 5 hours at the beginning.

mahlere

just saw the $65x5+$950....where does the $950 come from?

this math is making me dizzy...

L. B. Condulet

$950 was for the vanity and water valve. I think.

gregnc

saw a sign on a plumbers van once it said pick any 2
1-fast
2-cheap
3-professional
fast and cheap =it aint profesional
cheap and profesional =it aint fast
fast and profesional =it aint cheap