Lowball Of The Week

karma_carpentry

Sometimes I troll the Craigslist ads for amusement. Here's a great job - not. Love the part about how he/she got "milked" before by people working hourly. I wrote back a "No offense, but..." email. What do others think about this outrageous punchlist for $1500?


Handyman / Carpenter Needed ASAP - $1,500 Total for Jobs
Reply to: job-247130006@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-12-10, 11:52PM EST


I have a multitude of tasks for a professional skilled and experienced Handyman. If you would like to respond to this ad please tell me something more about yourself and what you can do than the 200 phone numbers I will receive in response! The tasks are listed below and not limited to:

put electrical plates on outletts
install moulding
paint moulding
remove airconditioners (three) from office
dispose of buckets of paint
put together two bar stools
put together two kitchen cabinets - make sure kickboard is finished
put together bathroom cabinet
put together bedroom furniture (to be furnished)
shave closet door
rehang 2nd closet door and shave if necessary
paint doors
paint inside closets
rehang/install heater boards
regrout kitchen floor where needed
replace electrical recepticles where needed
remove small track in bedroom - possibly replace
remove bedroom blinds
replace bedroom window treatment hardware
install bathroom window treatment hardware
razor blade paint off from window in living room
paint or popcorn finish roll kitchen ceiling
install finishing rail between carpet and tile around living room
seal tile and grout in kitchen and bath
place covers on kitchen ceiling
put moulding around bathroom cabinet
be responsible to pick up materials such as baseboard moulding, etc.

There could be some tasks added or taken away to the above list. I think this workd will take more than a week but should take less than two. I am not paying an hourly because I have had previous people take advantage and "milk" the hourly. If you get the job done in a week - great. The jobs/tasks MUST be done well, be complete and without damage!

Most of this job will be performed in Quincy although you would need to come to Boston (immediately) to remove some air conditioners from my office (still in the windows - BRRRR) and bring them back to my Quincy home. You will also need go to Home Depot to purchase and transport appropriate materials to perform the above tasks.

Send an email with your experience and references.

* Location: South Shore & Boston
* Compensation: Flat rate $1,500

__________________
Build on a good foundation.

A.W.Davis

wow.......

__________________
A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

NJPainter

Doesn't want to pay hourly but wants to OWN the laborer.

If it could get done in a week I wouldn't see a problem, but they're are so many dang things plus trips to the store, trips to pick up her AC's. She's gonna wind up hiring a rapist or cat burglar- my gut tells me so.

A.W.Davis

Or a panty sniffing drug addict

__________________
A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

fci

I feel sorry for the person who thinks this is an opportunity worth going for. You're right, they'll be owned and IMO dogged.

PressurePros

I agree. She is begging for some low life to know her place of business and come into her home. I hope she interviews carefully.

__________________
Ken Fenner
Pressure Washing PA
Roof Cleaning Services PA

Mike Finley

The only thing sadder is that there are people interested in doing the work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A.W.Davis

uhhhhhhhhhh, welll I am hhhhheeere forrrrr the jooooooooooooob

__________________
A.W. Davis Construction Co.
http://www.awdavisconstruction.com/
Your friendly remodeling contractor

PressurePros

Lemme get this last hit

phoooooooooooooooooo

Now whatchoo need pulled outta window?

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__________________
Ken Fenner
Pressure Washing PA
Roof Cleaning Services PA

Richard

http://www.contractortalk.com/attach...1&d=1166010203

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Rich

King of Crown

lol thats insane

__________________
Real nice guys

Chris G

I think everyone should chip in $5 for your time to see the job and take pictures. I think we need to do a proper estimate. Then you can deliver ten estimates to her!!

JNLP

That right there would chase me away. That's when you think you're done & they add on another 2 weeks of work or refuse to pay you.

This person is insane. I hate to say it, but they deserve the crappy job they're going to get.

Doug M

Just by the way she words it the red flags go up after line 4.Ala Monty Python.....RUN AWAY!!!

mickeyco

I think this just the person's way of saying I want to hire an illegal alien without actually saying it.

fci

I hope noone from this forum responded.

osborn

Put electrical plates on outletts-50
install moulding-200
paint moulding-200
remove airconditioners (three) from office-150
dispose of buckets of paint-150
put together two bar stools-200
put together two kitchen cabinets - make sure kickboard is finished-200
put together bathroom cabinet-100
put together bedroom furniture (to be furnished)-500?
shave closet door-75
rehang 2nd closet door and shave if necessary-100
paint doors-200
paint inside closets-200
rehang/install heater boards-250
regrout kitchen floor where needed-500
replace electrical recepticles where needed-25 per
remove small track in bedroom - possibly replace-50
remove bedroom blinds-10
replace bedroom window treatment hardware-100
install bathroom window treatment hardware-100
razor blade paint off from window in living room-150
paint or popcorn finish roll kitchen ceiling-300
install finishing rail between carpet and tile around living room-30
seal tile and grout in kitchen and bath-150
place covers on kitchen ceiling-100
put moulding around bathroom cabinet-100
be responsible to pick up materials such as baseboard moulding, etc.-20% markup
3765 plus 20% markup and .38 a mile.my estimate unseen,
am i too low?

RobertCDF

Of course your too low... Because you should never take a job with those terms... As far as a price goes just for what you listed, I think its close. BUT only if the materials were all already on site. However I dont do jobs were "the materials are already here" because I know they are not all there and its crap the picked out of a dumpster to begin with.

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

King of Crown

I might send her a bill just for making me read her stupid list.

__________________
Real nice guys

Pearce Services

I love the part when she says tell me something about yourself Etc. that the 200 phone calls she will get for this job. Obviously, she thinks she is paying big bucks for this list, and she only want a top quality professional.

Some people with money really don't get it.......I got a call last week from an woman with a waterfront mansion in Beverly Mass, she wanted me to fix the dumbwaiter in her house. All she could say was that it was not working, wanted to know my hourly rate, I told her $95/hour. She asked me to commit to fixing this thing site unseen for a one hour charge.

I told her 3 hour minimum and a $50 truck charge, so have a check ready for $335 when I get there. That scared her away, which is good for me, but it really annoys me that she inherited more money than I will ever earn in my lifetime, and she doesnt think I'm entitled to 3 hours pay.