Owner Assistance

redwood

I was wondering whether any of you accept owner's assistance and if you do, how do you handle the financials?

The project is a 2500+ sq. ft. elevated deck. Obviously a lot of dinero and the owner would like to help on laying the TT decking to save some money. From what I've seen of his projects around the house, he is pretty handy.

__________________
Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

ProWallGuy

Personally, I'm too set in my ways to let a HO help me, they would only get in my way. Plus the insurance/liability issue would make me say no.

__________________
Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Greg Di

I dunno...As a guy who runs a lot of TT, you and I both know that it's not as simple as just running screws into clips. The coarses must be checked for straightness frequently. We are constantly checking and adjusting a little here and there to make the lines perfect. You probably do the same. Will the HO?

Plus, it will foul up your schedule by having to start and stop.

Realistically, it's more cost effective to have you do everything while you are there. The framing is probably the hard part. Laying the decking is fast for you. How much money is he saving relative to a job that size, $9-10k on the labor (just a guess). It will take him F-O-R-E-V-E-R to finish. So long, he has no idea what he's in for (humping the boards gets old by yourself real fast) and he'll probably lose his initial drive pretty quickly.

Sounds like a bad idea to me.

__________________
Your source for:
BergenDECKS.com ::: Decks • Porches • Railings • Pergolas in Bergen County New Jersey
Remodeling and Home Improvements in Bergen County | EPA Approved Lead-Safe Contractor
Techno Metal Post ::: Residential, Commercial and Industrial Helical foundation piles

Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

wellbuilthome

I dont work with a HO and they dont work with me , I will block & frame a addition and help them with the other trades sheet rock ,Insulation, trim work ,plumbing ,elec, ect . I had my HO clearing a site with me and my guys today , but he did not help for long . we hit to old septic tanks. I told the guy that he should keep his mouth closed . It was a nasty one

genecarp

no customer help, ever.

__________________

john5mt

I agree

__________________
1st Gen tradesman
My summer job in college became my profession

redwood

Over the years, I have framed a few jobs and let the owner take over. They are not in my portfolio. Usually these were small decks.

Like Greg said, this job would take him and a helper probably a month to get down. I can still use the job and I don' t want to risk losing it because I want to do it all myself.

I was thinking that I would do the rest of the job on a fixed price and the decking on a time basis. If he helps a lot, great for him, if not, great for me.

__________________
Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

shanekw1

I tell them I charge double if they help

Snow Man

If you mean loans and I believe you do , we just started that last month.citibanc has agreed to jump aboard with us .

__________________
DECOSnowRemoval&IceControl
Serving Delaware County & Philadelphia Pa
610 457-9721

dkillianjr

Yup thats what I say too I am set in my ways. No help from customers except maybe a couple times customers have vollunteered to go pick up something if I needed it.


Dave

thom

I've let homeowners do part of the project in the past. My contract specifies the parts I do. The HO can do the finish if he wants but I won't mix my part with his. The HO can start his part when my part is finished and I've been paid.

The HO needs to understand that he becomes the general and is hiring me as a sub-contractor to do part of the project. He's responsible for permits and any other stuff required of GC's.

BuiltByMAC

That's a big project, guy! What about the option of writing the contract to state the parts of the deck you will build, the parts he will build, the time frame in which you two do your respective parts, the warranty issues you'll cover, the liability issues regarding the final product and very specific wording regarding who buys, delivers, moves the decking, fascia, handrail, pt, concrete, etc...

Regarding him helping you, I'd recommend that you guys build your parts of the project at separate times - liability seems like the deal-breaker for working together. ETA: You might check with your ins. co. regarding him walking on your framing (prior to it being fully decked).

It looks like a nice project - good coin and keep ya busy for a while.
Good luck with your decision,

Mac

trav007

I don't know....I used to let the homeowners help....espescially those that are looking over your shoulder all day, asking questions, or thinking they're helping anyhow. Just give them a task and send them on their way (just remember that you may have to fix the mistakes thay make if you want your work to look good at the end.

Nowadays, the only thing I'll let them help with is clean up if they want.

__________________
Travis
www.customkreations.ca
"The most perfect technique is that which is not noticed at all"
-Pablo Casals

gdalton4

If the H/O stands and watches the price goes up $1000 if the H/O gives advice while he's watching the price goes up $2000 If the H/O wants to help the price goes up $3000 and if the H/O has worked on it before you got there the entire contract is doubled . HA HA.

06 F150

That's what she said...

bujaly

The only time a customer will help me, when I allow it, is to hold the other end of the tape measure...

__________________

redwood

So, would you guys let a 80+K job go, in a lousy economy, for not allowing a customer to help lay some decking?

__________________
Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

Greg Di

No...but unlike the others, I just gave you the food for thought. I think it could be a win-win, but you have more headache to gain than he does.

I was thinking about this yesterday.

You should set up your scope exactly in the contract with a start date and finish date for your framing. Leave a big window open for him to lay the decking. So big, that you will contractually be off the hook for coming back until you are ready. Schedule a 1/2 way inspection so you can be assured you won't be coming back to a mess. Give a resume date and finish up.

Make it crystal clear what you are doing and what you are exactly NOT doing in your contract so there is no confusion.

I'd want to avoid picking up problems he created when I came back. Site must be 100% clean. No scraps laying around etc. Treat it as two different jobs.

Anytime I've ever followed (or finished for) a homeowner, everything was a major PITA because nothing was right or done to my standards. Ie, took longer to do everything because we had to take one step back to go two forward.

__________________
Your source for:
BergenDECKS.com ::: Decks • Porches • Railings • Pergolas in Bergen County New Jersey
Remodeling and Home Improvements in Bergen County | EPA Approved Lead-Safe Contractor
Techno Metal Post ::: Residential, Commercial and Industrial Helical foundation piles

Follow us on: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

deckman22

Pay him as an hourly helper. Otherwise frame it, post & footings, collect check & leave. Let him call you when he's finished decking if he wants you to come back & do rails/stairs.

If you know he's got the money to pay for the whole deal I'd steer away from him doing anything if you feel the hook is all ready set. You may able to take the hard line & get all the money, but that's a judgement call you have to make.

__________________
Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

BuiltByMAC

Not necessarily. See post #12.

Mac