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Handyman Experience?
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Author:  Killer V [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Handyman Experience?

So I'm kind of a handy guy. More and more, people I know are asking me to help them out with one project or another. They want to pay me. My problem is that I have no idea what to charge them. I want to make enough to make the work worth it, but don't want to charge what "real" handymen charge.

Has anyone hired a handyman before? What did they charge? Per hour? Per job?

Author:  Darkside [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Handyman Experience?

Killer V wrote:
So I'm kind of a handy guy. More and more, people I know are asking me to help them out with one project or another. They want to pay me. My problem is that I have no idea what to charge them. I want to make enough to make the work worth it, but don't want to charge what "real" handymen charge.

Has anyone hired a handyman before? What did they charge? Per hour? Per job?

Charge your friends beer for small jobs, beer pizza and weed bigger jbs.
People in the 'hood get charges $85/hr for work that does not call for power tools, $95/hr for power tool work and $110/hr if you must provide the tools. Add 5% for attic and basement work. Add another 5% douchebag tax if the client is one. Remember that you tell them up front. It is much harder to ask for money after the job. You don't want "jobbabies" either, make sure that you give them a scope of work.

Author:  slumlord [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:51 pm ]
Post subject: 

$25 an hour, is fair , especially if they are people you know and "friends' with or you can just estimate your time at $25 an hour and if takes you longer fine.

I would suggest offering the One Price way, as you don't have to argue about hours after that and depending on the job, you will have to go back and fix something, so inlcude that in pricing.

There are guys that charge $30/$35 and even $50 and they are very talented guys, but I have found the word Primadonna is very applicable.

They need everything to be perfect and when it isn't they just bitch. Expert carpentry guys would fall into this category.

I can tell you I pay my guy $20 an hour and I have paid guys $25 an hour for years.

Author:  The Original Kid Cairo [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:52 pm ]
Post subject: 

When I saw the thread title, I thought about this guy:

Image

Author:  Spaulding [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:57 pm ]
Post subject: 

I thought this would be about housewives that have an itch that need scratching.

Depends on the job. Drywall, molding, plumbing...what type of jobs are you doing?

Author:  Killer V [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:07 pm ]
Post subject: 

Spaulding wrote:
I thought this would be about housewives that have an itch that need scratching.

Depends on the job. Drywall, molding, plumbing...what type of jobs are you doing?


I can provide any service you need... :wink: .

Seriously though, I've been re-doing a lot of kitchens lately, so it's pretty much a little of everything.

Author:  Spaulding [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:11 pm ]
Post subject: 

I could use a leg waxing and a pedicure.

If you are doing tile and are good at it a couple hundred. Installing cabinets a hundred. Plumbing for kitchens 30 -50. It would depend if you run into problems or not too.

Author:  HappyHour Jason [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:30 pm ]
Post subject: 

The guys I used came over, looked at everything that needed to be done and then gave me a quote. Kitchens are big jobs, look at what other people charge for the same type of project.
Do you live in the city Killer?

Author:  Killer V [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:54 pm ]
Post subject: 

Spaulding wrote:
I could use a leg waxing and a pedicure.


Would I need my power sander for that? :wink:

HHJ - I live in Evanston.


So, I should charge around $20-$25 an hour unless I work in the "'hood" where I can make upwards of $100/hour?

Anyone in the "'hood" need some handy work done? :lol:

Author:  Darkside [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

Killer V wrote:
Spaulding wrote:
I could use a leg waxing and a pedicure.


Would I need my power sander for that? :wink:

HHJ - I live in Evanston.


So, I should charge around $20-$25 an hour unless I work in the "'hood" where I can make upwards of $100/hour?

Anyone in the "'hood" need some handy work done? :lol:

I can bill $100/hr. I'm fully certified, man. CONTEMPORIZE!

Author:  Sam in Hoffman [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:07 pm ]
Post subject: 

Darkside wrote:
I can bill $100/hr. I'm fully certified, man. CONTEMPORIZE!


I didn't know lakemoor counted as the "hood"..

Author:  Hawkeye Vince [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:27 pm ]
Post subject: 

I paid a handyman 75 bucks to hang a screen door that I didn't have time to deal with. I think it took him 2 hours. I would say 20-30 bucks an hour is fine. They supply everything and if you need to run to Ace for anything that's on their nickel - make you remind them of that.

Author:  The Original Kid Cairo [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:04 pm ]
Post subject: 

HappyHour Jason wrote:
The guys I used came over, looked at everything that needed to be done and then gave me a quote. Kitchens are big jobs, look at what other people charge for the same type of project.

Author:  slumlord [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:01 pm ]
Post subject: 

I can tell you I have gone through about 15 "Handymen" in the last 2 years.

every guy has had some issue from guys that just take the bus to guys who had some police issues.

I actually have my own checklist for the initial interview when I talk to a guy, which I can tell you only about 50% even show up for that.

If you are still doling it in a year, let me know,

Image[/img]

Author:  Frank Coztansa [ Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:34 pm ]
Post subject: 

initial interview. ha

Author:  slumlord [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:08 am ]
Post subject: 

Yes, I interview guys before they work for me.

So many guys run around and say they caqn do the job and I would estimate only 20% of them can.

Some guys have no vehicles

No professional tools

Only put in cheap ceramic tile

Never installed custom cabinets

Don't have a Brad nailer or an air compressor.

Goes on and on...so yes, I sit down and go throough a list of things in an "Interview"

Then the guy inevtiably gets a job redoing a kitchen or bathroom where they will make $2000 profit and they blow off my jobs because this is the start of their big career and 1 month later I get a call seeing if I have any work.

Author:  Teddy G's Best Source [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

slumlord wrote:
"Interview"


What kind of business you running here? KC would be proud. :lol:

Author:  good dolphin [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:53 pm ]
Post subject: 

[quote="slumlord"]I can tell you I have gone through about 15 "Handymen" in the last 2 years.

every guy has had some issue from guys that just take the bus to guys who had some police issues.

Not to mention you are almost guaranteed to be hiring an alcoholic. The weekend starts at lunch on Friday and ends around Tuesday. Don't expect work to start early or go late.

Author:  Colonel Angus [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:56 pm ]
Post subject: 

"Hey, we fix-a you pipes-a real nice!"

Image

Author:  The Original Kid Cairo [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:12 pm ]
Post subject: 

Teddy G's Best Source wrote:
slumlord wrote:
"Interview"


What kind of business you running here? KC would be proud. :lol:

Yes I am. :wink:

Author:  Darkside [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:16 pm ]
Post subject: 

Sam in Hoffman wrote:
Darkside wrote:
I can bill $100/hr. I'm fully certified, man. CONTEMPORIZE!


I didn't know lakemoor counted as the "hood"..

It does.
We are Lakemorons.

Author:  MattInTheCrown [ Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:18 pm ]
Post subject: 

Kid Cairo wrote:
When I saw the thread title, I thought about this guy:

Image
God damnit. And I just got done tracking down that picture. Should have looked first.

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