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I'm not the OP. He asked a simple question and I answered what I knew to be true where I live. I am not hiring anybody at the present. BUT I have hired the same people, several times, and am happy with their work.
Hey, I'm not saying it isn't possible to get quality labor at the prices you are talking, but I certainly wouldn't bet on it.
I know who will be doing the work already and he is willing to do it at whatever rate I will pay. I do care about fair. That's just who I am.
Sometimes the cheapest comes out costing more.
I contact posters on craigslist and get a feel for the going price, then offer a "fair" price to someone you feel is able to do the job.
I recently needed a thermostat replaced on an old truck. I called mechanics in my area. One said $55 another said $35. I drove by the two shops. The 55 looked like a junk yard the 35 looked like a proper shop. I got the 35 guy to do the thermo and a oil change for $60.
Lol! This is a friend's adult son who is a high school teacher, who has time off when school is out.
Ah! OK, different person.
I'd still hold by $10-15 an hour. Actually I would really only work, personally, with someone who would give me an honest estimate for time and materials; and if everyone is professional and reasonable adjustments can be made.
A friend of mine hired an uninsured person to chop down a tree last summer, for about $200. But he lost control and dropped the tree on power lines, and Consumers' charged my friend almost three grand for repairs, since it was all on her property.
Her $200 cheapie job cost her almost $3,000 and the guy who took her tree down never did pay a penny.
For comparison, right after this (I did consider using the cheap guy for a tree on my property but changed my mind after this) I paid $625 for a similar-sized tree to be removed. Yes it was more expensive...but I got a certificate of insurance, and in the end did not have to pay an additional $2,400 for damage done by an uninsured amateur.
I'd still hold by $10-15 an hour. Actually I would really only work, personally, with someone who would give me an honest estimate for time and materials; and if everyone is professional and reasonable adjustments can be made.
A friend of mine hired an uninsured person to chop down a tree last summer, for about $200. But he lost control and dropped the tree on power lines, and Consumers' charged my friend almost three grand for repairs, since it was all on her property.
Her $200 cheapie job cost her almost $3,000 and the guy who took her tree down never did pay a penny.
For comparison, right after this (I did consider using the cheap guy for a tree on my property but changed my mind after this) I paid $625 for a similar-sized tree to be removed. Yes it was more expensive...but I got a certificate of insurance, and in the end did not have to pay an additional $2,400 for damage done by an uninsured amateur.
Cheap work is cheap until it isn't.....!
Well, as stated in my OP, just asking for rate recommendations. Really not worried about insurance certificates for planting some 3 gallon shrubs, power washing, caulking. I can do all these things myself. I like to help deserving people if I have jobs they can do and wanted to know a fair wage......Since I am a landlord, I carry a couple of different umbrella liability policies. But your comments certainly may be helpful for others.
Well, as stated in my OP, just asking for rate recommendations. Really not worried about insurance certificates for planting some 3 gallon shrubs, power washing, caulking. I can do all these things myself. I like to help deserving people if I have jobs they can do and wanted to know a fair wage......Since I am a landlord, I carry a couple of different umbrella liability policies. But your comments certainly may be helpful for others.
I do agree with your philosophy.
$10-15 per hour for a cash/uninsured person doing unskilled labor would be top end here. Actually many here would consider $10/hr premium wages. I'd expect to pay from $8-15 (and do, and I am more than fair) cash but certainly no more than that. But I am in a very low cost-of-living area and it would depend on a number of variables and nuances.
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