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So you are paying him if he decides to stop at a coffee shop and have a cup of coffee?
Next time.. Pay by the job. Contractor may pay their sub contractors by the hour but I don't see how it's cheaper doing it your way.
Yes, that would be true.
It's not like I wanted to pay by the hour. I haven't come accross a handyman (with satisfactory reviews on Angie's List) offering any other options. Maybe I should do more research.
I don't do much T&M but every now and then a customer will insist on it during the initial phone call. If I feel like it, I'll play along. The clock starts when I turn the ignition on, all travel time no matter what, work time, restroom stops, clean up, and transaction time that gets rounded up to the 1/2 hour. I make more off the T&M customers. Flat rate customers get discounts if the job goes smooth and they have the right temperament.
A handyman may not have the expertise or be set up to accurately bid a variety of dingbat tasks so T&M may be your only option. Professional tradesmen( non handyman) have no reason to not be able to offer you upfront pricing so phone time or eyeglass searches don't become your problem.
I don't do much T&M but every now and then a customer will insist on it during the initial phone call. If I feel like it, I'll play along. The clock starts when I turn the ignition on, all travel time no matter what, work time, restroom stops, clean up, and transaction time that gets rounded up to by the 1/2 hour. I make more off the T&M customers. Flat rate customers get discounts if the job goes smooth and they have the right temperament.
A handyman may not have the expertise or be set up to accurately bid a variety of dingbat tasks so T&M may be your only option. Professional tradesmen( non handyman) have no reason to not be able to offer you upfront pricing and phone time or eyeglass searches don't become your problem.
Thanks so much!! This is the exact info I was looking for. That makes total sense.
Handymen charge by the hour where I am too, for the smaller stuff. They might do a bid for a bigger job, like installing a closet system or something, but not for a general "honey do" list.
The main guy I use is so cheap that I routinely round up his charges anyway. He's not super fast but he is super thorough and he also will tell me when something is outside of his comfort zone. So I think we are both happy with the outcome.
I am a Handyman. I guarantee that if you want to pay me by the job, with a up front price, you will be paying more. If people want a up front price they are getting my worst case price. Usually new costumers what a price up front, but all my repeats pay by the hour, $50 show up 1st hour then $35 per hour. I would say that if you dont feel you got more then your moneys worth from your handyman then just dont hire him again.
I am posting on my wife's account, shes the agent.
Last edited by Zyngawf; 05-04-2015 at 04:14 PM..
Reason: who I am
I am a Handyman. I guarantee that if you want to pay me by the job, with a up front price, you will be paying more. If people want a up front price they are getting my worst case price. Usually new costumers what a price up front, but all my repeats pay by the hour, $50 show up 1st hour then $35 per hour. I would say that if you dont feel you got more then your moneys worth from your handyman then just dont hire him again.
I am posting on my wife's account, shes the agent.
That's exactly how it's done here, except it costs more per hour.
This company provides an up-front estimate (3 hours at this cost, 4 hour at this cost), but you are billed according to actual hours expended.
Very standard is to pay travel one way with a 4 hour minimum.
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