As a Handy man I get some interesting jobs, building fences, redoing plumbing, concrete, etc.

In past I have been asked by elderly people to hang pictures, change a ceiling light bulb, small things which owing to age and frailty they can not do themselves. I have never charged for these.

I have a new client, a couple who are around my age (late thirties) and who need a 'regular' handyman.

They have me hang pictures, change light bulbs (even in lamps on tables) I have not charged for these things cause I really have no idea how much to charge for putting a nail in the wall, or for switching out a burnt out bulb.

One week I went all the way over there to hang a picture and hang a hat - that was all that was on the list. I didn't charge anything because I have no idea what to charge. Yet I was (am still) a bit baffled by the incident, and since then there have been other pictures to hang. None of which are huge, most being the 8x10 variety.

Do I start charging, especially since it is a 15 mile drive to their place?

Presently I charge for the job, the kind of job, say cleaning out gutters is a flat fee, building an exterior deck, or similar is based on the size of the job and and estimated amount of time I would spend doing it. Should I just give up that part and start charging a flat hourly fee?

So How much would you pay to have a picture hung?

Thanks, David
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05-14-03, 12:10 PM
Georgia85
My past two boyfriends were maintenance men and did side handyman jobs such as what you are talking about. They charged by the hour plus the cost of supplies used and the mileage to and from the job site. I understand this seems ludicrous for the more simpler jobs such as hanging a picture but at least charge for the trip. The IRS has set the standard mileage rate for 2003 at 36 cents per mile.

Oh, and in response to your question as to how much I would pay to have a picture hung....nothing! I gotta little pink hammer that works just fine and I know how to use it! Big Grin
05-14-03, 12:25 PM
Tree
I'm with Georgia on this.

If they want you to drive 15 minutes
to hang a hat - that's what they get,
but YOUR time is money, and your car
does not run on kindness!


05-14-03, 02:47 PM
Lydia
I would say to continue to charge your flat fees for specific projects, but you should not be expected to do miscellaneous tasks for free. Unless of course, you decide you are in the not-for-profit business!!! Your time is valuable and you should be paid for what you are doing, regardless of the simplicity of what you may be doing. Actually if it's SO SIMPLE, why don't they do it???

I say charge flat fees for specific tasks, then establish an hourly rate that you will charge for the "miscellaneous" handy man kinda things.

05-14-03, 04:34 PM
DvdGStwrt
The IRS has set the standard mileage rate for 2003 at 36 cents per mile.

Hmm, I've been charging .20 cents per mile.

I guess an hourly charge for miscellaneous tasks is the best route. Now to figure out how much I think those hours are worth. Wink (Gee why didn't I think of that?)

Thanks and Cheers

David

05-14-03, 07:29 PM
Lydia

quote:Originally posted by DvdGStwrt:
I guess an hourly charge for miscellaneous tasks is the best route. Now to figure out how much I think those hours are worth. Wink (Gee why didn't I think of that?)



I'm guessing you're being a wise guy!! Roll Eyes Since we said hourly, but then didn't really answer your question. It's difficult to put a price on someone else's time, I guess that's why I didn't give an amount. I was just thinking of how much you could actually do in an hour when tasks are as simple as banging a nail into the wall or changing a light bulb. It's a tough one...do you think $25/hour is too high? I think it sounds like alot, but in reality - you could hang alot of pictures and bulb changing in an hour, so for those people who are too darn lazy to do those kinds of things, that's not too high. For those who are elderly and can't afford it, maybe you do a little extra or cut the rate a bit???

Just some suggestions...

05-15-03, 04:14 AM
NCcichlid
David, why not just bill them for a trip charge. A $25.00 trip charge includes the first 15 minutes of work.

05-15-03, 08:26 AM
Georgia85
25 bucks to hang a picture?! Well...guess there are some people who have more money than they know what to do with! LOL

05-15-03, 02:19 PM
DvdGStwrt
Actually I am not a wise guy. I am being honest, I really have no clue what my time is worth. I have never put much importance on money, it is a useful tool, and everyone needs it to survive, I just do not have the craving for it.

I suspect that I charge far lower than the market could bear. When ever I put in a bid for any job, I find that I get the job.

I really do not know how much to charge for everything.

Here is what I basically charge for a few things:

Painting 11.00 per hour
Carpentry 12.50 per hour
Demolition 11.50 per hour
heavy exterior Cleaning (like removal of brush) 11.00 per hour)

Last week I built 80 feet of 6 foot high fence, I charged a flat rate of $450.00 for the labor (materials was through the lumber yard), which included setting 11 posts, and building and hanging two gates.

The work I did (if charged hourly) would have been $100-$150.00 less than the bid. The Lady jumped on the bid at $450.00 labor - Though she claimed to have gotten estimates from three others.

I have the skills to do the job, I just have no clue of what to charge (this has been an issue for years).

As for getting the information, I have no clues either. I tried getting a painter to quote me over the phone on a couple of jobs, they all want to come out and see the job before quoting an estimate (kind of difficult to price the market when they are that way).

$25.00 seem like a lot to me. But then I do all my own work at home, seeing no reason to call for someone when I know how to do a thing.

I don't charge these particular clients for mileage, I go there once a week, and have for a year now. They have had several large jobs for me, such as building a deck and a gazebo -

I want to be fair to both myself and my clients, at the same time I know that I am not an expert in many things, though I do the jobs, say laying ceramic tile, I am not as fast as a guy who does nothing but lay ceramic tile.

I was a carpenter for years, finish carpentry is my specialty. When I worked with a construction company I did all the interior molding. I was 'let go' because I was to much a freak about quality, not quantity. I spent too much time getting the cuts and the fits perfect. My boss told me that I didn't need to be that anal about the work - but I could not just let it go.

I give good rates to the elderly and infirm. I have done several jobs in the mobil home park my In-Laws live in - I figure that these people have fixed incomes, and there is a lot that they are unable to do for themselves - several of them have requested on the side for me to do something else small which I do not charge for. It is the rest of the folks that I have a problem with.

Such is life I suppose.

David

05-29-03, 08:31 AM
clarebear
If you are already in the middle of doing a job then I would not add on a charge for hanging a picture or changing a light. You need to make sure you don't get taken advantage of because of your kindness. A $25.00 per hour flat fee seems reasonable. This would include general fix it work not including material. Since it is hard to ask for money once you have been doing things for free you need to inform them of your rates soon. Type up a charge sheet and drop them a letter to them in the mail. At the bottom be sure to tell them you appreciate their business. When they do call you remind them of your flat rate fee. Let them know you work in only in one hour increments. When they have an hours worth of work tell them to call you back to set up an appointment.

06-10-03, 11:16 PM
Sherasi
David, this is gonna sound wierd, but why not ask other persons in the industry how much they charge? Pretend to be a customer and ask for bids for work similar to what you do.

06-11-03, 03:53 AM
Adi
David

Sounds to me like they're keeping you on a retainer. Why not charge a flat-rate per week? Some weeks will be less work done, some weeks more, but on average you will do xhours at $y per hour (factor in travel costs). $25 dollars for hanging a picture does sound a lot, but who the h*ll asks someone to drive 15 minutes to hang a picture? If they are the type to ask, then you can charge pretty much what you want, coz it seems like they got money to burn.

PS: Are you sure that the little woman isn't home and you're being set up for doing a little more 'work' around the house than you were thinking? Hahahahaha (Yea, I know you wouldn't, but they don't). Wink Wink Wink

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