? for you gentlemen handy-men

vicker · #21 07/24/13, 02:46 PM

I always have cleaned up after myself, and expect the same from professionals I hire to tidy up at the very least. It's part of the job.

bruceandis · #22 07/24/13, 02:47 PM

I helped a buddy with handyman work for about three years. We always cleaned up after ourselves, partly for the sake of marketing (want to make sure that person we just did work for refers us to his or her friends), partly for the sake of common courtesy, and partly because the job wasn't done until it was clean.

Taylor R. · #23 07/24/13, 02:48 PM

Dust is one thing, personal trash is another. If there's no trash can available, they darn well better stick it in their truck and deal with it themselves later.

arabian knight · #24 07/24/13, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bellyman

From reading the original post, I was having a little trouble putting the whole thing into context.

No, I don't think it's ok to leave your trash lay when you're through at a job site. Water bottles, soda cans, candy wrappers, CIGARETTE BUTTS!!!, scraps from the job... those things shouldn't be left behind, especially in someone's home. The pencil marks... kinda depends on how easy they are to reach and how noticeable they are.

True but on sheetrock? that is going to be covered up isn't it? Sheetrock is not left without a covering on it. That painting will cover any pencil marks.

watcher · #25 07/24/13, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

Ok so I get not paying someone $80/hr to dust but really isn't it more about being rude when you drop your empty Gatorade bottle on the ground with an empty plastic bag that held your sandwich ?

No, that you should have picked up and put in his truck for him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyPaisley

And what about erasing pencil marks on the ceiling?

The odds are he forgot all about them.

watcher · #26 07/24/13, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammabooh

If we hire someone to do a job for us, we prefer to pay by the job, not by the hour. We always make sure that they know ahead of time that the agreed-upon price includes them keeping the work site tidy...every night, not just at the end of the job.

If they know they are going to have to spend a man hour every day tidying up and a couple of man hours at the end of the job cleaning up they are going to add that extra work and time to your bill. If you have a two week project you have almost an extra days worth of work added in.

But a handyman usually doesn't do projects that large.

watcher · #27 07/24/13, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammabooh

If we hire someone to do a job for us, we prefer to pay by the job, not by the hour. We always make sure that they know ahead of time that the agreed-upon price includes them keeping the work site tidy...every night, not just at the end of the job.

If they know they are going to have to spend a man hour every day tidying up and a couple of man hours at the end of the job cleaning up they are going to add that extra work and time to your bill. If you have a two week project you have almost an extra days worth of work added in.

But a handyman usually doesn't do projects that large.

Ernie · #28 07/24/13, 03:03 PM

Miss Paisley ... I'm noticing a trend here. You get abused by the oil change place, and now by handymen.

Perhaps some aggressiveness training is in order? I'm sure some of the ladies here could give you some training into the steely-eyed stare used on hirelings, or the imperious harridan look that makes lesser beings shake at the thought of displeasing you.

I recommend you talk to MullersLaneFarm for some aggressiveness training right away! I bet the handyman who left a sandwich wrapper in her yard would have driven away with it lodged in some very uncomfortable location.

texican · #29 07/24/13, 03:18 PM

Back when I was doing this kind of work, I'd ask if they wanted me to straighten up.... when they found out I'd be charging exactly the same rate for my time, they declined. There was usually someone with lesser skill sets than I, that did have the skill set of cleaning up. I had no problem cleaning up, because usually it was a brain less time, and the pay was great. Would've loved just the job of 'cleaning up', if I could've gotten those rates... Some clients I automatically scrubbed and polished, knowing that's what they expected, and money was no object, and cleaning up was 'beneath them'...

texican · #30 07/24/13, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher

If they know they are going to have to spend a man hour every day tidying up and a couple of man hours at the end of the job cleaning up they are going to add that extra work and time to your bill. If you have a two week project you have almost an extra days worth of work added in.

But a handyman usually doesn't do projects that large.

No contractor is going to 'lose' money. If a client want's to pay plumber/electrician rates (plumbers are going between 125 > 150/hr here) rates for cleaning, most are more than willing to engage in [what's the word?] insanity?, puffery? neat freakism? Usually the contractor cleans up at the end, if it's required daily, there will be a reworking of the contract, de facto or de jure... My sister and her husband are way over into psychologically deranged neatness... their home contractor didn't know this till after the first day, and he did start 'cleaning', and he did get an extra 10k in overruns...

bjba · #31 07/24/13, 03:31 PM

Interesting replies. When I did handyman work part of the job was leaving the job site as I found it. When I hire contractors if the job site is not cleaned they never get another call from me.

watcher · #32 07/24/13, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

No contractor is going to 'lose' money. If a client want's to pay plumber/electrician rates (plumbers are going between 125 > 150/hr here) rates for cleaning, most are more than willing to engage in [what's the word?] insanity?, puffery? neat freakism? Usually the contractor cleans up at the end, if it's required daily, there will be a reworking of the contract, de facto or de jure... My sister and her husband are way over into psychologically deranged neatness... their home contractor didn't know this till after the first day, and he did start 'cleaning', and he did get an extra 10k in overruns...

Yep, TANSTAAFL.

watcher · #33 07/24/13, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjba

Interesting replies. When I did handyman work part of the job was leaving the job site as I found it. When I hire contractors if the job site is not cleaned they never get another call from me.

If I tell you I can build you a deck for $1,000 or $1,500 the only difference is the $1,500 build would include clean up. Which would you chose?

A lot of people would rather have the extra $500 cash in their pocket.

Wanda · #34 07/24/13, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watcher

If I tell you I can build you a deck for $1,000 or $1,500 the only difference is the $1,500 build would include clean up. Which would you chose?

A lot of people would rather have the extra $500 cash in their pocket.

That is a very good deal. The thing is the choice should be given before the deal is made. If you come up with that scenario after the job is done then it sounds like blackmail!

greg_n_ga · #35 07/24/13, 05:37 PM

Did not read all the responses.....but....NO !! It ain't right. Cleaning up pays the same if by the hour, or should have been considered if the total job was priced before hand !!

Ozarks Tom · #36 07/24/13, 05:38 PM

As far as I'm concerned cleaning up after yourself is part of the job. We installed/sanded/finished wood flooring to over 25 years, and never sent a crew out without cleaning supplies and vacuum cleaners. We'd plastic off the areas we worked in, and use a fan to create a positive balance in the rest of the house, making sure to seal off return air vents. I can't say we left every job spotless, but I can say we tried. It's called having pride in your work, and customers notice. It was very rare that we'd have to competitively bid for work.

unregistered353870 · #37 07/24/13, 07:48 PM

Contractors should clean up. Usually they have cheap laborers for just such unskilled work. Handyman can go either way. Ask what you're paying for.

watcher · #38 07/24/13, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanda

That is a very good deal. The thing is the choice should be given before the deal is made. If you come up with that scenario after the job is done then it sounds like blackmail!

That's why you find out either what you are paying for or what you are being paid for BEFORE you start things.

**clovis** · #39 07/24/13, 08:55 PM

I don't hire often, but when I do, I expect the job to be completed correctly, and the job site left clean.

In our area, to be successful in the trades means that you leave a job site clean, neat and orderly.

How long does it take to clean up? Really? Exactly how long does it take to pick up two scrap pieces of PVC, a Gatorade bottle and an empty pack of Winstons? A good tradesman knows that he needs to pick up at least a few things every time he heads to the truck.

Now if we are talking about 100 feet of iron sewer line that has just been ripped out, or if the contractor just yanked out a furnace and 40 feet of duct work, help me get it out the back door, and I will deal with it to save the costs.

Not picking up after yourself...14 small scraps of wood, 3 water bottles and a pop can...is simply disrespectful and rude. That kind of behavior won't get you any call backs in my area.

joebill · #40 07/24/13, 10:02 PM

years ago, I spent a few years building fine mesquite furniture. I told every one of my customers ahead of time that "I am a bull in a china shop. I do NOT do installations" I would deliver items or they could pick them up, but my work stopped at the front door.

Artisans who are willing to "breach" the front door should work out the details first. Anybody not willing to pay artisan wages for janitorial work should know what to expect ahead of time.....Joe