you guys are insane paying 50/hr for a handyman. take this for example....putting in an entry door. yeah if it's a normal 36x80 already in a frame it would only take him a few hours but if it's an odd size requiring cutting, shimming, adjusting, painting it will take upwards of 6-8 hours. Are you really paying someone $400 to install a door when Lowe's will charge you like $180?
k, misunderstood re., college need as a handyman .
Two applicants , one with a college degree and another without fighting for a job an an employee ? Yes, the chap with the college degree has a higher probability of getting the job, especially if the job isn't mundane , requires communication , written skills. This is obvious to anyone .
Again , you opened the thread cause why ? You weren't confident in your opinion and needed confirmation ? Or you had an open mind and wanted to hear the opinion of others ?
I opened it with the intent on finding out if $50 an hour that is charged by a handyman is normal.
I've found that obviously it depends on the guy's skill and area in which you live. But, I've also found that some think $50 an hour is normal while others (including me) think it's absurd.
There are many variables in this question.
Rolltide, good grief, seriously ? Only an idiot would do such . when they bought the door from the distributor they were given an option for installation. Go with the company that you bought it from unless ur a handyman urself or know of someone u trust . To wit, who the Fuxk would spend good bucks for a door to their house (investment property ) and then pay an uninsured handyman $12 /hr to install?
I have a guy back in my hometown that used to do things for me when I lived there (and still does any odds/ends when I need cause I have tenants renting the place). He charged $50/hr but he wasn't a dick about his time, he usually rounded down if anything. It was still a steal damn near every time I used him.
Example, he put the countertops in my kitchen when I redid it. Tore out the old ones, hauled them out to the curb, put in the new sink, dishwasher, and counters. Took him about a half day and he charged me $150 labor for everything. The counter company I bought from wanted $400 for installation, as a measuring stick.
He also put a new vanity in my spare bathroom and hung new lighting in there, for $80, and fixed some cracks in my kitchen ceiling, put a new hood in, and hung new lighting for $100.
These prices were steals to me as I am not handy and had no clue how to do these jobs and this was my best option. It's kind of like paying a plumber, if something fucks up I'm just going to bend over and take it, cause I don't know how the fuck to fix it and don't plan on learning anytime soon. And they charge like $100+ just for coming out; at least this guy is reasonable and I trust him and if I call he will be there usually that day.
Example, he put the countertops in my kitchen when I redid it. Tore out the old ones, hauled them out to the curb, put in the new sink, dishwasher, and counters. Took him about a half day and he charged me $150 labor for everything. The counter company I bought from wanted $400 for installation, as a measuring stick.
He also put a new vanity in my spare bathroom and hung new lighting in there, for $80, and fixed some cracks in my kitchen ceiling, put a new hood in, and hung new lighting for $100.
These prices were steals to me as I am not handy and had no clue how to do these jobs and this was my best option. It's kind of like paying a plumber, if something fucks up I'm just going to bend over and take it, cause I don't know how the fuck to fix it and don't plan on learning anytime soon. And they charge like $100+ just for coming out; at least this guy is reasonable and I trust him and if I call he will be there usually that day.
As far as whether or not that was a good/fair price for that area; this guy was to the point where he was DENYING new referrals, he had that much work. I had friends begging me to introduce them to this guy. And in comparison shopping there, he is charging a dynamite rate for good, fast, competent, licensed and bonded work.
Area in question is a medium sized town 120k people, in the Midwestern US.
Area in question is a medium sized town 120k people, in the Midwestern US.
Why would you assume a kid with a degree is working at Applebee's?
But let's say he/she is working at Applebee's. Let's say they do a great job at Applebee's and continue up the corporate level at Applebee's. And let's say there's a management position open in corporate HQ for about 100K per year. Who's going to get the job?
Well sure, and I agree but if some of these knuckleheads keep paying a guy $50 an hour to sand their deck, they'll always charge that amount.
And dude, road construction workers don't make more than doctors/lawyers. Maybe doctors/lawyers that are unemployed or just starting out in the profession but that's it. Be real about the situation.
And another thing, what's the difference between a kid starting off 40K in debt from college expenses or a guy without a degree that has a 40K car note? Well, one guy will get promoted with one debt while the other will have something cool to drive. It's all a matter of what's important.
I was happy incuring college debt as I knew it would pay off and it was beneficial to my future. Some people don't feel that way. It's an investment.
It's been a few days and I've been busy. A couple things:
1. Appreciate the debate enfuego. No need for the "drilling in the head" comment and for that, I apologize.
2. At the end of the day, it all depends on the contractor. You can probably get the guys that do this work on the side, under the table, without license, insurance, etc and you may get great work and maybe not, for much cheaper. But from my experience, I'd prefer established, licensed, insured contractors who are in demand due to their skills. And I don't think it's out of bounds for these guys to ask $50/hour in nearly any market. And the bigger the job, the more negotiable the rate obviously. I guess my only point is that someone who is skilled in tons of tasks handymen are asked to do (carpentry, roof repairs, siding repairs, water/mold restoration, flooring, painting, electrical, plumbing, hvac, windows, cleaning, concrete, fence, landscaping,etc), its not out of bounds for a guy who has spent years or decades getting really good at all of these trades to ask for a rate that equals $100k/year before taxes/expenses.
And independent adjusters, on the other side, make 2.5-5x that. And all they need is the same knowledge + insurance knowledge.
1. Appreciate the debate enfuego. No need for the "drilling in the head" comment and for that, I apologize.
2. At the end of the day, it all depends on the contractor. You can probably get the guys that do this work on the side, under the table, without license, insurance, etc and you may get great work and maybe not, for much cheaper. But from my experience, I'd prefer established, licensed, insured contractors who are in demand due to their skills. And I don't think it's out of bounds for these guys to ask $50/hour in nearly any market. And the bigger the job, the more negotiable the rate obviously. I guess my only point is that someone who is skilled in tons of tasks handymen are asked to do (carpentry, roof repairs, siding repairs, water/mold restoration, flooring, painting, electrical, plumbing, hvac, windows, cleaning, concrete, fence, landscaping,etc), its not out of bounds for a guy who has spent years or decades getting really good at all of these trades to ask for a rate that equals $100k/year before taxes/expenses.
And independent adjusters, on the other side, make 2.5-5x that. And all they need is the same knowledge + insurance knowledge.
there are some expenses that go along with being a handyman like saw blades, batteries, knife blades, acetyline/propane, tape, paint brushes and shit like that.
You will also have a hard time trying to work 9-5 M-f and billing that 2k a week....it's not like punching a timeclock at the office. You can also deal with callbacks for free if something goes wrong that isn't even your fault.
What about time taking calls/ emails etc. and any advertising expenses ?
You will also have a hard time trying to work 9-5 M-f and billing that 2k a week....it's not like punching a timeclock at the office. You can also deal with callbacks for free if something goes wrong that isn't even your fault.
What about time taking calls/ emails etc. and any advertising expenses ?
When I bought my house I had to cut down a big ass tree in the backyard. It was somewhat over my back patio/house so I wanted a legit/insure company to do it. I went to Craigslist. Had 5 bids from $1500 to $775 all included cleanup and hauloff. I took the lowest bid. The guys showed up early and finished late that day (2 guys). I'm sure I could of got some jackass to hire for $12 an hour but I didn't. Sometimes you get lucky and might get a guy that knows what he is doing for $12an hour but most of the time it will take them twice as long to do the job or your job will be done half ass.....pick your poison kind of thing.
Tools are expensive. A handyman would have to work a shitload of hours to have all the tools to be a handyman. Sure, you might luck out and find a guy that has the particular tools for the job to do side work for you on a particular job, but I promise he isn't considered a handyman. No journeyman electrician is going to work for $12an hour so Imnot sure why a true handyman would work for $12 an hour since I'd guess 50% of a handymans job will deal with electricity
Tools are expensive. A handyman would have to work a shitload of hours to have all the tools to be a handyman. Sure, you might luck out and find a guy that has the particular tools for the job to do side work for you on a particular job, but I promise he isn't considered a handyman. No journeyman electrician is going to work for $12an hour so Imnot sure why a true handyman would work for $12 an hour since I'd guess 50% of a handymans job will deal with electricity
