FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Hourly Work: Most of my customers are located 50 miles away from my terminal. My rate is $75 for the first hour of service and $35 for each additional hour. Time involved in the acquisition of materials is also charged at the same $35 hourly rate. Bids & Estimates: In doing my handyman work, I typically charge by the hour, but due to the variety of jobs that come my way, when possible, I use two different pricing manuals to determine how long the job should take. By using the pricing guide we then have an industry standard time projection which can be multiplied by my hourly rate to determine the project labor cost. The reason for two different pricing books is that not every task is listed in "RSMeans Contractor's Pricing Guide" and so I also use "The Handyman and Maintenance Cost Estimator" as needed. This gives the customer the confidence that their project cost will be reasonable, not open-ended. Time involved in the acquisition of materials is also charged at the same $35 hourly rate. The encountering of unforeseen difficulties and concealed damage are exceptions to any job, however, the general goal is to insure that my charge does not exceed the industry standard.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
After the lead arrives in my inbox, I respond by email (letter) introducing my company, thank them for the prospective job lead and then and tell them what I am able to offer to my prospective customers. If further information is needed, I make mention of this to the customer and arrange to meet with them for a free consultation at a time that is convenient for them. I always give my phone number and invite the customer to give me a call and to view photos that I have posted from previous jobs. At times, necessary information is obtained via the phone call and at the discretion of the customer we may decide to begin the job without having an onsite meeting. When this happens, it is often because the customer already has the materials onsite and they do not feel a need of meeting in person.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Years of hands-on experience gained from working with other building contractors while I was in college and at other times while I was just supplementing my income with odd jobs.