In the NY area you shouldn't be paying - EVER - any more than about $40 per hour roughly for that sort of work. Offer about $25 per hour and let him bargain up.
He said "7 days" so I offered $1,800 ahe said ok. 7 days is an extremely optimistic estimate, I think it will be more. Still, assuming 10 hour days, that's just about $25.7/hr.
I talked to my mother, and when they were doing renovations, the "team leader" would pay the workers aboug $110/day. But those renovations went on for 2 months - no major structural work, fairly new house, 1800 sf - they repolished the hardwood floors, painted everything, changed fixtures, took down a small wall. How does that take 2 months?! You can build a new house in that time.
She said that $200 is the top daily rate, for fairly skilled handywork. (Like when we were building a deck.)
So I feel a bit better about the amount I offered, but I still think it's a miserly wage. The $25/hour is supposed to include the employer's portion of Social security taxes, health insurance, disability & unemployment benefits, etc. He is a US citizen by the way, and pays taxes.
Hiring someone for home improvement work.
19/11/2010 02:15:37 PM
- 554 Views
Well get creative. Tell him you want to make sure he's fairly compensated.
19/11/2010 02:25:50 PM
- 373 Views
Materials separately.
19/11/2010 02:45:32 PM
- 424 Views
if that's what you're doing, I think that just giving a "bonus" at the end is sufficient *NM*
19/11/2010 02:57:37 PM
- 155 Views
He might be relying on you passing his name on to people looking for work done
19/11/2010 02:29:50 PM
- 376 Views
Figure how many hours it should take.
19/11/2010 03:05:50 PM
- 419 Views
$25 is about what he accepted.
19/11/2010 04:26:17 PM
- 417 Views
Maybe he thinks you're cute and is waiting for an indecent proposal. *NM*
19/11/2010 03:50:38 PM
- 153 Views
Call out another contractor. A lot of them will give free estimates. Get a free estimate.
19/11/2010 04:28:08 PM
- 394 Views
He did accept your number.
19/11/2010 04:45:11 PM
- 415 Views
Re: He did accept your number.
19/11/2010 06:47:47 PM
- 386 Views
I would think it being the holiday season would make that easier, too.
19/11/2010 06:58:11 PM
- 386 Views