Author |
Message |
Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 6:35 pm
Sunshyne, did you get references and check them out -- talk to contractor's customers and see the work?
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 6:43 pm
Hi, Color! Well, we always tip movers (who do the grunt work), so I think a giving tip at this time of year to these two guys (2?)--who have to have a lot more in the way of skills--is not a big deal. They shouldn't expect it, but if they are doing an outstanding job, then I think it is a nice thing to do--again, if you can afford it.
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Cinnamongirl
Member
01-10-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 7:10 pm
We don't list profit or markup on our quotes/invoice. I don't know anyone who does. Maybe yours had to show it because it was thru insurance. Its a very competative market, you wouldn't get very far charging too much... but you do have to make a profit or why bother being in business. Most of our sales are thru referrals.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 7:30 pm
I wouldn't tip the contractor, but I would tip the subs. And if not with money, then with treats (lunch, drinks, snacks, whatever). The subcontractors are not the ones charging the "10-20% added on top already." They are being paid by the general. I tip almost everyone who performs a service for me throughout the year, and I "gift" my regulars (housekeeper, car wash guy, hair stylist, and so on). I, personally, think it's always nice to let people know when you're pleased with their work. And it doesn't matter how much is charged for whatever the job. (Seriously. Do unto others and all that.)
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 8:27 pm
There's no real subs. Cabinet dealer in another suburb. Countertop guy who I will eventually see sometime this week when he takes exact measurements. Then it's Ron and the two - three guys he employs.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 8:29 pm
I couldn't imagine listing my markup or profit on an invoice! Could you imagine them doing something like that at a clothing store or restaurant! LOL
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 9:33 pm
I've never heard of a "detailed" estimate or quote that actually listed each individual cost and markup and profit. Why would they? And, 18% doesn't sound like much profit, if you ask me. The things most people don't think of while they're looking at that "profit" is somewhere there is an office for that company, probably with bookkeepers, secretaries, estimators, buyers, electricity, computers, building rent, etc. called "overhead." The contractor has to pay for this too even though it's probably a part of his business that helped you with your renovation that you may never see. All of that comes out of the "profit" margin built into the quote. Also, depending on how labor wages were listed, you have to remember the employer has to pay the hourly wages, his portion of FICA, SUTA, FUTA, and don't forget the all important health insurance for employees and union costs if they are union employees. At the sheet metal place, for example, a journeyman made almost $30 an hour at that time and his complete benefit package including all the taxes, insurance and union fees paid by the employer, etc. made his hourly rate $44 an hour. That extra $14 an hour comes out of the employer's pocket, not the employees. Yes, contractors add on profit and it may seem a huge amount but you have to look at the whole picture. Some contractors make huge profits and some don't. Even though in the construction business tips are not expected at all, what a treat would it be for you to go to work every day and have fresh coffee and pastries waiting for your break just because the person you're working for really appreciates your work? And, how much better are you going to try to do your job for that employer when you are being treated and appreciated so well? I know when I'm appreciated and respected, I never hesitate to go that extra step even though I don't have to. Just remember if you hire the cheapest quote, you may get the cheapest results. And, if you act like the workers don't count or matter why should they put out any extra effort for your job? You really do get what you pay for sometimes.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 9:46 pm
We had our bathrooms redone about the same time that our neighbor had his redone. When my neighbor told me what he paid, I felt like a fool – like I had been taken. That was until a year later, when my neighbor (who supposedly got the good price) had to have his bathrooms completely redone again by another company. It ended up costing him far more than what we paid and our bathrooms are perfect, years later. Plus when our bathroom developed a slight problem, the guys came back and fixed it for no charge. Another friend is getting their bathrooms done for a cheap price by a friend. The guys who did ours finished in two days. This guys who are doing theirs have been at it forever. So I agree that you get what you pay for sometimes. And we always try to make the guys who are working happy by providing soft drinks and snacks. They appreciate it and it reflects in their work. If you've got a good relationship with someone who does this, then it is well worth making him feel appreciated.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Sunday, December 16, 2007 - 10:11 pm
My neighbor in the condo bldg had her kitchen done about a year ago. KDA cabinets. She's happy with the end results, but it took forever -- monthS. So many subcontractors / people involved. Scheduling work to be done. People wouldn't show up. During it all, couple times my neighbor's KDA reps left. Etc., etc., etc. Big hassle. She said she'd never go through KDA again. She wants to have her bathroom pretty much gutted. She's waiting to see how things go with Ron. I think she will probably hire him. I want some work done in my bathroom too (not gutted though). Ron.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 6:51 am
I had my bathroom redone early summer. I didn't hire a general contractor, I hired the subs myself. I had a bathroom completely remodeled in 10 days (and that included gutting the tub surround and repairing termite damage). Another person in the condo building did it all himself, and ended up having to hire (my tile guy) to come in and fix things. Took him over a month. Another person hired someone to do it all, and it took them 3 weeks. There was a lot to schedule, but if you really work with the people doing the work, and treat them with respect, you'll see a huge difference in how fast the work gets done.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 7:38 am
Ron keeps the people involved down to a small number and he knows them. It seems his guys do ALL the work except for the all-in-one Staron (very similar to Corian) countertops and sink. Everything gets done much more quickly.
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Rubyroo77
Member
08-13-2005
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 9:24 am
My husband used to be a builder until he got hurt. He told me that he was tipped a few times- but mostly he remembers the people who brought over a box of donuts or even water. He would work even when it was below zero outside- he had and still has a very high work ethic. But he got paid and never expected to get a tip. (He never, ever took advantage of a customer either.) This year I heard on the news that we should tip our mail carrier $20.00, and the newspaper deliverer $10-20. I think tipping has got out of hand. My mail carrier drives her truck to my mailbox and delivers the mail-she gets paid $18to20 bucks an hour- she doesn't need a tip..besides I constantly get other people's mail..and when I go away and hold my mail via internet and phone call to them to make sure they understand- they never fail to disappoint and deliver my mail anyway! Tipping used to be for waiters and waitresses because they make under minimum wage..I always feel happy to tip at least 20%..but now people have tip jars everywhere. If you get a coffee at DD's they have their little tip jar..It's becoming ridiculous. I feel badly for people who live in the city, because they are expected to tip more often then those of us who live in the country. When we had our driveway paved, I made some lemonade and homemade cookies and set up a little table near where they were working and they were so happy..and you know what I got in return? They took the old bib of the driveway(the top part) and threw it in the woods next to the driveway, and destroyed some of my grapevines. We made sure they came back and cleaned up their mess..but I don't regret making the cookies and lemonade because it made me feel good to do it. Color- you don't need to tip- but if it makes you feel good and you won't have regrets afterward then do it. I think it's nice of you! If you guys wants some interesting reading- http://www.stainedapron.com/
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 10:05 am
Ruby, that is so nice to hear about your husband -- his high work ethic, etc. I'm as sure as I can be that that is Ron (and company) also. There's still a few around like that. I am so very happy to have found one of them. The food and drink thing again . . . . It is awkward. I'm in a one bedroom condo. There is no room in my dining (full of appliances) and living (full of everything else out of the old kitchen) rooms for anyone to sit and "take a break". NONE. No condo meeting room or anything like that. So I will probably give them some $$. I appreciate their hard, fast, good work. They grouted the floor this morning, did some electric work, and are now installing cabinets.
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Gumby
Member
08-14-2004
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 10:29 am
Color, it sounds as though you are extremely pleased with the job the men are doing. It also sounds like you're not going to be happy with yourself if you don't do something extra for them. I say do whatever is going to make YOU happiest. The men certainly aren't expecting anything and it's not required. It's all up to you. There is no right or wrong in this situation.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 10:36 am
I say take 'em in your bedroom! 
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 12:02 pm
I always offer something to drink like sodapop or tea/coffee, and cookies for workers too.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 2:08 pm
At some point, ya just gotta trust . . . . I'm happy I've found someone who I can. And it's hard to communicate with the guys. They speak very little English. I don't speak a word of Polish. Another guy (just under Ron in the business) does speak both English and Polish, so is here and translates when necessary.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 5:19 pm
I tip my paper carrier, but I never tip my postal carrier. I might tip him if he'd frickin' deliver the mail on time. But my mail guy is a total slug (half the time mail is delivered after the 5pm cut off). And the other half of the time I swear he's going thru my Victoria's Secret catalogs! (I think that's why he's always late!)
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 5:43 pm
I give Bob, our mailman, $20 at Christmas. He's another good guy. We know him; he knows us. When I was getting my drug shipment from our northern neighbors, he'd make sure it got in the door if I wasn't home.
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Bombaycat
Member
07-21-2007
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 5:46 pm
Ruby - As a federal employee, Postal Carriers are not allows to accept cash tips. They can only accept a gift under $20 value.
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Danzdol
Member
04-21-2001
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 5:55 pm
I was in the interior design field for 16 years. It was customary to list your design fee, 30-35% on the purchase of all wholesale items. Designers usually get everything at a better price and the way to get paid was through your design fee. SOme designers would do a flat fee which would work best sometimes or a combination of both. I liked the up front system because all the paperwork matched and was accurate. The designers I worked for that would list everything at the retail price were a nightmare! The clients were all used to it either way. When I finally went on my own, I did a combination of the 2 as well. I am no longer in the field. It is not customary to tip the contractor. Tipping the subs is also not customary but you can do something nice for them if you want. We did get our contractor a nice wine basket when he finished our house. We did so because he was an actual nice contractor. Really good guy! Interesting to read about the postal workers. Ours left a holiday card with his name signed on it. We were wondering if it meant he was asking for something or if he was legitimately just giving us a holiday card....lol
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Justavice
Member
11-22-2005
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 6:32 pm
Color- would you be comfortable bringing up the subject with Ron? He might be able to give input on what is customary.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 7:02 pm
I don't have a hair dresser, paper carrier, housekeepers, gardners, etc so don't tip a lot. When we go out to dinner is about the only time I encounter tipping services. The mail carrier, it really depends on the year (lol, that sounds odd, but it's not really!) Some years we haven't had a regular mail carrier or even several, but half the dang post office throughout the year and getting mail picked up or delivered is often an iffy thing. For 5-6 years we had one guy and I always left him some small gift or cookies or candy but then he retired. Last year was one of those years we had many mail carriers but for about a week or two we had the same guy. Dakota wrote a letter to Santa and stuck it in the mail box before I could intercept it (usually I'd address to Santa and send to my sister and she'd mail a letter back.) Last year though, all she wrote on the envelope was "Santa" and this guy picked it up. The next day there was a letter addressed to Dakota from Santa and the mailman winking at me, lol. I thought it was so sweet that even though he was only in our neighborhood a short time, I left him a little gift. This year we've been lucky to have the same woman most of the year and she's really gone out of her way to be helpful and quite friendly (LOL, she knows that Kota lives for junk mail so if she sees Kota outside she'll seperate real mail from junk mail so she can walk up and hand Kota "her" mail.) She'll be getting something though I haven't decided what yet. On contractors...I do try to have cold sodas in the summer or coffee/hot tea in the winter to offer, though that's not always possible (most of the time we have to call someone to work on the house it's for plumbing and the waters shut off.)
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 7:48 pm
The deed is done. I gave them some cash today. Christmas is coming. Figured they could use it now. Wouldn't hurt the rest of the job to get it now . . . not that I thought it would not be done well anyways. A few years ago I was careless. Was washing my hands with dish soap at the kitchen sink. Very sentimental ring went down the drain. I turned the water off immediately. Now what? I am not at all house-handy. It was Sunday noonish. Hmmmmm. Looked in the yellow pages. Made a call or two. Giving me hassles, etc., etc. Tried Four Seasons Plumbing. They could come almost right away. OK. Older man showed up whose first language was not English. But it was a simple, quick job. He got it with no problem. Whew! Sunday. Quick response. Charged $60. Well worth it to me. I tipped him.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 9:35 pm
Sunshyne, did you get references and check them out -- talk to contractor's customers and see the work i said that they were hired by the Insurance Company to do the Repairs and Renos. When stuff started going wrong I tried to intervene and was told that I didnt hire them, the insurance company did. Be assured the insurance company heard my complaints LOL In a matter of fact, I am hoping that they lost the contract. I heard from the insurance people AND the Adjustor that the company was getting sloppy and they were happy either. Since I was left with problems I did not have to pay the full amount. But I tell you truthfully, I'd happily pay the extra 500$ if I had a straight shower, straight walls, step UP into shower (was floor mounted in error) and most of all, the CORRECT colour paint used. The second attempt was STILL the wrong colour so I finally said FORGET it, i'll finish it myself. SIGH, how could they get it wrong when they were even given the Sampler from the paint store LOL Anyways, This thread is causing me flashbacks so I think I'm out permanently LOL
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 9:46 pm
Sunshyne said: "Look at Biscotti's nightmare! years later and every plumbing joint has to be replaced throughout the house. " Actually, my pipes problem is from the cheap chisler builder putting in bad pipes (defective resin from 5 manufacturers) but nobody knew they were bad at the time. Plumber said the builder probably saved about $1 on a 20ft pipe. Costing thousands to fix now. Not just the joints need replacement, EVERY dang pipe in the house. Too depressing to think about frankly, don't want to talk about it for now. Geez, I wish I had me a "Ron's" too!!!!! Does anyone get a sense of Angie's List, reliable or not? I just now went there to check it out, forgot that a friend mentioned Angies a long time ago. http://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/ Actually, I think I may just act as my own contractor and get the subs myself for each piece of replacing the kitchen, floor, cabinets, plasterboard AFTER the pipes are replaced. Got burned a couple of weeks ago pricewise by the Genl Contractor doing the dry rot/studs replacement.
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Monday, December 17, 2007 - 9:55 pm
Sunshyne said: "Anyways, This thread is causing me flashbacks so I think I'm out permanently LOL" Oh my, I can SOOOOOO relate!
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 7:32 am
Totally off topic but... Biscotti, if you've got the time, it's well worth it to get the subs yourself. You have better control over what gets done and when. When I did my bathroom, I had it scheduled almost to the hour (when the demo was done, the termite repair guy was there, before he finished, the guy with the backboard showed up, before he finished, the tile guy came in to float the floor). The timing worked perfectly. I also took the time to go pick out my tile and grout, and order it (the tile guy picked up the order). I went to the plumbing wholesaler and picked out all my fixtures (tub, toilet, sink, faucets) and all the other stuff needed. When I knew the tile would be done and the plumber could come in, I called the wholesale company and placed the order over the phone. For $5.00 they delivered the next day. Of course, I work at home and it was pretty easy to coordinate stuff while I was working, and to keep on top of people to ensure they would finish their bits on time. I know I saved thousands of dollars, too. (The danged remodel cost a lot more than planned!)
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Biscottiii
Member
05-29-2004
| Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 8:29 pm
Thanks for the 'tip' Costacat, I'm retired so am certainly going to do that. Man, I got some GOOD news today, twice! When I was submitting invoices with my claim to the Pipe Settlement Lawsuit, I had noticed on the mold abatement invoices that I had received two invoices with different figures. One said I had $350 left of my $5,000 downpayment. The other said I had around $650 coming back. I called and talked to the accountant, she checked it out and said her records show that the higher amount of $650 is remaining. Gasp! When I asked her if she could send a refund, she said I needed to talk to the project manager first. So I called him. Told him that I had been told by a couple of his guys that his company doesn't do the repairing, just the demolition. Figured I should go ahead and take the refund so I don't have to keep paying interest. Great news! He said that they (ServiceMaster) is just now getting into the plasterboard/repair business, probably right after the 1st of the year. (They had recently gotten into the mold business when my problems hit.) I won't be ready for plaster until all the pipes are replaced, perhaps 4 months. He agreed that it didn't make sense to hang onto the money, he will direct the accountant to send it back, then we can deal with setting up new payments when we start the next segment of work. They did the water damage work on my balcony flood problems 6 yrs ago and now this mold abatement. Their crews worked fast and professional, truly saved my home both times! We had actually guessed it could run $10k, no way of knowing how far the mold had encroached until they tore up the place. I'm so relieved to have them do the plaster replacement because I trust them. They could have milked this mold abatement job, but they didn't. When they're in haz mat suits and have the place zipped off with plastic, there's no way to oversee. But the downstairs, which we thought would take a whole day, only took them a couple of hours & they only tore out what they had to. Guess I should have said "I wish I had me a "Ron's" too!!!!!" SOONER. This was progress. PS-if anyone needs water damage/restoration work done, they've been fantastic. http://servicemaster.com/homepage.dsp
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