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My dad is a handy man is there any software online that can estimate a specific labor cost on residential project

2007-06-16 16:16:26 · 5 answers · asked by ARC 1 1 in Home & Garden Maintenance & Repairs

5 answers

Handy men in this area work time and material only. Hourly rates can vary depending on the attitude of the customer.

2007-06-16 19:24:39 · answer #1 · answered by Michael B 5 · 0 0

One good referance is Home Depot or Lowes. Simply call them and ask what they charge for installing X. Get an estimate from Lowes then try and charge something in between.

When I started many years ago, I was afraid to charge to much, I was getting all the jobs but, I wasn't making any money, maybe for gas and eats.
A Real Estate Broker that took me under his wing gave my the details.
I raised my prices, to a minimal amount but, fair. If a job was $10.00 I would charge $20.00 with the material but, I had to have a good knowledge of materials and where I could get them, the prices. I had to have as much knowledge of these prices so I could give people quotes and different price figures.
It's a whole another ball game, you have to be a business man besides a handy man.

Be honest, fair, be ready to go back on jobs that just don't work. Be ready to do favors, my agent told me after awhile, "give them a pat on the butt and, a smile" and, it works. Don't get involved in politics, when asked, tell them you don't watch the news, you have no opinion. Don't argue relegion, these are bad areas to get into. Keep your opinons to yourself, if you have to use the toilet, excuse yourself and go to the nearest gas station or store.
Never eat on the job and, at lunchtime, leave the job for exactly the 1/2 hour and show it on your work card, Keep records and be ready to show them. Do not, under any conditions, stay at a place where no one is home. The time they tell you they'll be right back, they trust you, don't let them. Tell them you have to pick something up anyway and go until they get back. Don't stay in a place alone. Things happen.

Good luck, I spent 20 years in the "trade" in Vegas. Made good money and made many friends.

2007-06-16 23:10:43 · answer #2 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 1 0

None that I am aware of. However your local small business administration may have the data.

I use Contractor Pro by Quickbooks. You set your own flat rate and the program calculates the cost per hour.

Different jobs have different rates. He could figure a flat rate for x and add a percentage to it for the difficulty of the job.

Heres another way to do it: Tell the customer you charge say $35 per hour plus parts and delivery. Explain to them that it fair to both parties by doing that because if it's an easy fix--it's cheap. And if there are major problems and it takes more time--it's still fair because you are getting paid for the actual time it takes to do the work.

2007-06-16 16:26:44 · answer #3 · answered by scarlett 6 · 0 0

I use Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book ISBN091159227-1 its great for anybody who does evary thing

2007-06-16 16:22:33 · answer #4 · answered by triminman 5 · 0 0

Alone $30
If you watch $50
If you help $100 an hour.

This is standard.

2007-06-16 18:15:11 · answer #5 · answered by elsa 2 · 3 0

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