Please share your opinion on price/time to complete this job

[DM7]

What sort of work do you like doing?

are you in an affluent area?

Around here in Sussex, People are crying out for handyman services - jobs that tradesmen cant be bothered with.

If you like doing small, quick in out repairs and have multi trade skills, off your services as a handyman - you can charge from say £60 for a job that may take an hour - 2 of those in a day and you’ve earns more than £10 an hour. Get 4 in a day and you are getting £30/hr


I would continue with the agency if they agree to £15 an hour, but start building up your own work.

-I enjoy plumbing jobs and general repairs

 

[blup]

That job’s got to be worth £500 even if it took one day for a specialist fitter to do it.

Blup

 

[ETAF]

£6.89 and hour
Even at £10 thats very very low really , but if you got a lot of work, and no hassle maybe worth carrying on
in Surrey where I used to live, £10-£15 an hour was the going rate for a cleaner. Even in west sussex we pay £10 and hour for a local cleaner, who lives less than a mile away - and we supply everything.
Your having to provide all your own tools, and replace them when they wear out. Plus travel, and travel costs do they include travel time in that £10
as it was as its a months trial , its maybe time to reconsider the deal

I would expect around maybe around £125 - £175 a day for a handy man, and working time probably around 8am to 3/4pm
I paid my nephew (a very good builder/painter decorator) £125 a day back in 2007 , when he took a week off work to help with a DIY kitchen/bathroom refit and decorating

As self employed than you can claim a few bits back , but even so....

We needed a cloakroom (2m x .9m) refitted and I was given quotes last year NOT including any materials , we supplied those , £2K & £2.5K labour only I did it myself in the end, with some advice from here
1/2 tiles walls , replace floor (concrete floor, so did need screeding in part, wood marine ply floor , toilet, cistern, sink, radiator added to system.

 

[DM7]

£6.89 and hour
Even at £10 thats very very low really , but if you got a lot of work, and no hassle maybe worth carrying on
in Surrey where I used to live, £10-£15 an hour was the going rate for a cleaner. Even in west sussex we pay £10 and hour for a local cleaner, who lives less than a mile away - and we supply everything.
Your having to provide all your own tools, and replace them when they wear out. Plus travel, and travel costs do they include travel time in that £10
as it was as its a months trial , its maybe time to reconsider the deal

I would expect around maybe around £125 - £175 a day for a handy man, and working time probably around 8am to 3/4pm
I paid my nephew (a very good builder/painter decorator) £125 a day back in 2007 , when he took a week off work to help with a DIY kitchen/bathroom refit and decorating

As self employed than you can claim a few bits back , but even so....

We needed a cloakroom (2m x .9m) refitted and I was given quotes last year NOT including any materials , we supplied those , £2K & £2.5K labour only I did it myself in the end, with some advice from here
1/2 tiles walls , replace floor (concrete floor, so did need screeding in part, wood marine ply floor , toilet, cistern, sink, radiator added to system.

In the past 2 months, I have spent around £1700 on expenses and I still have maybe another £2000 worth of more tools to buy (as and when I need them) to complete jobs.

Last week my car insurance provider said they are canceling my (black box monitored) policy because I am making frequent journeys (going to complete jobs for the agency) and also because I drive at night (again, probably the evening jobs and also my college traveling).

I am now being quoted like £1400'ish for third-party car insurance (black box again..)

At £10 per hour, I may well be making a huge loss, in comparison to what I could get stacking shelves in a supermarket lol.. in fact, factories pay like £12+ per hour for production lines, screwing bottle tops on bottles lol.. and working nights/overtime is paid even higher.

 

[JP_]

I've done badly paid work myself (was a copywriter a few years back after being made redundant, and got paid $6 (about £4) for writing short news articles. This was soul destroying, but at least it helped bring in some money while trying to build up better paying clients.

So, if you consider it temporary, for the experience, and keep looking for the better paid work.

I lived in Preston for a year, in 1992/3. Don't remember much about it, apart from the rain, and getting burgled.

 

[ETAF]

i would spend some time , sitting down and working out all your costs, so you actually know where you are financially.
When i was freelance (Consultant for Business/change) that was something i carried out , so i knew the minimum day-rate i would accept , exception was a company I wanted on my CV to show experience with, often a different industry or a very prestigious corporation.

I'm sure the trade here could give you an idea of how long you depreciate tools over. But you also have consumables to consider, saw blades, even down to screws/driver screw tips, multi blades , mastic , etc, etc, etc

Public Liability Insurance, Car running cost, with Business Insurance, wear & Tear, Tools Wear & tear, cloths , expenses parking etc

Break down the last 2 months, so you at least really know and NOT

I may well be making a huge loss,

, also I assume you need to pay an accountant, tax , probably not enough for VAT

 

[DM7]

Yeah - Plenty of rain in Preston!

One of the advantages of working for someone else (for a pre-agreed hourly rate) is that it brings stability of knowing what you will be earning.

But when the employer then turns around and expects the employee (or self-employed trader) to reduce his hourly rate AFTER completing some work, that is just unacceptable.

I appreciate all the input and advice you guys have given.

I am just going to stand my ground with them at £10 per hour for work that's already completed, and then £15 per hour for any future work.

I now can say to future clients that I have gained experience from working as a handyman for an estate agency, and I know my workload should pick up organically, as I sent out a marketing message to around 100 of my past clients letting them know that I am now back in the UK, taking on handyman work.

I'm also in college 4 days a week (evenings etc.) and its been very difficult juggling college and working full-time, so from now on, my plan is to prioritize my college studies, as I am now 36 years old and is probably one of my last "chances" to work towards a degree, and I will only be accepting clients who are happy to pay for an honest worker, for an honest, fair price.

 

[ETAF]

you may want to advertise on social media, I know i have looked for recommendations.
maybe signup to things like nextdoor.com my local one is always asking for handymen, cabinet makers, plumbers,electricians and garden fence/gate work. I have often seen a request for putting flatpack furniture together, IKEA etc.
No idea what they end up charging.

I also advertised in the local parish magazines in various local areas, had quite a few requests through those , cost something like £10-15 a year.

I would still even at £15 suggest you work out the last 2 months on a spreadsheet and see where you stand, you can at least put in different scenarios , and see when you breakeven.

Asking for £15 just because its half way , may still give you a loss , so i would work it out, otherwise you are commiting to work at a loss, and then you will find it hard to go back and renegotiate, this is probably the best time/situation to get a good price or walkaway

 

[sxturbo]

In business you will always have a loss leader to get in with a new company or start up the business, although it's called loss leader the idea is to break even and not lose. (It's different for the likes of Tesco as they will lose 10p on a jar of coffee but make it up with another product on your shop)

This estate agency appear to be taking the Mick, and if I were you I would tell them where to poke it. I can almost guarantee you they won't find anyone else to do that work for £10 per hour or less.

You have the upper hand and don't be afraid to walkaway.

There is no point in being busy/working yourself to death and losing money, you might aswell sit at home on your bum if you wanted to lose money.

The time it took to do that job and run around getting materials etc was definitely not too long, that's a fairly involved job.

If they have told the landlord the wrong price then that's their problem. When you found additional work they should have told the landlord then it was going to cost more than first thought.

I hate estate agents with a passion, I've not once had a decent experience with them, they all seem to have a large stick poked up their rectums and they really think they are something. Smarmy twits... I can't decide who I dislike more Mp's or them..

Tbh I'm surprised your being so calm with them..

 

[DM7]

In business you will always have a loss leader to get in with a new company or start up the business, although it's called loss leader the idea is to break even and not lose. (It's different for the likes of Tesco as they will lose 10p on a jar of coffee but make it up with another product on your shop)

This estate agency appear to be taking the Mick, and if I were you I would tell them where to poke it. I can almost guarantee you they won't find anyone else to do that work for £10 per hour or less.

You have the upper hand and don't be afraid to walkaway.

There is no point in being busy/working yourself to death and losing money, you might aswell sit at home on your bum if you wanted to lose money.

The time it took to do that job and run around getting materials etc was definitely not too long, that's a fairly involved job.

If they have told the landlord the wrong price then that's their problem. When you found additional work they should have told the landlord then it was going to cost more than first thought.

I hate estate agents with a passion, I've not once had a decent experience with them, they all seem to have a large stick poked up their rectums and they really think they are something. Smarmy twits... I can't decide who I dislike more Mp's or them..

Tbh I'm surprised your being so calm with them..

Thanks.

In the past year or so I have had to deal with so many scammers and liers trying to rob me/my friends. One American guy robbed some of my friends of around £70,000, my old landlord robbed my belongings (long story), a takeaway owner tried to steal my tools, another guy had me pay for his plane ticket as a temporary "one day loan" when he got in a difficult situation - but never paid me back (long story) ...

If someone is taking the mic, and I see that it is intentional I will usually go down hard on them.. I am trying to control my temper though, even with scammer types.. life is certainly a test!

So with this agency, I feel they are just mistaken, probably a bit scared to charge landlords (who like to haggle) propper prices for repair jobs as it is, so don't want to go back to a landlord and increase the price (although really they now need to stick to the £200 they agreed with the landlord), but once the agency realizes they made a mistake with me I think they will correct the mistake they made.

 

[big-all]

pension knock off 50p holidays knock off £1 sickness 50p tools and petrol 1.50 extra insurance £1 so at least £25 minimum to give you £20 per hour rather than £10 giving you £5 an hour

 

[sxturbo]

Thanks.

In the past year or so I have had to deal with so many scammers and liers trying to rob me/my friends. One American guy robbed some of my friends of around £70,000, my old landlord robbed my belongings (long story), a takeaway owner tried to steal my tools, another guy had me pay for his plane ticket as a temporary "one day loan" when he got in a difficult situation - but never paid me back (long story) ...

If someone is taking the mic, and I see that it is intentional I will usually go down hard on them.. I am trying to control my temper though, even with scammer types.. life is certainly a test!

So with this agency, I feel they are just mistaken, probably a bit scared to charge landlords (who like to haggle) propper prices for repair jobs as it is, so don't want to go back to a landlord and increase the price (although really they now need to stick to the £200 they agreed with the landlord), but once the agency realizes they made a mistake with me I think they will correct the mistake they made.

I'm sorry if this sounds rude but your track record says your far to trusting and dare I say misguided in how you see the world. Everyone is out to get their pound of flesh, I trust no one, i treat people fairly but will never give anyone money or the opportunity to take advantage.

The estate agency are chancers just like the other knobs you've mentioned and don't deserve your empathy, they've seen you coming and taking full advantage, unfortunately it sounds like your being a bit soft from this side of the screen.

They haven't told the landlord it's only £200 they have their own mark up on top of your cost, and they are earning a percentage off the landlord in management fees aswell.

Why would they estimate a price without talking to you and getting a quite from you first? They haven't got the foggiest idea sat there in their cheap Burton suits giving it the biggun..

 

[DM7]

I'm sorry if this sounds rude but your track record says your far to trusting and dare I say misguided in how you see the world. Everyone is out to get their pound of flesh, I trust no one, i treat people fairly but will never give anyone money or the opportunity to take advantage.

The estate agency are chancers just like the other knobs you've mentioned and don't deserve your empathy, they've seen you coming and taking full advantage, unfortunately it sounds like your being a bit soft from this side of the screen.

They haven't told the landlord it's only £200 they have their own mark up on top of your cost, and they are earning a percentage off the landlord in management fees aswell.

Why would they estimate a price without talking to you and getting a quite from you first? They haven't got the foggiest idea sat there in their cheap Burton suits giving it the biggun..

You are probably a bit right about me being too trusting. I was thinking about it today, how really if someone not known asks for even £1 we instantly think bad of him.. like presume it's to feed a drug habit or something (as opposed to the good cause he asks for it for).. The reality is that these people ruin it for the genuine people who do need help.. because in some instances someone would need real help, yet no one would trust what he says because of the liars and scammers that came with the same story.

The takeaway owner that tried to steal my tools basically hired me to install a new shower above the takeaway. We agreed on a price for labour, £400. Then when I came to the job and was ordering the parts with him he turns around and says he thought I gave him the quote of £400 for parts and labour.. I was like ..err.. nope. No way. (The materials cost like £300 ish lol!)

He then agreed to £400 (again) for the labour ..but wanted me to also make the piping ready for a second shower that he wanted to be located in the room below the first shower he wanted me to install. long story short I ended up flipping out at him because he was telling more lies, I told him straight that he is a filthy lier and that Im getting my tools and canceling the job (which I hadn't started yet, just took measurements and order parts that he paid for after trying to get me to pay for them lol).

He then wouldn't let me get my tools! he like 6ft odd, I'm 5' 9.. I was fuming mad at him though when he tried to steal my tools, he was pushing me around to try and get me out of the shop, I refused and phoned the police, he picked up a wooden rolling pin and was threatening to hit me, I refused to stand down.. I left the shop in the end though and just waited outside for the police to come and they got my tools back for me. No point letting him drag me into a fight, especially when the police are on the way.. I used to do a bit of MMA and kickboxing.. so I was prepared though lol..

The guy who got £70,000 out of me and my friends was a guy we met through friends, its a long story, but he basically manages to trick us all into believing in an investment idea, and one of my friends who invested was a police officer, another was an accountancy firm owner, the other a property investor and the other an entrepreneur.. not the easiest bunch to scam, but the American guy came with a good idea and was known to my community and seemed like a wealthy millionaire that was legit.. still fighting him now to get our money back from him..

Yesterday a local guy in a shop said to me how he is a handy guy with his hands, but he's grown to learn that sometimes it's better to just keep cool and not get angry, despite the idiotic, irrational things being done to us.. I dunno, just something about the way he explained this touched a note in me, and made me think I need to just calm down with my temper when these fools try and abuse us.

They will get what they deserve in the end. That I am sure about!

But really, I am a bit tired, and maybe getting some wisdom in my ripe old age of 36 lol

Years ago I would have been plotting elaborate assassination attempts (which wouldn't end up getting carried out..) if people wronged me the way people have been wronging me these couple of years. But now - forget it. Life goes on, move on and learn. Its all a part of the test that (in my belief) our creator tests us with to make us stronger, better, purer and happier in the long run.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

£200 for 29 hours work is like £6.90 per hour. I worked to the point of exhaustion too...

By law, the national minimum wage £8.91 which would mean that for 29 hours the minimum they should pay should be £258.39 - and according to ACAS, "It's against the law to pay below the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage or to falsify pay records", that "anyone can report an employer to HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) for not paying the minimum wage" and that "if HMRC finds that an employer has not paid at least the minimum wage, they can send a notice of arrears plus issue a penalty for not paying the correct rate of pay". BTW the living wage is actually £9.50/hour (£275.50) ouside of London or £ 10.85 in London (£314.65). In Manchester our labourers (building site) are getting paid better than you are being offered - and they have no tools, no van, and very few skills

You need to set a rate which will pay minimum wage plus the cost of your phone, van, tools, depreciation, maintenance, insurance (I hope that you have PL insurance), etc which actually puts you at around the £20 mark at the very least. In future keep a written journal of everything, photograph everything, and put in estimates for open ended tasks - getting approval at each point either in writing (a multi-part order book is good), as an email or even a text. Verbal alone just doesn't cut it - so if you get a verbal send an email confirming the details and asking for acknowledgement of the email - and don't proceed without it!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

They are taking the p***, all agencies do it. Never good people to work for, the less they pay you, the higher their profit level on every hour you put in. They charge the customer a great deal more than they pay you, but the customer has the advantage of just being able to ring the agency when they need someone.

Have a word directly with the customer, they might be willing to tell you what they are paying per hour for your time via the agency and ask if they might be willing to bypass the agency for the work. Maybe better, if they don't suddenly stop using the agency completely, rather they gradually transfer to employing you direct - a bit at a time.

In my life, I only ever once worked via an agency and that was strictly for a limited term of 3 months - I made that clear at the start, after which I said I would be gone. At the end of the three months, I made it clear I would not be there next week to the customer (a company), unless they offered me a contract within the week. I had my contract within the 7 days.