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$200 to Paint a Deck Ceiling and Other Handyman Nightmares

By Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

September 15, 2013 11:27 AM

Are honest working people NON-EXISTENT?!?

I just went out to a rental property and had a guy tell me, straight to my face, that he would paint -- using a sprayer -- the ceiling on the back deck patio cover for $200!

The underside of this deck covering needs a little love ------------->

What was he smoking?!?

I looked at him and said, "So, if I paid $20 an hour, you're telling me it would take ten hours to complete this job? Or $100 an hour and the reality of 2 HOURS."

It would take 30 minutes to tape it off (prep) and since he was using a SPRAYER -- an hour to paint . . . tops!

He looked at me and said, "Well, I have to tape it off, put up plastic . . ."

Who can't do simple math? Not me! An UNSKILLED manual labor job at $20/hour is about right, no?!?

I immediately felt the piss on my leg and I knew he was just about to tell me it was raining.

And to top it off, when he was "quoting" me, he was trying to hussle FREE PAINT -- telling me it would take 3 gallons of paint! A gallon would have been plenty. He wanted to take TWO gallons with him as a bonus I guess.

OH MY GOSH! What is wrong with people these days?

I have other things that need to get done at that rental and it's all UNSKILLED stuff . . . you know, pulling weeds, putting down weed barrier cloth, edging around the lawn, hauling some former tenant left trash out. I figure it would have been about a $350 job for about a 2 day gig. I would supply materials . . . maybe a tip. That's more then they'd get at Labor Ready.

Hmmmmm . . . I guess some people think I'm rich, and/or their manual labor skills are worth $100/hour. Dumb ass didn't graduate high school I reckon.

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Susan Haughton

Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA

Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Some days it feels as if people think WE are stupid. Hope you find someone good and reliable who can take care of all of it for you!

Sep 15, 2013 11:41 AM

Marina Gavrylyuk

Sutton Group Summit - Mississauga, ON

Homes & Condos for Sale in Mississauga and Toronto

Hi, Carla,

Sounds like the moving company we were trying to use to move 4 carpets to the storage 5 miles away. They were advertising $50 per hour, which was plenty of time to do the job. Then somehow it turned into $50 per hour per person, with minimum of 2 people and minimum of 3 hours plus fuel surcharge!!!!!! so 50 x 2 x 3 +25%! they dont just think we are dumb, they are convinced we are....

Sep 15, 2013 12:16 PM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Which is exactly why I have learned to paint, pressure wash, and hammer a nail myself.

Sep 15, 2013 01:52 PM

Marc McMaster

RE/MAX Centre Realty - State College, PA

Putting my clients before myself

I have a bunch of trusted people I use on a regular basis. Some of them won't charge me at all for smal jobs just because of the amount of business I send them.

Sep 15, 2013 11:21 PM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Carla, It seems honest, hard-working people are non-existent. You would think people who need work would want to do an honest days’ work for an honest days’ pay so they could keep working, get referrals, and continue to earn a living. You have been challenged to find good people … that is for sure.

Sep 16, 2013 01:02 AM

Jeff Stevens

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Mexico Properties - Las Cruces, NM

Jeff Stevens, Associate Broker/REALTOR

Carla - this happened to me this summer. I hired a guy to come over and do some yard work. I was told he charged $12 an hour. Good price I thought...shouldn't take more than a day. He ended up staying for 3 days and charged me $450!!! So, apparently he worked 12 hours straight for 3 days. NOT! He tells me - call me any time you need anything at all. NOT!

Sep 16, 2013 01:19 AM

Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty

Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

When you start paying unskilled labor skilled labor rates, you become an agent of the federal government!

Sep 16, 2013 01:24 AM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Susan . . . thanks!!

Hey Marina -- oh these people are thankless! $300 plus 25% -- I can do simple math and that adds up to "highway robbery" ;-)

Hi Tammy . . . I will be pressure washing the back deck today!! Thursday it will be 80 degress and ready for the nice deck coat that I will end up painting! I can do a lot of things by myself, but my poor achy body. Well, that's what massage therapy is for, LOL

Hey Marc -- thanks for rubbing it in . . . HA HA HA ;-)

Hi Kathleen . . . you'd think that would be the case!

Hey Jeffrey -- oh, yes, the "hourly" rate, and then if you're not there watching over them funny how a one day job goes into 3 days!! Yup, the other scam.

Hi Gary . . . I lived in the house and know exactly how to maintain it, and it's unskilled labor to pull a freaking weed! You're right about the mindset of people . . .

Sep 16, 2013 02:44 AM

Sharon Alters

Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL

Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Carla, apparently this guy thought you were a girl who didn't know much about anything - he was wrong!!

Sep 16, 2013 06:37 AM

Francine Viola

Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA

REALTOR®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

I absolutely loathe when have to call in a handyman or contractor. And I don't refer any to my clients. I haven't found one that can 1) show up, 2) and show up again, if needed, 3) be competent, 4) charge appropriately, 5) have just a tiny bit of professionalism. They don't exist. You and I and all of our clients are looking for a unicorn with a rainbow mane.

Sep 17, 2013 06:17 AM

Karen Kruschka

RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA

- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Carla Heck, in my are it costs $80 to clean town home gutters and $100 for a detached home. Takes 15 to 20 minutes

Sep 17, 2013 09:27 AM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Seems like a bit much there for what is required. Plus he wanted a 'paint bonus'. Someone here on AR said they had good luck getting work doing by advertising in the 'Gig' section on Craigslist.

Came back to add that maybe he thought this was a government contract!

Sep 18, 2013 10:39 AM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Sharon . . . someone will fall for that price, thinking they're "paying for the best" -- rolling eyes

Hey Francine -- I'm getting to that loathing part too!

Hi Karen . . . they charge it because people pay it.

Hey Lyn -- LOL, yes they must think this is a government contract!! Too funny

Sep 18, 2013 10:51 AM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Carla, It is so difficult to find a handyman these days. The good ones are so busy that they cannot come for weeks.

Sep 18, 2013 08:21 PM

Wayne Johnson

Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX

San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

They used to say there's a sucker born everyday. Unfortunately for your guy, it wasn't you.

Sep 19, 2013 05:24 AM

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