Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Blogging!
I just read through my blog postings from beginning to end and realized that it is neat to have a written record of some of the jobs I have done and how they went. Though I realize that few visitors make it to my blog, it's at least a good way for me to keep a record of what life as a handyman is like. For this reason, I hope to be a little more consistent with updates to this blog.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Gate Pictures
A while back, I got a call from a customer who ask me to rebuild some damaged gates. After looking at the gates he wanted rebuilt, I was at first a little bit intimidated. However, I decided to give it a shot anyway. Once all was said and done, they turned out pretty well.
I meant to take pictures, but forgot. Fortunately, he recently called me back for an additional project, so I was able to get the pictures after all.
I estimated the gates at $300 labor plus materials (materials were a little over $100). The customer thought that was fair. The gates took about nine hours to build (someone with a nice work shop could build them a lot faster, but working with limited space really slows you down). I thought I estimated pretty well, however, when I went to hang them, they decided to be difficult. Because of this, I spent an addition couple hours hanging the gates that I didn't anticipate.
I meant to take pictures, but forgot. Fortunately, he recently called me back for an additional project, so I was able to get the pictures after all.
Front View
Back View
I estimated the gates at $300 labor plus materials (materials were a little over $100). The customer thought that was fair. The gates took about nine hours to build (someone with a nice work shop could build them a lot faster, but working with limited space really slows you down). I thought I estimated pretty well, however, when I went to hang them, they decided to be difficult. Because of this, I spent an addition couple hours hanging the gates that I didn't anticipate.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Flower Bed Before/After Pictures
Some jobs are done are simply for the money. For example, when I am removing leaves for customers, it's not because I love the work. Leaf removal is hard, dirty work that doesn't provide me with much satisfaction (but it does provide me with lungs full of dust, dirty clothes, and a sore body). The only real positive thing about leaf removal is the fact that I get paid for it. Other jobs that fall into this category are gutter clean outs and sometimes (depending on the situation) lawn mowing. Apart from the pay, there is not much I like about these jobs either. Fortunately though, those kind of jobs currently only make up less than 50% of what I do. Thankfully, the larger percentage of what I do are jobs that I really enjoy.
The jobs I enjoy most are jobs in which I get to see visible results at the end. I an very happy anytime I get to repair something or make something nicer. It's for this reason that I get satisfaction and enjoyment even from jobs such as cleaning out a flower bed. Though the work can be a bit tedious, it can also offer visible satisfaction at the end. Here are some pictures from a customers flower bed I cleaned out last summer.
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I was called to give an estimate for this job just a few months after I went full time. I honestly had no idea how to estimate the cost. I really couldn't tell if it would take 5 hours or even maybe 10. To me it looked like a lengthy job, but I really wasn't sure. Finally, I made the customer an offer. I told them that I would work for my rate ($35/hour) up to $225. I told the customer that if the job took less than $225 of labor, then they would only be billed for the amount I worked. But if it took longer, then they wouldn't have to pay anything above $225. The customer thought this was fair.
When I went to do the job the next day, I was surprised at how fast the job went. The entire job was completed in 3.5 hours. The final bill for the customer was for $135 (this included a debris disposal charge). I guess she was happy with the price because when I received the check, it was made out for $165. I assumed that the extra was a bonus, but looking back on it, I guess it possibly could have been a mistake on her part.
The jobs I enjoy most are jobs in which I get to see visible results at the end. I an very happy anytime I get to repair something or make something nicer. It's for this reason that I get satisfaction and enjoyment even from jobs such as cleaning out a flower bed. Though the work can be a bit tedious, it can also offer visible satisfaction at the end. Here are some pictures from a customers flower bed I cleaned out last summer.
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
I was called to give an estimate for this job just a few months after I went full time. I honestly had no idea how to estimate the cost. I really couldn't tell if it would take 5 hours or even maybe 10. To me it looked like a lengthy job, but I really wasn't sure. Finally, I made the customer an offer. I told them that I would work for my rate ($35/hour) up to $225. I told the customer that if the job took less than $225 of labor, then they would only be billed for the amount I worked. But if it took longer, then they wouldn't have to pay anything above $225. The customer thought this was fair.
When I went to do the job the next day, I was surprised at how fast the job went. The entire job was completed in 3.5 hours. The final bill for the customer was for $135 (this included a debris disposal charge). I guess she was happy with the price because when I received the check, it was made out for $165. I assumed that the extra was a bonus, but looking back on it, I guess it possibly could have been a mistake on her part.
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