What do you charge for hourly rate for handyman work?

[mclear6]

I am doing work on a family owned rental. My MIL pays $20/hr (but she asked me what I wanted) from the reality account. Our most recent tenants caused a mess. What rate should I charge to the tenants to complete the work. NJ Law states that you must give an itemized list of why security deposit is being taken.

The tenants allowed there dog to use the upstairs landing as a pee spot. The carpet and padding was soaked with pee and the hardwood floors under are stained and need to be refinished.

I also need to repaint red and blue wall that they painted in their son's room with out asking. I need to repaint the room (which they were told to paint before they left).

thanks


Mike

[Tom Slick]

I charge $25/hr when I have to charge. That's almost half the billable rate any of the trades that make housecalls but I have no overhead. That's also what I'm paid as a journeyman carpenter and mr. do-it-all when I work for a general contractor on occasion. For him, I'm the same cost at $25 or $20 because of workman's comp but that's another discussion.

I prefer to charge in beer and require my customer to drink it with me. That's not always legal tender or prudent for all transactions.

[just started]

The last time I had general work type master carpenters was about 18 months ago and at that time we were billed $75-$100 per hour for the majority of the work.

[crokett]

I am doing work on a family owned rental. My MIL pays $20/hr (but she asked me what I wanted) from the reality account.

Are you saying normally she pays 20/hr but will give you more because you are family? Is your hourly rate a factor in whether you take the job? If not, I would just take the 20.00 an hr, sign one of her standard contracts and be done with it. Generally mixing family and business doesn't work. Several years ago I spent a year working for my dad at his consulting business. I learned that I didn't want to make a living doing what he did. Anyway, at my request we signed a contract he would use for any other normal employee. That was more for his protection than mine - I was in my early 20s and at the time needed something formal to set boundaries.

[Shep]

Sounds like my rental property; however, I can't charge myself for DIY repairs. But, I'm cheaper than paying someone else.

[pelligrini]

I prefer to charge in beer and require my customer to drink it with me. That's not always legal tender or prudent for all transactions.

Yep, I like charging beer for woodworking jobs. It's a hobby and I want to keep it that way. Same for computer work, unless it's something I really don't want to mess with.

[woodturner]

My MIL pays $20/hr (but she asked me what I wanted) from the reality account. . . . NJ Law states that you must give an itemized list of why security deposit is being taken.

You cannot legally charge the tenant more than you were paid. If you are being paid $20/hr, that is the maximum rate you can legally charge to the tenant.

Having said that, $100 is the going rate around here - but I live in a low cost of living area. $200 is probably more the norm for your area.

[Handy Al]

When I had my handyman business 2-3 years old, I could get $30-$35 an hour, depending on the work. I would usually given seniors a break at $25.

[cabinetman]

Twenty dollars an hour is only $5 every 15 minutes. That sounds too cheap. Just think about it. To go to the site and do work needing tools, we already know what tools you might need (remember this thread?).

Considering that, what's it worth just packing up?
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