avclay
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2003
- Messages
- 82
- Location
- foothills of the Adirondacks, NY
- Tractor
- Ford 1910 purchased with 1500 hrs and FEL
I started doing some side jobs last summer, mostly moving fill or box scapring and raking. I started out w/ $50 to show up (minimum) and $25/hr. This worked pretty well until I got a job about 30-45 minutes away, which was the first job I had to trailer to. I never factored the trailer loading (both coming and going) and travel time. This wound up cutting significantly into my $s/hr.
Some people want a complete job estimate. I learned the hard way you should include extra time into the estimate to account for travel, getting stuck, equipment breaks, flat tires, and other unforseen problems. Usually the customer finds one or two more things they want done before you leave and if you completed the job without problems you can throw these in for free in you feel the need. Plus, I found I usually get one or two more jobs from the one I'm currently doing, so that could be factored into your final charge.
Another issue I had was working for a contractor as a "sub." My area is prospering with new buildings and many people are "contracting" without much knowledge / experience. I looked over the job, gave a time estimate, and general directions on where the fill should go. First weekend I was there the fill wasn't. When the fill did get there it was in the wrong spots which meant more time to complete the job.
I made the mistake of telling the customer the payment arrangement I had with the "contractor" which p/o'd the contractor and then I had to go direct with the customer. I know its common practice for the contractor to make a percentage off of the subs, but apparently this one was planning on making quite a bit of money off of my work. At $25/hr this customer was willing to keep me there for what seemed like forever. Also customers and new contractors don't always have the money they say they have. I plan on getting about half the job cost from most people up front from now on.
I found I can't be afraid to tell a customer what I can't or won't do. There's not enough money to keep driving your tires over glass, to me at least. Some jobs require a backhoe or bulldozer but your cheaper so a customer will see if you can do it first. More work is tempting, but at what cost to you and your machine? There's also the issue of observing property lines or wetland areas, etc. etc.
Lastly, discuss where pipes, septics, wells, wires, graves, or anything else may be and who will be responsible for any damage. I uncovered a cable wire by just spinning my tires on one site. No damage to the cable and by code it is supposed to be buried deeper than an inch in the ground, but who would be responsible if it split? All I know is it'd be ugly......
And this was what I learned in just the first year! Can't wait for this summer!
Some people want a complete job estimate. I learned the hard way you should include extra time into the estimate to account for travel, getting stuck, equipment breaks, flat tires, and other unforseen problems. Usually the customer finds one or two more things they want done before you leave and if you completed the job without problems you can throw these in for free in you feel the need. Plus, I found I usually get one or two more jobs from the one I'm currently doing, so that could be factored into your final charge.
Another issue I had was working for a contractor as a "sub." My area is prospering with new buildings and many people are "contracting" without much knowledge / experience. I looked over the job, gave a time estimate, and general directions on where the fill should go. First weekend I was there the fill wasn't. When the fill did get there it was in the wrong spots which meant more time to complete the job.
I made the mistake of telling the customer the payment arrangement I had with the "contractor" which p/o'd the contractor and then I had to go direct with the customer. I know its common practice for the contractor to make a percentage off of the subs, but apparently this one was planning on making quite a bit of money off of my work. At $25/hr this customer was willing to keep me there for what seemed like forever. Also customers and new contractors don't always have the money they say they have. I plan on getting about half the job cost from most people up front from now on.
I found I can't be afraid to tell a customer what I can't or won't do. There's not enough money to keep driving your tires over glass, to me at least. Some jobs require a backhoe or bulldozer but your cheaper so a customer will see if you can do it first. More work is tempting, but at what cost to you and your machine? There's also the issue of observing property lines or wetland areas, etc. etc.
Lastly, discuss where pipes, septics, wells, wires, graves, or anything else may be and who will be responsible for any damage. I uncovered a cable wire by just spinning my tires on one site. No damage to the cable and by code it is supposed to be buried deeper than an inch in the ground, but who would be responsible if it split? All I know is it'd be ugly......
And this was what I learned in just the first year! Can't wait for this summer!