Hurrican IVAN clean-up For Hire Rate $/hr

[Wannafish]

"I have never hear of a volunteer firefighter negotiating a price for putting out a fire."

I had a neighbor whose house caught fire several years ago in the dead of winter. Our Volunteer Fire Department showed up right away. Unfortunately, all the hoses and pumps were frozen solid. All they could do was stand around and watch the house burn to the ground...and send a bill for $1,500.

And no, they did not pay it.


"I will do the very best I can, each and every day, until the very end."

 

[RCannon]

It's a $1000/run bill here.
If you have a campfire,don't get a permit, and the neighbors call the fire dept, it's a 1000 dollar bill. Same price if it is your house. Now, if my house burns down, I would call that a disaster, same as a hurricane destroying it. Why doesn't the fire dept put out the fire for free?

 

[BillyP]

I pay 50 cents a month (added to my rural water bill) for fire protection. Seems as if a Volunteer Fire Department charges for a job, it's not volunteer /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Why doesn't the fire dept put out the fire for free? )</font>

Why not free? Who's going to pay for the trucks, the fuel, the fire station, the maintenance, etc.? The choices are limited:

1) Cities, and several other governmental entities, can tax everyone to pay,
2) Bill the individuals who use the service,
3) Depend on donations.

What else? Our volunteer fire departments never billed anyone for their services. An annual letter was sent to every address in the area with a summary of calls answered, services performed, etc. and what equipment was needed; i.e., a request for donations. Then we had rummage sales, one department put on an annual fish fry, another had an annual barbecue, etc. but someone had to provide the manpower and the money has to come from somewhere or there won't be a fire department.

 

[RCannon]

I understand why it's not free.
But the reasons are the same why Todd should ask for money to help clean up. His wear and tear and fuel needs to be paid for.
He asked what a fair price is... A price is fair that covers his costs... even if his costs include his time and only he knows what his time is worth.

 

[KubotaSteve]

I was merely using the volunteer fire fighters as an example. We don't pay anything for volunteer fire fighters, but they do quite well from their Bingo, apple butter, and other fund raisers.

I'm not sure, but if you are charging someone for work, doesn't that make you liable for work being performed as opposed to just helping out. Also when I purchased my tractor they asked if it was for commercial or home use which could possibly affect your warranty. Also if the feds. are paying out the money, there could also be issues there as well. Federal money has a lot of special guidelines.

I've just always been one to help out. As far as the people with the nicer houses and cars, they are the ones who generally are further in debt!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif They make more money so their credit line is much higher!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I guess if it were me I'd expect them to keep me and my tractor in fuel (and I can be expensive enough to feed) and beyond that accept whatever they'd want to give me graciously and gratefully. Further, I'd probably try to help as many people get the basics covered rather than trying to get each one I do totally finished out.

I've been blessed with help from different sources at times when I've needed so I'd be hard pressed to establish a 'rate' for helping those in need. Contrary to some, I'm not sure the wealth or income of the people I'm helping matters a whole lot to me. If they're in need, they're in need. Ivan didn't discriminate based on wealth and neither would I.

I'm not saying that you ought to do this, only that it's what I'd do. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Freds]

Hmmm,
In light of all the posts saying to work out of the goodness of your heart, charge prevailing wage for the area, work for grub and diesel, work for donations like a VFD (although I must say, it is hard to call it a donation when they show up at dinnertime looking for their *donation*)... I will add: Why not place an ad in the paper, on telephone poles or where ever?

Let those with money hire you based on your ad and knowledge ahead of time that they will be charged for your services and fill in your time between *jobs* helping out for whatever may be offered you, even if it's just gratitude.

I'll assume (uh oh /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif ) that warranties and the govt won't really have any bearing on your decision because you aren't planning on claiming any of this ??? That makes sense to me because I don't see anyone towing anyone out of a ditch doing anything more than apologizing if a bumper gets bent. Nor do I see them asking for compensation if their own vehicle gets a ding during the process. Lets not forget that Joe Blow with a 4WD and tow chain is taking work away from a legit towing service.

Place an ad, cover your costs, add a LITTLE extra (not enough to pay off the tractor as you're thinking about, unless you plan on making disaster chasing your job) and help out when you can, such as driving back home with $100 in your pocket and seeing someone struggling with a shovel and wheel barrow.

 

[meledward23]

I like Freds answer.

 

[SkyPup]

I've been assisting my neighbors cleaning up their hurricane torn properties with my Kubota L-3130 with 723FEL and Stihl 460 Magnum chainsaw with 36" bar and chain.

Normal charge is $40 per hour plus diesel fuel expenses.

Everyone is super happy to pay as it would cost 2X-3X more for a commerical outfit to come in and do the same thing.

Main thing is making sure that no one is injured or hurt while taking out trees that weigh 50 tons or more and that the burn piles are maintained to prevent a forest fire.

The Kubota is worth its weight in GOLD! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif